Rebecca Weldon Sithiwong

Working experience

2008-Present Cultural Consultant, Chiang Mai, Thailand

\- Historic Structure Report in cooperation with Chiang Mai University Faculty of
Architecture, Prince Mahidol Museum Project, Chiang Mai, Thailand
\- Structural services to Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, Mae Fah Luang
Foundation, Under Royal Patronage, Chiang Rai, Thailand
\- Structural services to Wat Phra Kaew Museum, Chiang Rai, Thailand

2002-2008 Curator, Rai Mae Fah Luang, Mae Fah Luang Foundation, Chiang Rai, Thailand

1998-2000 Assistant director, Rai Mae Fah Luang, Mae Fah Luang Foundation Chiang Rai, Thailand

Education

1976 Anthropology, Pomona College, Claremont, California
2001- Master Museology, Reinwardt Academy, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Background summary

Growing up in Laos I developed an interest in anthropology and material culture. After working with
handicraft cooperatives in Haiti and Thailand, I settled with my husband in Chiang Rai, Thailand in 1983,
founding Golden Triangle Tours, the first touring organization conceived and run by locally born and
raised residents.
In 1993, I established Ahimsa Gallery, the first cultural centre in Chiang Rai featuring exhibitions by local
artists, poetry readings by local writers and lectures on art and culture. While working with village
carpenters building locally inspired architecture, I served as a volunteer docent at Rai Mae Fah Luang,
Later, I supervised the development of the first museum of ethnology in the area, at which I finally
served as a curator.
The challenges of creating a professional institution based in local participation led me to follow a
master course at the Reinwardt Academy, the faculty of museology and heritage of the Amsterdam
University of the Arts. Working as a consultant I research Southeast Asian museology linking it to local
participation.

Links
Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park: masterpieces.asemus.museum/museum/detail.nhn?museumId=1113
www.maefahluang.org/rmfl
asemus.museum/museum/mae-fah-luang-foundation/

Hong Luang Saeng Kaew Museum, Wat Phra Kaew: www.watphrakaew-chiangrai.com/eng/museum.php

Convenor: Informal Northern Thai Group www.intgcm.thehostserver.com/

Publication
Weldon, R., “Transformative Museology”, Cadernos de Sociomuseologia, no. 37 (2010), 75-85
(http://revistas.ulusofona.pt/index.php/cadernosociomuseologia/article/view/1635/1301)