Cambodian Living Arts is pleased to announce the “Dam Dos Project Grant” for artists and cultural practitioners. This grant was created to support artists and cultural professionals develop new creative projects, community arts projects, endangered music search projects, and other research related to Cambodian arts and culture.
We want to support those who have never had such an opportunity. The long-term goal of the “Dam Dos Project Grant” is to promote the arts in Cambodia, with a particular focus on creativity and leadership.
“Dam Dos Project grant is a motivating factor that has greatly supported and facilitated my research process on indigenous instruments, giving me the opportunity to record and compile document for the next generation.” _ Tiv Sim, Dam Dos Grantee from Ratanakiri
Dam Dos Project Grantees 2023
SOK Nalys
Sok Nalys graduated from the Faculty of Choreographic Arts of the Royal University of Fine Arts and is a former artist of the Department of Performing Arts. I have performed at various national and international events from 2007 to present. I also used to direct performances and create some works of art to be used in various events both in the country and abroad. In addition, I have been involved in compiling and documenting classical dance with professors and seniors for a short period of time.
Project: “នាដ ឬ My body is made for dancing” This project aims to create a platform as a contribution to Cambodian society at the same time, to strengthen my potentiality to another level in trying new things. This project is also for the benefit of the next generation who study art as well as looking for good advice to build their future plan in art sector, as well as for the public who do not understand classical art to hear from the expert and understand art clearly. “Lys’s Perspective” will be a unique art forum on social media as it emphasizes the interconnectedness of classical art and contemporary contexts with the main strategies, I have devised such as the art of producing video, a moderate video quality with modern vibe. The topic will be prepared in advance and the content is carefully scripted with consultation from experts, professors or relevant institutions to ensure accuracy. This project will be implemented on Facebook page and on other social medias. It is expected that these will bring positive results both in terms of conservation and development in the field of classical art. Providing knowledge and motivation to the next generation so they can become a good resource for classical art, as well as the right support from the public, is a positive outcome for classical art and society.
HOURT Bunny
Hourt Bunny was trained in Khmer folklore dance and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Choreography from the Royal University of Fine Arts. In addition to his dance installation, Bunny took up a new career as a stage manager. He has worked as a production coordinator for numerous productions and festivals including the rock opera Where Elephants Weep, Cambodian Youth Arts Festival, Season of Cambodia festival in New York, Mahabharata by Japanese director Hiroshi Koike and toured to Singapore, Japan, Vietnam and Rwanda. In 2014 he participated in the ASEAN Design and Technical Theater Workshop (Phase III) which focused on Production and Stage Management at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila, Philippines. In 2016, a two-month production stage management residency with the international acclaimed New York based dance company, Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG). This residency has been made possible through a grant from the Asian Cultural Council in New York City. Bunny undertook the technical direction, trained by Mr. Johan Henckens. In 2019 he participated in the MASTERCLASS on Lighting Design for Dance, trained by Jennifer Tipton, a lighting designer, with credit of 81 hours masterclass training at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Bunny has worked as a technical director and stage manager of Art of Peace in 2019, and Cultural season of Cambodian Living Arts in 2021, 2022, 2023. Bunny is also a faculty member at the Faculty of Choreographic Arts, Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh.
Project: “The day before I performed, today I watched the performance” is a title of a workshop program that will share experiences skills of Stage management, Stage and lighting design, and an introduction to the composition of participants in the performing arts production. Such as: Playwriter, Director, Stage and lighting designer, Costume designer, Technical director, Stage manager, Performer, Tech crew Etc. In this workshop, participants will learn a professional and internationally staged performance.
SUM Sithen
Since 2009, Sithen SUM has mobilized thousands of Cambodian film enthusiasts to build their foundations, producing and showcasing their short films, through intensive workshops and trips and especially, Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (CSFF). In late 2018, he graduated from a six-month movie producing course at Busan Asian Film School. After founding Sunflower Film Alliance in late 2017 and registering Sunflower Film Organization (SFO) in 2019, he pursued his mission in training Cambodian and indigenous youths and profiling up their works. Since 2019, he has expanded CSFF’s relationship with other festivals in Japan, China and the rest of Southeast Asia
Project: “Chaktomuk Short Film Festival” Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (or CSFF, in short) is Cambodia’s largest officially recognized international scaled short film festival. Founded since 2012, CSFF has served as a go-to springboard for independent filmmakers who went on to enjoy great opportunities and careers in their own filmmaking paths. CSFF is thus one of the most viable platforms of the Kingdom, enabling emerging filmmakers to showcase their creative works with cost efficiency to the mass, and international and affiliate platforms.
HUOT Hoeurn
My name is Huot Hoeurn, and I studied theater at Phare Ponleu Selpak from 2006 until 2012.
I am a theater teacher at Phare Ponleu Selpak and also a theater artist.
Project: “Today or never!”
OU Kongkea
I graduated bachelor degree of Archaeology in Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA). I am now working at APSARA National Authority in Siem Reap. I also do research with intangible cultural heritage unit of APSARA to study spiritual beliefs, traditional practices, and craft arts in Angkor Region.
Project: “Pleng Krim” is a kind of wedding songs in Cambodia which is now facing globalization and modernization. This music was very popular in Siem Reap; however, it has remarkably been neglected among the practiced community which possibly lead to disappear in the near future. Meanwhile, local villagers are now influenced by “traditional wedding songs”, which can be globally found on social media, from outsiders. By seeing this situation, the project aims to research, document, and promote “Pleng Krim” for public attention. The study takes place at Thnoat Chrum, Duan Keo, Pouk, Siem Reap. We also hope this project will bring involved stakeholders to have a discussed platform in communities to national level. The research witnesses the struggle of musicians for preserving “Pleng Krim” and developing skill practices to chase the globalization in the village at the same time.
KOSAL Pisey
Born in 1982, Pisey Kosal graduated in photography from the École Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie d’Arles (France) in 2006. Between 1999 and 2003, he studied French literature with teaching and journalism majors at the Institute of Foreign Languages of the Royal University of Phnom Penh (Cambodia). He also received a master’s degree in international law from Nice Sophia Antipolis University (France) in 2009.
During his journalism career, he has improved himself in the photography and art sectors. He believes photography is not only an art form but also a way to reflect on social issues. His first photo documentary was about precious stone workers in Pailin. In 2022, he participated in a photo workshop about the Phnom Penh suburb. His last artwork, “Slow Steps,” is a narrative photo book related to his own daily life observations. Currently, he continues to take pictures around Phnom Penh city, which is expanding, for example, with the “South Phnom Penh” project, and abroad, for example, in South Korea. He is also a lecturer in photography history and theory at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Royal University of Fine Arts. Space, landscape, people, and time are his main topics.
Project: “Practice and Theory Workshop History and Theory of Photography” Artistic photography is not only about shooting pictures! So, in this practice and theory workshop framework, lessons are designed mainly for student capacity enhancement to become artists, documentary, press, and advertising photographers.
The workshop has three goals. Firstly, it is an opportunity for students to gain knowledge on global and local photography history from the beginning to the digital stage. All theories will be explained through famous photographer’s works. Secondly, students have the ability to initiate their own research and create their own artwork. To support this goal, students may suggest a concept or topic for their personal project. Every week, students can show their photos and get feedback from classmates and lecturer. Thirdly, student artwork will be presented in different ways, for example, through exhibition and publishing.
This workshop will have an impact, for example, on contemporary artwork produced by students, which reflects multiple aspects: social, economic, environmental, religious, and development issues. Contemporary photo creation will become a heritage for our society and a memory for the next generation.
SIN Thuokna
Currently living in Battambang and working at Phare Creative Studio in the field of animation. As well as additional skills including Caricature, Body painting, Draw children’s story books and costume design. Future goal is to become a Fashion art designer in Cambodia.
Project: “1960s fashion” is a fashion show project of new design from 1960s in form of bigger, longer with gems and multiple color jewelries to remembrance of the strong progress in all form of arts such as music, movie, fashion, and building etc. The other hance in each design are being extracted and represent for artists in that period of time. We will take all form of fashion from 1960s to redesign them as a new creative which is more powerful that will show our identity to people around the world about our culture and our nation that is strong progress in this form of art too.
Dam Dos Project Grantees 2022
HUL Kanha
(b.1999, Siem Reap) is an artist, she is currently pursuing her English Language degree at University. Her works also propose an exchange between respective roles in society and represent it as self-reflection. Her multidisciplinary artwork mainly incorporates photography with painting, paper cutting.
Project: Women’s perspective
The Women’s Perspectives project aims to reflect the voices of women and want to delve deeper into the mindset related to traditional culture on Cambodian women since ancient times and continuing to have a profound effect on the freedom of expression of women today.
The perception that women do not have the ability to perform various tasks better than being a housewife has become a short slogan in Cambodian society that still influences the majority of Cambodian women. As an artist, I would like to seek the support of women in general to express their feelings to find out how to turn those negative thoughts.
Jean-Baptiste Phou
is a French-Cambodian author and stage director. His first play « Cambodia, Here I Am » was performed in France and Cambodia between 2011 and 2012 and published in both languages in 2017.
Project: The sound piece “My Mother Tongue
“La langue de ma mère” (My Mother’s Tongue/ភាសាម្តាយខ្ញុំ) is a sound piece that deals with communication issues between a mother and son who don’t speak the same language. Originally written in French, It will be translated into Khmer and English for its presentation at the French Institute in March 2022.
TIV Sim
is Tompoun-Kreung young leader, pursuing Master of Business Management at Build Bright University in Ratanakiri province, under the support of Arn Chorn-Pond Living Arts scholarship. He’s been a development coordinator in indigenous people affair in Ratanakiri such as agriculture, education, health, environment and culture, and supports 36 underprivileged indigenous youths to continue their studies in Ratanakiri. Currently, he creates a homestay for some students and is a resort founder of indigenous people. He could speak 6 languages including Tompoun, Kreung, Khmer, English, Brao and Kavet. He is also a Tuberculosis project coordinator in Steung Treng Referral Hospital.
Project: Empowering creative initiative for indigenous people art preservation is a research project of endangered music including Chapei Khlok, Kley and Mem. These instruments have been shared by 4 indigenous communities including Kavet, Tompoun, Kreung and Jarai who reside in Kachon village, Tong Nong Leh village, Kalim village, L’eun Chorng village and Tharang village in Ratanakiri. These musical instruments are endangered, especially for their techniques in making and playing. This project is started with research to seek for instrument expert makers and to form committee to evaluate their sound quality and appearance, video shooting, writing and publishing, performing and promoting through exhibition and on social media.
CHHOUNG Veasna
is currently a student at the Royal University of Fine Arts, majoring in Traditional Dance, as a choreographer and an independent artist. He also used to perform in national and international programs.
Project: Lakhon Berk Bort
This project will further research on the Lakhon Berk Bort form for documentation and presentation as a performance and book.
NEN Phearith
is currently the leader of the Phearith Lakhaon Niyay, as well as the theatre director.
Project: Short Theater training course in community
A part-time course to share and learn the basics of acting, theory, practice, and script writing.
This project will be an important part of contributing to the development of the resources of theatrical artists and promote the art of theatre to the wider community, especially young men and women.
YEAN Reaksmey
is an art curator, writer, and researcher; and a program director of Silapak Trotchaek Pneik (STP), a contemporary art space by YK Art House. He is also a part-time art history lecturer at CamTech University and an LL.M. student in Public International Law at the Royal University of Law and Economics and the University of Paris 8.
Project: 40 years of Srey Bondol’s artistic life is a four years project research to document the work and his biography since 1980 (making arts work during the refugee camp) till 2021. The project aims to do digitalization, photograph, and publish a catalog, retrospective exhibition, and open to the public through the Bophana Center.
Dam Dos Project Grantees 2021
KEO Sreypheak
is a painter who is passionate about the visual arts and performing arts. As a strong advocate for environmental protection and women’s empowerment, Sreypheak uses the arts as a mean to address and cope with social issues.
Project: Build a training course for women in the arts and sustainability.
Sreypheak works with specialized trainers to provide capacity building courses for an all-women music troupe in Siem Reap. The course focuses on team planning, development and creativity, and problem solving as a team leader. Her goal is to encourage the participation of women in the arts.
LEB Ke
was born in 1980 in Kampong Tralach district, Kampong Chhnang province. He is a founder of Cham Unicode fonts, Cham curriculum developer, a researcher of Austronesian linguistics and Cham culture in Cambodia. Currently, he is a master candidate at Royal University of Phnom Penh. He has done many publications such as: Cham Textbook, Cham Folktales and Cham Poem.
Project: Compilation of ancient Cham poems
Tampor and Kak Vang are Cham poems which could be treated as a rare to have any Cham in Cambodia could cite in these days. the fancy of Rhyme is in sleep in the hanging bag in the owner house due they are preserving them since their ancestor. The project would bring them back to make accessibility for Cham as well as poem lover and then there will be advantage to Cambodian culture.
SOY Chanborey
is currently a vice president of Lakhaon Khaol Youth of Cambodia and a civil servant at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, which he has served in since 2016. He graduated in 2015 from the Royal University of Fine Arts, majoring in Lakhaon Khoal. As a contemporary dancer, choreographer and Lakhaon Khaol artist, he has worked on a number of national and international projects. Presently, he is also a member of the SilverBell dance troupe and is involved in researching and documenting Cambodian classical dance (Lakhaon Khaol).
Project: Contemporary Dance: Blood on Water
Blood on Water [working-title]” is a new piece that tells the stories of the lives of Cambodian women, centering on their strengths and depicting the challenges that they have encountered and overcome. The piece will feature stories from women who work both in and outside the arts sector.
MAN Chantha
is a Kreung artist and troupe leader in her Kreung community in Ochum village, Ochum district, Rattanakiri province.
Project: Commemoration and Celebration of Kreung Communities Traditions will bring together 10 groups of Kreung communities in Ratanakkiri province to commemorate and celebrate their arts and culture by showcasing their traditions and new creations to the public as well as to open up a space for conversation among them. The 10 Kreung communities is from nine different villages.
MAO Sovandy
is a former staff member of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts in Kampong Thom Province. Now retired, he currently serves as an Assistant to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts based in Kompong Thom, a post he has held since 2020. Sovandy is passionate about supporting community arts clubs, and has helped forms 13 clubs across Kompong Thom Province. He has also won several awards from national literary and poem competitions.
Project: Establish a Dance Arts Club in Boeung Lvea Village in Kampong Thom Province
This community youth arts club aims to train the next generation of young people in Kampong Thom Province in Folk and Classical dance, and teach them the values of their arts and culture. The youth arts club is located in Boeung Lvea commune, which comprises 9 villages with 40 young people between the ages of 8 to 18. The club is strongly supported by the community for its long-term sustainability.
MECH Sereyrath
received her bachelor’s degree in media management from the Department of Media and Communications at the Royal University of Phnom Penh in 2018, where she developed her skills in photography and filmmaking. “I wish to document, through visual expression, untold stories and overlooked beauty in daily life, and to make meaning out of it, as the arts are there to free one’s soul. I do not see myself as just a Cambodian woman photographer, but as someone who holds responsibility for this generation and future generations.
Project: Small School, Big Heart
is a short documentary film project initiated by MECH Sereyrath, Choulay and Sokleng to raise awareness about social discrimination toward people with mental disability and physical challenges in Cambodia. This film also aims to showcase inclusivity in schools as a model for fighting against social discrimination toward those who are marginalized and vulnerable.
Dam Dos Project Grantees 2020
VA Bophary
Researcher and Lecturer
Translate on the book of Pithi Sampeaskru of Mohaori Music
CHAN Vitharin
Lecturer at Royal University of Fine Arts, faculty of fine/visual arts
Publish a book in Printmaking Art
RY Monisovanya
Designer and artist
Street art performance with photos on Women empowerment project “Rice and Rights”
AN Pagna
Lecturer in Theater at Royal University of Fine Arts
Choreograph a theater called “Darkness in the Sun”
Dam Dos Project Grantees 2019
SOUS Sinath
Director of HR at PPSE & Community Engagement
2019 Arts and Environment Festival
SRUN Rida
Graduate from faculty of Fine Arts at
Royal University of Fine Arts
Print Making Arts in Cambodia
PHAL Youphea
Graphic Designer
Create Animation for protection for all
wildlife called “Dream”
HANH Sokharo
Independent producer & filmmaker
Film script of Memories of river
NANG Yanna
Project coordinator at Sovannaphum Association
Research and document of wood puppets of Cambodia
Dam Dos Project Grantees 2018
SAO Sreymao
Digital Photography
Digital sketch on photography & installation
“Under Water”
SIV Serey
Photographer
Photography under the theme of
“Language Barrier”
CHHIT Chanpireak
Co-founder and Director of
Lakhon Komnit Organization
Script researching and writing for a
theater called “Oknha Chaktorongyos”
YENG Chheangly
Writer
Translate the poetry “Hearing the voice of ASEAN, Struggle of the Nations”
