Catch up on everything that’s happening at Phare Ponleu Selpak we work to change lives through the arts in Battambang, Cambodia.
Phare Alumni Success Story: Meet LY Vanthan, the Music Pop Star of Cambodia
It is always a joy to get to interview Vanthan, the music alumni from the Performing Arts School of Phare Ponleu Selpak Vanthan is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist. The well-known singer of “Khmer Gentleman” at Baramey...
Khmer New Year: How Phare Kindergarten Celebrated Songkran
Every year in mid-April, Cambodians celebrate the traditional holiday known as Khmer New Year – or Songkran – over the course of three festive days. The holiday is rooted in Buddhist traditions and is an important time for Cambodians to get back together with their...
Happy World Circus Day from Phare Ponleu Selpak!
From all the teachers, students, and staff at Phare Ponleu Selpak: Happy World Circus Day! World Circus Day was founded on 17 April 2009 by the Federation Mondiale du Cirque to celebrate and promote traditional circus arts all over the world – and that includes...
Prepare Yourself: Tini Tinou International Circus Festival Returns to Battambang This November – for Its Biggest Edition Yet!
Tini Tinou is back! And this year it’s going to be the biggest, boldest, and brightest edition of Tini Tinou ever! Mark your calendars from 22nd to 27th November 2024 for this week-long circus festival extravaganza right here in Battambang – the arts and cultural hub...
Meet CHHAI Bunsorng, Student Services Supervisor on the Phare Social Support Team
The Social Support program of Phare Ponleu Selpak is dedicated to improving the living standard of Cambodian children and their families in the community while engaging them in safeguarding children's rights and well-being. This is made possible by the Social Support...
30 Years of Phare Ponleu Selpak: How We’re Celebrating 30 Years of the Brightness of the Arts All Year Long
Grab a slice of birthday cake and prepare the fireworks, because it’s time to celebrate. This year, 2024, is the 30th anniversary of Phare Ponleu Selpak! The idea for Phare began in 1986 when French humanitarian Véronique Decrop worked as a drawing teacher in the...
Meet the Volunteers of Phare Ponleu Selpak: Olivia AUDO, Communications & Marketing Intern
At Phare Ponleu Selpak, we are fortunate to work with volunteers and interns from across Cambodia and around the world. It’s one of the best parts of being on our team – you get to form friendships and meet people from everywhere! This week we’re proud to interview...
Celebrating 30 Years of Phare Ponleu Selpak: A Weekend of Festivities in Phnom Penh
You are cordially invited to join us for Phare Ponleu Selpak's 30th anniversary celebrations in Phnom Penh from 1-3 March 2024. In addition to our annual charity gala – graciously hosted by Rosewood Phnom Penh – we are proud to co-produce and co-present two new...
Why Do the Arts Matter? A Conversation with the Co-Founders of Phare Ponleu Selpak
Arts are at the center of everything we do at Phare Ponleu Selpak. Phare’s mission, vision, values – and even its name – are all based on the idea that creativity and artistic expression are inherently valuable. We also believe that the visual and performing arts...
Thank You for Making the First-Ever Sangker River Run a Smashing Success!
Wow! What a strong finish to the first-ever Sangker River Run, and thank you to everyone who made it such an incredible success! On Saturday 20 January 2024, Phare Ponleu Selpak hosted the inaugural Sangker River Run, welcoming 140 runners and cyclists from (at least)...
Another Year of Shining Bright: Highlights from 2023 at Phare Ponleu Selpak
With another year gone by, it’s time to reflect on everything that’s happened at Phare Ponleu Selpak in 2023. This past year, Cambodia has still been recovering from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while international tourism numbers have been...
Sneak Peak: Korea-Cambodia Circus Collaboration Coming to Tini Tinou International Circus Festival 2024
If you’re a fan of circus, then you know that one of the biggest circus festivals in Southeast Asia is returning this year to Battambang, Cambodia: the Tini Tinou International Circus Festival. In preparation for the 12th edition of Tini Tinou, circus artists from...
The Rich Cultural Heritage of Khmer Traditional Dance Taught at Phare Ponleu Selpak
When you think of Cambodia, it’s easy to think about its amazing temples and ancient ruins – especially Angkor Wat – along with its rich cultural heritage. Khmer traditional dance is a key part of Cambodian arts and culture. In fact, the beauty and softness of...
The Top 10 Phare Ponleu Selpak Blog Posts of 2023
It’s that time of year when everything from music to movies is arranged in a list and counted down. At Phare Ponleu Selpak, we’re doing the same. The past year has been quite busy at Phare Ponleu Selpak with art festivals, volunteers, star alumni, and more all making...
Meet the Volunteers of Phare Ponleu Selpak: Eva Xiste, Teacher Assistant & Graphic Designer
The campus of Phare Ponleu Selpak is home to volunteers from Cambodia and all around the world. This week, we’re proud to interview Eva Xiste who is from France but doing her university studies in London. During her time at Phare, Eva helped change lives through the...
How Global Citizenship Education Is Shaping the Next Generation of Leaders at Phare Ponleu Selpak
Today, the world is closely connected, and individuals, communities, and countries live in complex interdependencies. Individual lives are connected not only to the local communities and countries to which they belong, but also to the global population. Because of...
Phare’s Collective Child Sponsorship Program: Everything You Need to Know
We believe that all children – regardless of their background – deserve to have access to education and to the healing powers of the arts. By sponsoring a child at Phare Ponleu Selpak, you help us provide art programs and teach professional skills that lead to lasting...
3 Ways You Can Support Phare Ponleu Selpak on GivingTuesday 2023
Wherever you are in the world, we hope you’re having a great GivingTuesday! At Phare Ponleu Selpak, we’re gearing up for a big challenge: In 2024, we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary all year long with a series of special events, fundraisers, art festivals, and...
Phare Social Support Thanks Chef SOM Savoeurn for 17 Years of Service in the Free Lunch Program
Every student who is part of the free lunch program at Phare Ponleu Selpak knows SOM Savoeurn. For 17 years, she’s been the chef in the Phare kitchen helping the social support team by cooking nutritious meals for students in need or who live too far away. This...
Highlights of Educational Achievements at Phare Ponleu Selpak in 2023
Over 120 parents and families from around Battambang gathered under the big top at Phare Ponleu Selpak on 6 November 2023 to witness a special event organized by the Phare Education Department: The Highlights of Educational Achievements in 2023. This gathering of...
Battambang Water Festival: What It Is & How to Celebrate
If you’re ever traveling to Battambang in October, you might hear people talking about the water festival – or you might find yourself caught in the middle of it unknowingly if you’re down by the Sangker River and surrounded by racing boats and cheering crowds. ...
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