The key components of community cultural centers and local museums are community engagement and local knowledge.  The driving force behind the development of cultural centers and local museums may come from within, such as the community’s awareness and shared consciousness about the community’s history and cultural heritage, or it may come from outside to help affirm the community identity and cultural rights.  An interesting case study is the establishment of cultural centers and local museums among the Chao Lay or sea people communities during the post-tsunami period. Chao Lay indigenous groups were relatively invisible before the tsunami, and they faced issues related to land ownership rights and livelihoods; even their cultural heritage and language have gradually been forgotten. However, after experiencing the tsunami disaster, they became known and received relief and recovery aid from various organizations. Subsequently, cultural centers and local museums were established in 12 communities (out of 40 communities). The goal of these establishments, driven by external forces, ranged from confirming community rights to revitalizing local knowledge.  This presentation touches upon the current state of these cultural centers and local museums, and concludes that community’s awareness and engagement is of the utmost importance for the sustainability of cultural centers/local museums.

   Assoc. Prof. Narumon Arunotai, Ph.D., is a distinguished anthropological researcher with over 30 years of teaching and research experience. She currently serves as an associate researcher at the Social Research Institute (CUSRI) and a part-time lecturer in the Interdisciplinary Program on Human and Social Development at the Graduate School of Chulalongkorn University. Her research expertise spans indigenous peoples, local knowledge, cultural heritage, and alternative development, making her a leading voice in these critical areas.