INSPIRING CURIOSITY CAMBODIAN LIVING ARTS ANNUAL REPORT 2013-2014 Children of Bassac monkey dancers performing part of the Golden Mermaid dance 3 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE If we want the arts sector and the arts to be sustainable, it’s more important than ever to keep investing in our leaders.” Three years ago we made a bold decision employ another 50 artists. It will be fit- What’s really amazing is that we are al- to invest in Plae Pakaa, a performance ting given our theme for the year ahead ready starting to see it happen. platform in Phnom Penh. It was a huge is Launching Careers. In 2014, we all worked so hard and I couldn’t be happier with what risk: running the program as an innova- In August this year at the Amatak Festi- tive social business. It was a vastly dif- From this experience, we are realizing val, we saw 12 troupes on stage during we’ve achieved. Of course I’m proud of our team and our work creating ferent approach than before, but one we that if we want the arts sector and the a weekend in which every performance thought critical to helping artists launch arts to be sustainable, it’s more important was standing-room only a great demon- decent jobs for the next generation, but what I’m most proud of is seeing sustainable careers. than ever to keep investing in our lead- stration of our commitment to inspiring our students start their own projects. When I see our young people being ers. This year we wrapped up the first curiosity. Seeing the tears of joy and pride PHLOEUN PRIM We fortunately found investors who be- year of our Creative Leaders program, in the Masters’ eyes as they watched their strong, creative and independent, I feel we are one step closer to peace Executive Director lieved in our vision and were able to culminating in eight arts leaders creat- students performing was one of the most and harmony for people all over the world.” build a beautiful theater at the National ing the Cambodian Arts Network. We are wonderful things for me, and I felt that the Museum to get us off the ground, but the about to launch the second year of this transfer from the old to the new genera- road hasn’t always been smooth. At the program and are so excited to see where tion was really coming around full-circle. end of the day, we learned from it all and these leaders will go next. ARN CHORN-POND today we are starting to see some exciting Coming into 2015, we are seeing Cambo- Founder of Cambodian Living Arts returns on our investment. In addition to the leaders program, we dian Living Arts evolving from the Masters have been focusing a great deal on our Teaching Program and inspiring curiosity We just closed a year in which we Professional Development program, giv- to this new era of launching careers.” reached the break-even point and earned ing artists the capacity and knowledge to more than 100K of income. We have launch sustainable, lifelong arts careers. seen 25,000 visitors over the course of We see this program as the core way of the three years and are now employing helping these cultural entrepreneurs to 120 artists – and, we are about to pilot a take control of their future in the next similar project in Siem Reap, which will few years. INSPIRING CURIOSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2013 - 2014 OBJECTIVES & IMPACTS 4 COMMUNITY ARTS 5 OBJECTIVES IMPACTS » High quality, traditional performing arts Reach of CLA-initiated classes: programs are being taught and practiced in communities throughout Cambodia. ENTERPRISE PROGRAM Community artists are generating income by running their troupe or other cultural business 9 1 19 BANTEAY as a sustainable enterprise. 95 2 RATANAKIRI MEANCHEY TEACHING PROGRAM SIEM REAP Communities are independently supporting and sustaining traditional performing art classes. 10 ARTS AWARENESS PROGRAM BATTAMBANG 42 1 The public has a greater understanding of KOMPONG THOM traditional performing art forms. 114 2 PHNOM PENH Dance 120 KOMPONG Music SPEU 11 Opera Independent classes 15 KANDAL TAKEO Singing Independent troupes Large Shadow Puppetry Number of students Audience at Amatak Festival INSPIRING CURIOSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2013 - 2014 Mel Sophana far right FOCUS KHMER MAGIC MUSIC BUS 6 FOCUS 7 One of our main partners in implementing our Community Arts activities is the Khmer Magic Music Bus (KMMB). An initiative of CLA’s co-founder, Arn Chorn-Pond, the KMMB brings music to the countryside, where people rarely have access to live music and arts. The project is led by Thon Seyma, a female singer and dynamic entrepreneur. CLA has spent the past year working with the KMMB team to create a business plan for their future, and provided support with training and resources. During the year, the KMMB was contracted to take three of our CLA troupes to the countryside for performances in the community, and it even became a flying bus, as the KMMB team helped to send two well-known Masters artists to Austria where they performed as part of the Glatt und Verkehrt Festival! THON SEYMA, KMMB Founder & General Manager We named this project the Khmer Magic When we founded the KMMB, I felt very stage, and build their network. I wish that in Music Bus because we believe that all artists excited and nervous, because we had future we can have ten magic music buses, who participate in the project become part the responsibility to make this project so when we travel around Cambodia people of a magic medicine that heals people’s sustainable. The project now develops step by say, oh here is the KMMB coming! MEL SOPHANA, Member of the Community of Living Chapey feelings through music. step. Sometimes we face challenges meeting artists and organizers, but it’s exciting. Yet, I CLA supports us with training. A training I would love to see more local support. found particularly useful was a three-day I’m told that playing Chapei is not worth spending any young people’s support in the arts. Otherwise, who will CLA has showed us the way towards self-sustainability. When I see budget management workshop. Before, I time on. But I love traditional arts and I keep practicing. continue the arts in this country? So now I’m practicing a It has provided new costumes and found a new place to I like to see women from villages we visit was just doing things without any method, lot of popular music to adapt it to Chapei. rehearse, but it also helped us promote ourselves and find villagers and artists get involved in the events, to show them but now I understand systems better. performance opportunities. We’ve benefited a lot from CLA’s dance and enjoy that a woman can also lead projects and CLA also brings ideas and finds artists to I believe that if culture I’m happy that this class transformed into a professional trainings, even if it wasn’t about Chapei specifically, but also travel across provinces. I want to show participate in the KMMB. Sometimes CLA flourishes, society also troupe. Thanks to CLA who gave us the opportunity to about other art forms, or sound and light or music notation. the music together them that everyone experiences difficulties rents the KMMB for their activities, and that explore new things. Before this troupe, I felt students were but can overcome them. money is used to develop the project. When improves. just coming to the class without creating strong relations In future I want to teach children in my village. People never like a family, we organize a performance, I want to pay with each other. But now we share a real group spirit! I want finish learning. I saw so many people who would love to that’s when I feel I want to bring more artists to the far the artists for their participation. We cannot To me, creating new songs with traditional roots is the way to have a space where we can feel free to give and receive study Chapei and don’t have any chance to, so if you get countryside where people have never had always ask artists to volunteer. And CLA to bring youth back to this art form, to show them that feedback and knowledge. We’re also working on improving this opportunity, don’t lose it!” most excited about the chance to experience art, and help helps us find more paid work for them.” Chapei can be dynamic. It’s important to have the the staging of our performances. this project! artists be more confident, perform better on INSPIRING CURIOSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2013 - 2014 SAMKHUON SARAVUTH 8 AMATAK FESTIVAL Member of the Yike Amatak Troupe 9 AUGUST 15-17, 2014 Amatak Festival was a very new experience for me and I felt excited to be part of it. Taking part in the production of a new Yike piece, Kandol Kesei, OBJECTIVES comprised of ten amateur and professional was especially new to me. I didn’t know the story, and I had to perform a troupes that recently emerged from CLA- new kind of character that I wasn’t used to before. It was very interesting and » Cambodian youth believe that traditional initiated classes of traditional performing I think the audience enjoyed the piece. arts are creative, dynamic and relevant arts. The goal was for the troupes to produce to them their own performance piece: something The festival was not only good for my troupe but for other participating » Emerging artists perform, create new traditional but at the same time a brand new troupes.