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Celebrating 30 Years of Phare Ponleu Selpak

 

This year marks Phare Ponleu Selpak’s 30th anniversary! To celebrate, we are hosting multiple events and festivals and aim to raise an ambitious target of $900,000 USD to launch the school in its next 30 years of changing lives through the arts.

  • Track Phare’s progress toward our $900,000 goal! 4.4% 4.4%
$40,000

$900,000

Here’s how we are celebrating 30 years of the brightness of the arts all year long!

Sangker River Run
Weekend in Phnom Penh
Tini Touni International Festival
Ros Battambang Music Festival
Soiree at French Embassy
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January: Sangker River Run

Sangker River Run final photo with all runners and cyclists

First Ever Sangker River Run: A Smashing Success

This past January, Phare hosted the first-ever Sangker River Run in Battambang, Cambodia. The 30-kilometer run/cycle event kicked off our year-long 30th anniversary celebrations here at Phare Ponleu Selpak and served as a fundraiser for the school’s art and education programs with the stretch goal of raising $300,000 USD.

The race started at the foot of Phnom Banan Temple, ran along Battambang’s Sangker River, and ended at Phare Ponleu Selpak campus.

We are so glad to have hosted runners and cyclists from 14 different countries including Cambodia, Vietnam, Pakistan, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Chile, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Thanks to generous platinum sponsorship by V-Active and Krud Energy, gold sponsorship by ABA Bank, and the contributions of other sponsors and local partners, 100% of the money raised by runners and cyclists went toward the 30th anniversary fundraiser.

March: A Weekend of Festivities in Phnom Penh 

Madison Now

Photo credit: Oyen Rodriguez

Charity Gala

Hosted by Rosewood Phnom Penh, the annual Phare Ponleu Selpak charity gala has become a much-loved affair among Phnom Penh society. This year, in celebration of Phare’s 30th anniversary, co-founder and artist TOR Vutha will commence the evening with a live painting, while star music alumnus Vanthan will entertain guests with a closing concert over dessert. We are also excited to reveal an exclusive collaboration between two Phare graduates and distinguished Phnom Penh fashion houses – Ambre and A.N.D. – as their bespoke fashion creations will be auctioned at the dinner. It will be an evening to remember!

End of Love (Cabaret)

END OF LOVE (CABARET) is the first collaboration between Phare Ponleu Selpak and The Acting Academy Phnom Penh. This performance is directed by one of the builders of The Acting Academy, Karim Belkacem Saadi.

END OF LOVE (CABARET) opens the door to modernity in Khmer storytelling and develops the way for “ល្ខោនសម័យ” (Cambodian contemporary theatre). It combines sensibility with the orality of the modern Khmer dialect to deliver a touching-yet-poignant performance through the disposition of a classic cabaret.

In addition to our annual charity gala, hosted by Rosewood Phnom Penh, to commemorate our 30th anniversary, Phare co-produce and co-present two new contemporary dance and theatre performances called Madison Now and End of Love in collaboration with world-renowned performing artists and presented them in Phnom Penh. 

June: Tini Touni International Circus Festival

Photo credits: Stefano Morrone

This year, Phare Ponleu Selpak will host the 12th edition of the Tini Tinou International Circus Festival in Battambang from 3-9 June 2024. The celebration of contemporary circuses from around the world will include full-length performances, artist-led workshops, pop-up shows, and parades with music and performing arts in Battambang. We are excited to announce our collaboration with FORCE from South Korea on our production called “Handshake” and reveal the final version of “End of Love (Cabaret)” in the biannual event!

Photo credits: Stefano Morrone

If you are interested in performing  at the festival, please reach out to ____________________.

October: Ros Battambang Music Festival

ROS’ Battambang or the ‘Taste of Battambang’ was initiated by Phare to celebrate Battambang Water Festival in 2020 during  COVID-19 to bring back joy and a sense of community that was lost during the pandemic.

S'Art Urban Arts Festival volunteers and staff

Photo Credits: Juliette Deloron

This year is marked as the 2nd edition of ROS’ Battambang with more focus on music. “ROS’ Battambang – Music Fest.”. ROS’ Battambang – Music Fest. will  focus on Battambang based music performances while creatively mixing other performing arts forms such as dance and circus…etc. The art fair will have fun activities for all ages such as games, henna, face painting, and caricature service. 

Photo credits: Olivia AUDO & CHIERN Piseth Samphallyka

The 30th Anniversary Soiree will celebrate the connections between Phare Ponleu Selpak and France, including the pioneering work of Véronique Decrop, the fundraising efforts of Phare Ponleu Selpak France association, the long-term partnership on projects with AFD – Agence Française de Développement – and the hundreds of other donations, contributions, partnerships, and volunteer service from French organizations and the people of France. 

The soiree will end the year with art displays, live music, circus performances, and of course, plenty of food for everyone.  

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