Contemporary Tibetans have a rich cultural history to draw upon as they enter a new century, with unique oral and written traditions, crafts, customs, and ceremonial events that play an important part in daily life.

As lifestyles change, these traditions help provide a basis for social stability and strong community relationships. Traditional knowledge can also impart important lessons for sustainable development and traditional crafts can increase income for rural communities. New tools, such as digital technology, provide opportunities for Tibetans to document and share their culture, locally and internationally, in ways not previously possible.

Trace Foundation works with local scholars, institutions and government offices in China to support both academic and folk culture initiatives. Projects in folk culture include trainings programs and apprenticeship schemes intended to pass the knowledge of skilled artisans on to the next generation. Academic projects may involve study, research, publishing, and archiving initiatives. Trace Foundation also supports such cultural exchange through some of its International Cooperation Projects.

In all cases, the concept of cultural preservation and development contains an emphasis on the positive contribution that many of these skills and forms of knowledge can bring to daily life in the 21st century.

Trace Foundation Projects in Culture

• Trace Foundation's Publishing and Reading Project supports local publishing houses to print and distribute literature, reference materials, and children's books to foster the joy of reading and improve learning skills.
  
  
• By supporting those who are Documenting Culture, Trace Foundation focuses on the preservation and pro-active use of cultural materials, both ancient and modern, through a variety of media.
  
  
• The foundation's support of Cultural Heritage in Modern Society emphasizes projects that value traditional practices as living culture and benefit local people by passing on useful skills with income-generating potential.
  
  
• Latse Contemporary Tibetan Cultural Library is a Trace Foundation project that promotes excellence in the study and research of contemporary Tibet.
  
  
  
  
• Recent Grants in Culture
  
  
• Trace Foundation Grants to Other Organizations Supporting Culture in China.
  
  
• Links to Other Trace Foundation Grants and Programs Related to Culture.
  
  
• View the Culture photo gallery.