Creative Chiang Mai Ecosystem Directory
This is the fourth edition of this publication, which we have renamed the Chiang Mai Creative Directory (previously Chiang Mai Creative Mapping)—a report on the creative diversity of Chiang Mai. For this fourth edition, we have updated key contact information and added or revised more than 20 entries across all categories. The information is also available online, in PDF format and as a searchable database.
- Category: Crafts-Indie-Art
Perhaps the trendiest sub-street of the Nimmanhaemin road, Nimman Soi 1 is a tiny street where one can find many established local brands of home décor stores, galleries, cafés and cake shops, restaurants and a boutique hotel.
- Category: Crafts
The Northern Handicrafts Manufactures Exporters Association’s (NOHMEX) objective is to handle and help with issues and problems faced by the handicraft industry in Northern Thailand. Currently numbering more than 250, member companies have grouped together to promote and support the development of the handicraft industry and to assist each other in marketing their products.
- Category: Digital Content, Software
Founded in 2015, the Northern Digital Enterprise Association (NDEA) aims to help local and government agencies improve quality of life through technology, to expand and connect its members to larger markets and opportunities, and to develop Chiang Mai to become a world-renowned digital hub.
- Category: Design Packaging
An important institution under the control of the Faculty of Agro-Industry is the Center for Agro-Industry Business Services (or ‘Agro-Biz’) which was established with the role of offering academic services to society. The center does this by collecting knowledge and professional experiences, alongside the results of research in the field of Agro-Industry, and passing it on to society in various ways. The vision of the Faculty of Agro-Industry at Chiang Mai Uniersity is to be ‘the leader in agro-industry academics in both Thailand and the Greater Mekong Subregion’.
- Category: Crafts-Indie-Art
Originally started off as an independent coffee shop situated near canal road called Penguin Ghetto, but has since expanded to become a collection of unique shops and businesses, all run by a group of friends
- Category: Performing Arts
When they hear the word Makampom, many people in Thailand will think of the famous Makampom drama group that uses theatre, puppets, stage performances, traditional musicals and mime with the aim to help develop the community and encourage local people to exchange ideas
- Category: Design Packaging
The Food Innovation and Packaging Center is an organization that provides academic services, research and food innovation development. The Center aims to promote, support and link work done between the public and private sector by using knowledge and expertise that it has gained through research to develop and create innovation, thereby leading to an increase in value of businesses in the food industry.
- Category: Crafts-Culture, Urban Development
Founded in 1996 by Amarin Plengrasamee (Ood), Gabfai Community Theatre Group is a private organization that aims to use the art of theatre as a communication vehicle for social change. The group employs community art, contemporary art, alternative media and creative activities to empower and enhance capacity as well as create alternatives or spaces for exchanging knowledge between individuals, communities, organizations and alliances.
- Category: Design Architectuture, Urban Development
The Green Beauty Scented Network is a network of civic organizations, local citizens and local and governmental organizations who are involved in environmental work.
- Category: Crafts-Culture, Performing Arts, Urban Development
The Informal Northern Thai Group (INTG) was established in 1984 to create a platform for talks on (research) topics related to Nerthern Thailand, with a focus on anthropology, art and culture, though a wide range of topices has been coverd over the years. For a full list of topics coverd between 2010-2015, visit: www.intgcm.thehostserver.com/history2010_2015.html
- Category: Architecture, Urban Development
JaiBaan Studio is the architectural/landscape design company based in Chiangmai. Studio keen to work on design/planning process concerning on environmental/cultural/social aspects.
We believe that good design and planning can improve living condition together with nearby elements.
- Category: Crafts-Culture
Klangwiang Chiang Mai Museum Partnership is a network made up of three museums, the ‘Chiang Mai Arts and Cultural Centre’, the ‘Lanna Folklife Museum’
- Category: Design Architectuture, Urban Development
Established in 2010, ‘Kon Jai Baan’ is a group of community architects who are interested in the process of collaborative design and want to use this process to develop creativity in issues related to housing, community culture, the environment and cultural heritage.
- Category: Crafts-Culture
Established in the year 2000, the Lanna Wisdoms School carries out various activities with the aim of compiling a body of local knowledge and wisdoms from village elders and traditional teachers
- Category: Co-working Space
Librarista is a coffee shop, library and working spaces in the heart of the Nimmanhaemin area.
- Category: Performing Arts, Urban Development, Urban Related
The Little Chef Changes The World is a food campaign initiated by Gabfai Theatre Group core member, Sasithon Kamrit (Ann). The initiative was born in 2013 from the worrying fact that green areas in Chiang Mai have been declining rapidly. Since the city’s land has been developed for other usage, families, communities and schools who depend on agricultural land to grow vegetables for their daily consumption need to find ways to manage limited land more efficiently. By using theatre as a tool to raise awareness about food stocks, how to cook meals using locally grown vegetables and food safety, the campaign reaches out to local communities and schools to change their dietary behavior and attitudes.
- Category: Crafts-Culture
The Little Hum studio was founded by two former members of the Khon Jai Baan architecture group, which uses a participatory approach to work with local communities. The studio founders are particulary interested in community life and use of illustrations to communicate with local people. The studio has focused on illustration as a medium with communities in Fang district, Baan Bua in Prayao province and Baan Pong Thawi in Wieng Pa Pao district.
- Category: Co-working Space
The Mahasamut Library is a small library and coffee shop that is part of the “Ban Kang Wat” arts and crafts community located opposite Rampoeng Temple in Wat U-Mong area.
The MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum is a significant new addition to the contemporary arts scene in Chiang Mai. Founded by Jean Michel Beudeley, his late wife Patsri Bunnag and their son Eric Bunnag Booth, the museum opened its door to the public in July 2016.
- Category: Urban Related
The Farmer’s Market Chiang Mai offers a wide variety of organic farm products such as fresh vegetables, homemade bread, coffee, ready-cooked food and seasonal fruits. The market is a communal outlet for small farmers to come and sell their own products. It is where visitors can find pesticide-free products that pass the food safety standards stipulated by the Food and Health Authority of Thailand.
- Category: Architecture, Crafts-Culture
FeunBaan Yaan Wiang is a local umbrella organization dedicated to helping to preserve and maintain the local Chiang Mai and Lanna culture and heritage, and is made up of several smaller groups and parties interested in Chiang Mai