Cambodian Living Arts

Living Arts International (LAI) is a USA incorporated non-profit, who believes that arts are at the heart of a vital society. LAI works in Cambodia, catalyzing a vibrant arts sector, inspiring new generations, as Cambodian Living Arts. LAI also works within the Mekong Region and Taiwan as the Mekong Cultural Hub.

Cambodian Living Arts

• We were founded in 1998 by genocide survivor and musician Arn CHONRS-POND. For a decade, we focused on endangered performing art forms and rituals. As 90% of Cambodia’s artists did not survive the Khmer Rouge regime, Cambodian’s artistic heritage was in danger of being lost forever.
• Over the last 20 years, both Cambodia and the arts scene have developed rapidly and we have involved our work to match. we have focused on the helping talented people to build and development careers in the arts, through scholarships, fellowships, and support to troupes and individuals.
• Looking forwards, we aim to promote creativity and innovation in the arts sector, and to build links with our neighbors in the Greater Mekong region and further afield in Asia. We are also working to get more arts and culture education into Cambodian public schools, and to increase performance opportunities for Cambodian artists.

Mekong Cultural Hub

• MCH addresses a systemic lack of connectivity among artists and cultural practitioners in Southeast Asia and the Mekong Region. After an initial mapping project, we identified that individual cultural practitioners, artists, and arts organizations in the Mekong Region share many of the same interests, priorities, challenges and constraints. These challenges range from a lack of resources, threats to sustainability and the environment, sensitive social and political contexts, limited access to in-country training and development, and few opportunities to exchange knowledge and collaborate with peers from neighboring countries.