Phare Ponleu Selpak
 Festival director Yim Su-taek (left) of Gwacheon and Phare Ponleu Selpak director Khuon Det (right), 2012 | |
| Mission | Help young people to deal with their war trauma by means of art |
|---|---|
| Location | Battambang, Cambodia |
| Website | http://www.phareps.org/ |
Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS, Khmer: ហ្វារពន្លឺសិល្បៈ, literally: "Shining Beacon of Art"), is a Cambodian cultural organization in Battambang that uses art as a means to help young people to deal with their war trauma.[1]
Phare Ponleu Selpak offers multidisciplinary schooling to young people, which gives them a perspective to make a living in art. Those taught typically come from poor backgrounds. The education is focused on self-realization and durability. Classes are given in subjects like theatre, acrobatics, music and a variety of art disciplines. PPS works was founded by Cambodians that had learned in refugee camps that art can be a means to forget trauma.[1][2]
In the shows, themes are brought up such as genocide and other atrocities. Students of PPS have also acted abroad, like in Bangladesh and Thailand, and in September 2012 with their circus in Germany and Denmark. Annually PPS organizes the international circus festival Tini Tinou.[1][2]
In 2012 Phare Ponleu Selpak was honored with a Prince Claus Award from the Netherlands for its role in the society by means of using culture.[1][2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Prince Claus Fund (June 2012) Report from the 2012 Prince Claus Awards Committee
- 1 2 3 De Standaard, Phare Ponleu Selpak (Dutch)