Cambodian Living Arts

Over our near-20 year history, Cambodian Living Arts (CLA) has worked tirelessly to regrow Cambodia’s arts sector and provide opportunities for artists to write the story of the country’s future.

We were founded in 1998 by genocide survivor, musician, and peace advocate Arn Chorn-Pond initially to preserve and revive Cambodia’s endangered traditional art forms. We initially focused on the preservation of endangered performing art forms and rituals. After the Khmer Rouge regime, 90% of Cambodia’s artists did not survive and the arts and many art forms, the heart of a culture, were in danger of being lost forever.

We were founded in 1998 by genocide survivor, musician and peace advocate Arn Chorn-Pond initially to preserve and revive Cambodia’s endangered traditional art forms. 90% of Cambodia’s artists did not survive the Khmer Rouge regime and Cambodia’s artistic heritage, the heart of a culture, was in danger of being lost forever.

Over the last 20 years, both Cambodia and the arts scene have developed rapidly and we have evolved our work to match. Today we focus on nurturing talent and equipping emerging artists and young leaders with the essential skills and opportunities they need to start, grow and blossom, including:

• Scholarships to support bright, young Cambodians to start their careers as artists
• Fellowships to catalyze the next generation of cultural leaders
• Professional performance spaces to create jobs
• Local festivals and workshops to develop the market for performing arts in Cambodia
• International tours and exchanges that provide new opportunities for emerging artists
• An exciting new partnership integrating art and culture into the Cambodian public schools
• Advocacy for national and international engagement with the Cambodian arts sector

Looking forwards, CLA’s mission is to be a catalyst in a vibrant Cambodian arts sector, inspiring new generations. We aim to promote creativity and innovation in the arts sector, build links with our neighbours in the Asian region, and expand audiences and markets for the Cambodian performing arts nationally and internationally.