Mekong Cultural Hub

Learn more about Meeting Point 2025

INTRODUCING OUR ARTS COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN LAOS

In March 2023, the MCH team visited Vientiane and spent some time catching up with our Fellows and friends there about what was going on in the local arts scene, and hearing their top priorities and challenges. Those discussions inspired us to imagine the possibility of working with the arts community in Vientiane to bring the Meeting Point on Art & Social Action in Asia to Laos. Since that trip, we have continued working with MCH Fellows, partners, advisors and various government and non-government institutions in Laos and the region to make this a reality. We are now really looking forward to the event happening in October this year.

In this post we would like to introduce some of the individuals and organisations from the Vientiane arts community who are taking a lead role in the planning and organising of the Meeting Point 2025.

Local Host: XYZ Art Center

The XYZ Art and Culture Centre was established in January 2022 with the mission to “empower artists, amplify voices, and weave local and international networks to create a nurturing ecosystem that redefines the artist in Laos society.” Since its founding, it has organised multiple creative activities and events, including competitions, and exhibitions. XYZ has also partnered with UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok in implementing the UNESCO Artistic Talks Series and the Re:Shaping Policies for Creativity project in Laos. It has gathered cultural and creative professionals to discuss artistic mobility, status of artists, balanced flows of cultural goods and artistic freedoms. It has also been collecting data on artists and now hosts a database of >170 Laos artists, with information about their work and projects.

XYZ’s flagship program is Lao Art Week, which is now a major annual event in the Laos’ cultural calendar. In 2024 the art week showcased work by more than 80 artists, reaching a wide audience thanks to its strategy of creating pop-up galleries in popular public spaces like the mall as well as hosting exhibitions in dedicated arts spaces.

XYZ is the local host organisation for Meeting Point 2025, and is working closely with MCH to make the overall program a success. We have programmed Meeting Point so that it will coincide with Lao Art Week 2025, offering our delegates a great opportunity to see work by local artists. XYZ’s co-founder and Director, Arlin, is also serving on the Steering Committee for Meeting Point. She told us:

Through this gathering, we hope to showcase not only the heritage and craftsmanship of Lao artisans but also the innovative voices of our young artists and curators who are shaping the future of our cultural narrative. It’s an exciting opportunity to foster meaningful exchanges, build collaborative networks, and highlight how Laos contributes to the global arts and culture ecosystem.”

Manithip Vongpachan (Arlin), Co-founder & Director XYZ Art Center, Steering Commitee for Meeting Point 2025
The XYZ team: Manithip Vongphachanh (Arlin), Phonepaseuth Khounphouvong (Tam) and Livanna Koo (Mei), by artist Vayu Vivongsa

Steering Committee: Arlin, Olé and Souliya

We have invited three experienced cultural leaders from the independent arts sector in Laos to serve on a Steering Committee for Meeting Point 2025:

These three Steering Committee members are playing a key role in advising MCH on how to make the program as successful as possible. Between them they work with performing arts, visual arts and applied arts, and they have experience of working cooperatively between government and civil society, and of organising international events and festivals. We believe that their experience and commitment to Lao art and culture, will be highly valuable as we prepare the program.

In our first Steering Committee meeting, we asked them, “what does a ‘successful’ meeting point mean to you?” They all answered by speaking about what legacy the program could leave for young artists in Laos – by gaining new knowledge, and creating new connections and opportunities, and this has become a core focus of our work with the committee since then.

They are also facilitating partnerships and connections that will make the program vibrant and enjoyable, and will be taking the lead on programming the cultural tour that will be offered to all Meeting Point participants.

“As a contemporary artist in Laos, I am proud to be part of the committee for the Meeting Point organized by MCH, which will be held in Laos. I feel that this program is a great opportunity for Lao artists to meet and exchange ideas with artists from the region, especially for the younger generation, who will have the chance to exchange knowledge and experiences with international artists gathering in Vientiane.”

Souliya Phoumivong
The Steering Committee and the MCH team, meeting online in January 2025

Producer: STELLA

MCH has known STELLA since its co-founder Khouanfa joined the first cohort of SEAD Fellows in 2018. We have collaborated several times over the past few years, and are delighted to be working together again for Meeting Point.

STELLA is a platform supporting young Lao entrepreneurs and learners to develop their skills and networks so they can make a social impact through their activities. STELLA has a lively space in Vientiane, which is used for events, training and co-working, and in addition to delivering their own projects, they regularly work with partners from civil society and business, providing consultancy and project management services that help them to enhance their social impact.

In 2024, STELLA worked with the US Embassy in Vientiane to organise the YSEALI (Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative) Summit in Luang Prabang; like Meeting Point it was a 3-day program, with 120 participants from more than 10 countries – so we are very confident they will do a great job in hosting us all in October 2025.

“As local coordinators, we’re honored to support Meeting Point 2025, a vibrant platform where culture and social change intersect. We look forward to welcoming participants from across the region and fostering connections that inspire action. See you in Laos!”

Souphaphone Dangmony (Lou), Co-founder & Director of Business Development and Partnerships for STELLA
Lou and Khouanfa – Co-founders of STELLA

We hope you have enjoyed meeting some of the team behind Meeting Point in Laos. Please keep following MCH on social media for more news and information on how to get involved in this year’s program.