September 5, 2022 at 17:00 p.m. – Khon Kaen University by the Cultural Center organized a workshop for development and extension of community products through creative economy and participatory approach. Assoc. Prof. Niyom Wongpongkham, Ph.D., Vice President for Art, Culture, and Creative Economy of KKU delivered the opening speech while Mr. Worasak Worayot, Director of the Cultural Center made a reporting speech. Over 100 people attended, including the provincial cultural head officer, administrators, lecturers, staff and the public. The event took place at KKU Art Gallery.
Mr. Worasak Worayot, Director of the Cultural Center revealed that the Cultural Center organized this workshop for the development and extension of community products creatively with participation from the community. The workshop was organized for community entrepreneur groups and small entrepreneurs in Khon Kaen, for them to learn and share and train in producing creative and cultural products. The participatory approach was used in the training in order to strengthen the community enterprises and small entrepreneurs. The participants were able to acquire skills and knowledge related to their respective industries. The project was organized on July 21-25, 2022 and their works are now put on exhibition on September 5-7 at the Art Gallery of KKU. The target groups of this project are the community entrepreneur groups, small entrepreneurs in Khon Kaen, totaling 10 groups all together. These groups can be considered having potentiality in being models for other groups in the future. The entrepreneur groups under the project are: Non Khwao Community Enterprise, Kob ka Eed Cotton Fabric Group, Manufacturing Group of Cloth from Ban Pa Wai Nang, Hin See Chang Hand-Weaving Group at Ban Kham Ya Daeng, Rom Yen Cloth Manufacturing Group, Ban Dong Dress Making Group, Ban Wang Kok Kaew Handicraft Group, Cloth Key Ring Manufacturing Group, Ban Hua Thanon Cotton Manufacturing Group, and Patcharapon Hand-made Group.
Assoc. Prof. Niyom Wongpongkham, Ph.D., Vice President for Art. Culture, and Creative Economy of KKU explained that the workshop for development and extension of community products through creative economy and participatory approach promoted community participation in conservation of contemporary art and culture and promoted creative economy from community products. The project has been cooperated by the Cultural Center and the Faculty of Architecture of Khon Kaen University. The participants learned and shared their knowledge and experiences by carrying out different activities with the community. They have been learning continuously together on the basis of decent culture, society, religion and economy. The venue for learning and sharing is emphasized in order to add values to art, culture and Isan local wisdom. The concept of creative economy has been applied in the process and the knowledge has been linked towards Asian and international regions. The project for development and extension of community products through creative economy and participatory approach is the service the university provides to the society, the youths and the interested public who join. The event enhances creativity and imagination, allowing one to see the values of the nature and the environment and enhances the awareness towards the society with art perspectives.
Mrs. Narumon Lachanda, an administrator of the RomYen Fabric Manufacturing Group of Khon Kaen said that the group principally uses Pha Khaw Ma and fabric remnants given by the community to produce money-saving boxes or bags, and thus changed the left over items into money. In addition, the activities linked people in the community together in three generations, namely, the teenagers or To-Be-Number-One group, the middle-age group, and the elderly group. When lecturers from Khon Kaen University came to enhance the knowledge in designing, the group developed new ideas more creatively and the products became well known. She then thanked KKU for conducting this process and would appreciate if KKU could organize the activities for other communities.
The workshop for development and extension of community products through creative economy and participatory approach is holding a temporary market for selling products that have been produced creatively by the community. There are exhibitions and fashion shows of silk dresses and other products such as silk bags, cotton bags, savings boxes, cloth dinosaurs, key rings, and many decorative items. The event is held on September 5-7, 2022 from 16:30 to 19:00 p.m. at the Art Gallery, Khon Kaen University.
News / Photos: Jiraporn Prathomchai
