Living Traditions Museum
Changu Narayan
Nepal
    Living Traditions Museum is
    established to preserve, protect and
    present the vibrancy and richness of the
    traditional arts and cultures of the
    various cultural groups of Nepal,
    honoring their heritage.  The museum
    has the goal of communicating the basic
    nature of Nepali arts and cultures,
    emphasizing the distinguishing qualities
    unique to each culture, i.e. why things
    are made, how they are made, how they
    fit into the social and religious context.  
    The museum will educate visitors from
    throughout Nepal to a better
    understanding and appreciation of the
    uniqueness and value of each cultural
    expression leading to an appreciation of
    how diversity enriches the entire country.
    Photographs of making processes, how
    objects are used in daily activities, and
    special ceremonies and rituals  provide
    contextual background.

    LTM was founded by Judith Chase,
    who has lived and worked in Nepal for
    over 35 years, trekking all over Nepal,
    photographing and writing.

    The Collection: Living Traditions
    Museum owns approximately 400
    objects, part of which are exhibited in the
    museum, to be enhanced and expanded
    by contributions and purchases in the
    future.  Photographs  provide context for
    the objects including the artists weaving,
    casting, painting, turning, and throwing.  
    Others reveal the life of the objects
    within various landscapes, villages,
    courtyards, and household interiors as
    well as in rituals and ceremonies.  
    Photos are mostly 25 to 30 years old, so
    have special historic interest.


    Urgency of preserving Nepali
    traditional arts: As times change,
    education, travel, political activities,
    overpopulation, cinema, internet access,
    tourism and a general shift of
    consciousness have had profound
    influences on traditional cultures.  It is
    critical to record, save, treasure and
    protect these traditions while they still
    exist.

    The museum is an inspiration for various
    ethnic groups and individuals to loan or
    donate their arts so that public
    awareness of Nepal’s rich cultural
    heritage is enhanced.   

    The museum exhibition is organized
    in four sections relating to the four major
    geophysical regions of Nepal, with each
    cultural group included in the
    appropriate area: Terai, Middle Hills,
    Kathmandu Valley and Himalayan
    Highlands.
Vishnu Temple and Amatya Sattal Living Traditions Museum
Central Narayan Temple (L), Amatya Sattal
(Back), Shiva Temple (R)
Google Earth view of Changu Narayan

Google Earth view of Changu Narayan village and temple (left)

    UPDATE September 2012
    The main gallery displays are installed.   A group of Maithili women from
    near Janakpur finished installing their wonderful unfired clay storage
    containers in the top floor, and painting the walls with their vibrant
    images.  Gallery photos.
                  
    Restoration of the NW section of the sattal is complete as of Oct 15,
    2012.  Well, almost complete -- we did not have enough money to install
    a finished floor (at this point we have plywood), apply linseed oil to all the
    woodwork, plaster the brick walls.  finish window shutters, and other
    finishing details.  This work was funded by a grant from the US
    Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation.

    Now we are asking for help to fund this remaining work.  We
    need $10,000-.    Please see details restoration.
Living Traditions Museum plan
Living Traditions Museum top floor
Living Traditions Museum ground floor
Above: 1st floor main gallery features objects and historical photos
from all over Nepal .  Below: top floor gallery features an installation of
women's art from Mithila -- large sculptural containers and wall
paintings (left).
Below: Ground floor.  Right (blue) is the museum shop, featuring
photos, Maithili women's paintings, books and more.  The terrace will
soon have an organic cafe.
Website and support/advice by Jim Danisch
    Below:  North side of the temple courtyard.  LTM began
    restoration of the west half in Dec. 2011, thanks to a grant
    from the U.S. Ambassador's Cultural Preservation Fund.

    We opened to the public on March 15, featuring wood, metal and cloth objects collected from all over Nepal, along
    with historical photos by museum founder Judith Chase.  A group of Maithili women from near Janakpur have
    installed their fanciful clay sculptural containers and painting walls in our top floor gallery.  We are fully solar-
    powered, so the lighting always works.

    Come visit us every day from 8 am to 5 pm.  Tickets are sold at the museum:  Foreigners Rs 250-, ASEAN Rs 100-,
    Nepalis Rs. 60-, young students Rs. 10-.   

    Foreign visitors to Changu Narayan village must pay Rs 100- entry fee at the parking area booth.  There is another
    museum that mainly features coins -- their ticket is offered at the booth.  It is named Changu Museum.  Please
    don't confuse it with Living Traditions Museum.  
    Above L:  Judith Chase is happy
    about the display in Gallery 1
    Above R:  Gallery 1 has art from
    four cultural regions
    L.:  Top floor gallery features
    women's art from Mithila, SE
    Nepal.