“New for Old” Research Residency, Hoa Binh & Lao Cai, 2016

The Southeast Asia regional programme New for Old aims to promote, support and develop the craft and design sector, helping to make it more sustainable and viable for designers, entrepreneurs and their communities. This programme is part of the British Council’s work in Culture and Development, exploring creative responses to the social and economic needs in developing countries.

The research residencies take place in December 2016 in Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam as part of the New for Old programme. And as member of Vietnam’s team including two UK residents (Grace Crannis and Tenaya Steed from Royal College of Art), and two local residents (Thao Vu – founder and fashion designer of Kilomet 109 and Nguyen Huyen – cultural researcher), in partnership with Vietnam Rural Industries Development and Research Institute (VIRI), we explore the artistic practices and social conditions of Hmong & Thai ethnic craftswomen in Hoa Binh and Lao Cai province during 2 weeks.

The outcomes of the residency form an exhibition “On the Line: New perspectives on craft in Southeast Asia” in London in May-June 2017 which be curated by Martina Margetts, Senior Tutor in Critical & Historical Studies, Royal College of Art. The exhibition is accompanied by public events to coincide with London Craft Week.

For more information: https://design.britishcouncil.org/projects/new-old/