Intangible Cultural Heritage: Kanbawza Yeiktha to be transformed into Art Museum

Kanbawza Yeiktha (Chin Tsong Palace) is undergoing renovation to transform it into the State High School of Arts and National Art Museum.

On Saturday, Union Minister for Culture, Hotels and Tourism U Khin Maung Soe visited the site to inspect the progress of renovation works. During the visit, the Union Minister met with staff, teachers and students of the State High School of Arts and encouraged them to strive to become artists who can preserve traditional fine arts while adapting to changing trends in the creative industries.

The State High School of Arts in Yangon was established in 1952, followed by the opening of another school in Mandalay in 1953. Initially, the schools focused primarily on arts education. In 2010, academic subjects were also incorporated into the curriculum with the support of the Ministry of Education.

The Union Minister later inspected the renovation works and instructed to ensure systematic implementation while preserving the original architectural designs of the historic building, which is more than 100 years old. Upon completion, the National Art Museum will provide the public with opportunities to enjoy and appreciate artworks presented to international standards.

The establishment of the National Art Museum at Kanbawza Yeiktha aims to promote Myanmar's artworks and intangible cultural heritage on the international stage, provide an integrated learning platform, and develop the site into a public recreation and tourism destination.

The museum is also planned to operate as a Living Museum, showcasing Myanmar's intangible cultural heritage through weekly performances by students of the State High School of Arts, along with exhibitions of traditional foods and cultural activities.