Reviving Sacred Metalwork: Co-Production and the Market Failure of Intangible Heritage in Southern Thailand

A groundbreaking study on intangible heritage reveals that endangered craft traditions, particularly sacred Buddhist metalwork tied to Thailand's soon-to-be UNESCO World Heritage Site Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, hold substantial latent demand that markets fail to capture. Through a multi-stakeholder framework and co-production intervention, researchers found 216 donors from across Thailand and abroad contributed over THB 909,999, with 61% coming from outside the local province—far exceeding project support. This suggests co-production can mobilize community resources effectively while reducing public subsidy dependence, offering a promising model for preserving cultural heritage.

Nualnoom, P., Klamsaengsai, S., Amaek, W., Praditsorn, P., & Laksmi, P. A. S. (2026). Reviving Sacred Metalwork: Co-Production and the Market Failure of Intangible Heritage in Southern Thailand. Heritage, 9(10), 388. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage9100388