students enrolled annually
invested yearly in education and the community
%
of graduates in jobs
What we do
Over 1,000 students are empowered every year through our schools and programs in performing, visual, and applied arts. Both leisure classes for children and vocational training for young adults develop their creativity, communication, and concentration skills, and give them access to a sustainable artistic career while preserving and promoting Cambodian arts and culture.
Support us
Help us spread a passion for the arts across Cambodia. We believe that all children, regardless of their background, deserve to have access to the healing powers of the arts. Our artistic training provides art therapy as well as professional skills that lead to lasting employment. Your donation directly supports these programs.
Come see a circus show!
Circus shows
Experience a circus show by our talented students.
From November to February, shows take place four days a week: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 7 p.m.
From March to October, shows run three days a week: Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 7 p.m.
Buy your tickets online or on campus!
Visit the campus
Mornings and afternoons, Monday to Friday, we welcome you on guided tours of our vibrant campus. Tours are available in three languages: Khmer, English, and French. Book your visit today!
Workshops & Events
We offer workshops and events for tourists and businesses alike. Spend a day studying art, dance, circus or music with our artists and performers, or host your next meeting or team building seminar at our lush and atmospheric campus.
Sponsor a Child
When you join our child sponsorship program, your monthly gift gives our most at-risk students the aid and support they need to stay in school and pursue their passions.
Volunteer with Us
We welcome committed and passionate volunteers who have specific expertise or experience which fills a current need. Those needs change over time, but some examples of skills often needed are in social media, communications, IT, lighting, sound design, merchandising, and customer service.
Job Openings
Do you believe in the power of the arts as a tool for human development and social change? If this is you, join our team! Check out our open positions here.
News & Stories
Join Us for the Sangker River Run: A 30 km Fundraiser Run (or Cycle!) for Phare Ponleu Selpak
On your marks, get set…it’s time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Phare Ponleu Selpak! That’s right, 2024 is the year that Phare Ponleu Selpak turns 30, and we’re celebrating all year long with a series of special events, fundraisers, art festivals, and more….
Sovanita’s Story: How Phare Kindergarten Cultivated an Early Love of the Arts
Sinat, a mother from an impoverished situation, is delighted to witness her 5-year-old daughter Sovanita thrive in the supportive environment at Phare Kindergarten. Sovanita’s passion for art reflects her dreams, making her a favorite among teachers. Phare Ponleu…
The Water Festival in Battambang: Phare Ponleu Selpak’s role in cultural revitalization
At the heart of Khmer mythology there is a fascinating legend: the union between the Indian prince Kaundinya and the Naga princess Soma. Thousands of years ago, Cambodia was an island occupied by the Naga, half-human, half-serpent creatures, venerated as the…
Celebrating Pchum Ben at Phare: When the Living Honour Their Ancestors
I f your mornings were gent ly filled with the sound of prayers and sacred chants, you were likely in Cambodia, near a pagoda, during the sacred period of Pchum Ben . This essential festival for honoring ancestors attracts thousands of people to temples between…
The Heartbeat of the Sangker River: Why Sin Sisamuth and Battambang are Inseparable
To understand the soul of Cambodia, one must listen to the voice of Sin Sisamuth . Often called the “Emperor of the Golden Voice,” Sisamouth’s legacy is more than just a collection of melodies; it is a map of the Cambodian spirit. While his journey began in Steung…
The Alchemy of the Stage: How Krod Sovannara Transformed Art into a Professional Career
At Phare Ponleu Selpak, we often say that art changes lives. But what does that actually look like in practice? For Krod Sovannara , it looks like a journey that began with a first-grade dream and became a seat in a corporate boardroom. Recently, Sovannara vividly…
Celebrating Khmer New Year in Battambang: Community, Creativity, and Culture
Every April, as the dry season reaches its peak, Battambang comes alive with color, sound, and shared celebration. Khmer New Year, known locally as Chaul Chnam Thmey , is one of Cambodia’s most important holidays, marking the turn of the traditional calendar and…
Teaching art at Phare: a foreigner’s perspective
My name is Arrow Hargis, I’m an 18-year-old Princeton University student. I have the privilege to volunteer at Phare Ponlue Selapack and teach art to kids. I teach with Lokru Lao, one of the founders of Phare and a former student of the French humanitarian Véronique…
A Living Legacy: Sam Monny and the History of Phare Theatre
A Creativ e Path Begins (1996) Every artistic journey starts somewhere. For Mr. Sam Monny , it began in 1996 , when Phare Ponleu Selpak was still a young vision taking shape in Battambang. At just sixteen, Mony became one of Phare’s first general art students. …