“We concern over the loss of the truth in history if the script is adapted to current society. For instance, we wanted to show forgiveness as a moral of the story for this current society. But, ultimately, we decided that we must keep the originality—which means Lin Thong eventually didn’t spare the life of Ahkal…

“The Cultural Season has brought underrepresented artists and traditional arts to life. “Being able to commission artists who have worked tirelessly to preserve almost lost art forms, to facilitate them in bringing their work into stage is what delighted me most,” Bornnoem Milya, CLA Curatorial Fellow 2022 From early January, when Cultural Season 2023 took to…

As the world is picking up where it left off by the drawn-out Covid-19 pandemic, many people have reacquainted themselves with favourite faces. And it comes in many ways for Cambodians, whether it’s attending a wedding reception, visiting hometown to see elder relatives, taking a friendship trip, meeting up at art galleries, or just a…

“The term curator is quite new to me. Among my fellow classical dancers, we didn’t know about that before. We thought curator only applies to the visual artists and those who curate the photo galleries or paintings exhibitions. And curatorial concept hasn’t been common with performing art practitioners in Cambodia.” Serei Vankosoan, CLA Curatorial Fellow…

The Khmer Magic Music Bus has the mission to take traditional music to villages all around in Cambodia, especially in rural areas where performing arts are often hard to find. The KMMB began as an independent project started by our founder Arn CHORN-POND and friend Steve RIEGE in 2012. They had watched Master Mon Hai…

In December 2021, CLA Executive Director Phloeun PRIM sat down with CLA supporter Dana White for a recorded conversation during a recent trip to the US. Dana reflected on his longtime involvement with CLA and why his experience in Cambodia—spanning five trips that date as far back as 2004—has been so meaningful. Below are excerpts…

Dear Friends, In the first decade of the 2000s, arts development in Cambodia meant preservation. There was a fear that in the wake of Khmer Rouge control of Cambodia, which saw 90% of the country’s artists perish, Cambodian arts and culture were at risk of being lost forever. My dear brother Arn Chorn-Pond, our founder,…

Celebrating 16 Years since the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural  Expressions At the heart of Cambodian Living Arts work, we share the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural  Expressions 2005 commitment to diversity of cultural expression as fundamental to vital societies. October…

CLA’s and MCH’s shared memories of Margaret Shiu The passing of Margaret Shiu, founder of Bamboo Curtain Studio (BCS), one of the most respected cultural figures in Taiwan, on August 30th is a great loss to the Southeast Asian and Asian art community. Like many regional arts and cultural organizations that have had contact with…