The Pemakö Project
The Cultural Arts and Heritage Initiative

Heritage at Risk

In the remote areas of the Himalayas, local artisans have been unable to sustain themselves economically or compete globally with less expensive hand-crafts produced in urban areas of India and China. Rural-urban flight has left this region bereft of skilled young craft workers. Sadly, because older generations—the keepers of oral history and traditional artist skills—are dwindling away, some traditions will die out in this generation.

The Gift of Shared Knowledge: Artists in Residence

We partner with regional artists/artisans and offer them support to continue practicing and teaching. We provide opportunities for the children to learn traditional arts, such as: woodworking, stone working, painting, pottery, papermaking, weaving, song and dance.

Benefiting Generations to Come

Video and Audio Archives

Identifying, preserving and archiving ancient arts is an invaluable resource for children. Experienced audio and video/photographic documenters travel to capture these recordings so that the children can learn about important aspects of their own culture. When carefully catalogued and maintained at a regional Cultural Arts Center, this resource will benefit generations to come.

Creating a Cultural Arts Center

Building a Cultural Arts Center contributes to the preservation of an entire culture. Cultural arts such as traditional dress, as well as artists' supplies and materials, require special care and protection from the elements. Without a safe place to preserve documents and artifacts there is little hope that such treasures will survive for long. Our goal is to eventually open this arts center to the public, with a curriculum for formal students, and classes open to visiting travelers. Cultural art forms from all varieties of regional tribes will be represented. The Cultural Arts Center will be a nexus of preservation, a catalyst for cultural revival.