Changing Lives through the Arts

 

Phare Ponleu Selpak – meaning the Brightness of the Arts – is a non-profit arts and circus school located in Battambang, Cambodia that empowers children, youth, and communities through artistic, educational, and social support programs.

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!

Phare Circus Schedule of March

Circus shows

Experience a circus show by our talented students. Shows take place on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays starting 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. 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

Keeping our visual art students’ vocations alive thanks to FinDac & Tribe Gallery  

Keeping our visual art students’ vocations alive thanks to FinDac & Tribe Gallery  

Those who have visited our campus after fall 2019 must remember the iconic «Anapyabal» mural on our circus building, painted by the world-famous Irish urban artist FinDac. After his visit to  Cambodia and Phare, he made limited edition prints of Anapyabal for Cambodia sold through our partner Tribe Gallery and another one for the international audience. 100% of profits have been donated towards Phare Visual and Applied Arts School students’ scholarship fund. 

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« Voice of older people » is making its way across Western Cambodia

« Voice of older people » is making its way across Western Cambodia

Along with our main programs targeting the youth, we continue to develop greater community outreach projects with « Voice of older people », which aims to use the arts as an innovative tool to raise awareness in the community about the condition and challenges of the elderly women, and notably the disabled. 

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Save the Date: Online Screening of « Cirque du Cambodia »

Save the Date: Online Screening of « Cirque du Cambodia »

Cirque du Cambodia is a documentary film showcasing the success story of Phare alumni Dina and Sopha. Starting on UN World Children’s Day, a special online benefit screening will be organized to raise money for our school and inspire people to help changing other Cambodian children’s lives through the arts!

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Ensuring the youngest’s development while Phare kindergarten is closed 

Ensuring the youngest’s development while Phare kindergarten is closed 

After all Cambodian schools closed in March, Phare’s Education Department responded by developing outreach programs in the surrounding communes to provide our kindergarten children with face to face, socially distanced classes. Meet our teacher Hanny, who has been very actively engaged in teaching her students in the communities.

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Realising our first circus “summer camp” with the Metta Karuna’s kids

Realising our first circus “summer camp” with the Metta Karuna’s kids

Phare had the pleasure to co-organize a day of circus workshops to entertain and bring joy to the children of the « Metta Karuna » Center, a like-minded organization of Battambang Province which provides education and care to young people coming from dire family circumstances including severe poverty and abandonment.

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How we support the communities we serve in times of COVID-19

How we support the communities we serve in times of COVID-19

In these troubled times, our first thought has been for the many impoverished communities in Battambang Province who are counting on Phare’s support. Social support has always been at the core of our mission. To understand the economic situation and immediate needs of families affected by this global crisis, Phare’s social workers conducted a detailed survey in April.

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Phare’s little artists joined the UNESCO online exhibition

Phare’s little artists joined the UNESCO online exhibition

Our passionate and dedicated teachers Lon Lao and Chen Phy joined this exciting initiative with six students from their leisure drawing classes to learn, create and discover about the natural and cultural heritage sites in their country, their region, and around the globe.

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Read more about what’s happening at Phare Ponleu Selpak on our blog and news pages.