Local Art Club Hopes To Spark New Khmer Renaissance

While culture officials lament the popularity of foreign entertainment, an art club connected to TVK is training young Cam­bodi­ans to sing, dance and perform in Kh­mer style.

“Our goal is to provide basic and correct knowledge of Khmer art,” said Sem So­vanndeth, the di­rec­tor of the Media Services Lim­it­ed Art Club.

The club hired nine teachers from the University of Fine Arts to teach about 600 students from Phnom Penh, Prey Veng, Kom­­pong Speu and Kandal provin­­ces.

Students are taught a variety of skills, from disco and modeling to traditional Khmer dance. “This is a good club,” said stu­­­dent To Mo­ny Udom, 28. “They have ve­ry talented teachers.”

Students must demonstrate talent before being accepted, but the courses are free. They run Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 11 am and from 2 pm to 5 pm. This term, 1,800 students applied for the 600 slots; the average student studies for six months.

Sem Sovanndeth says students are not charged because “those who have art talent are in poor fam­ilies, so we encourage them to help upgrade our culture and our art,” he said.

Klot Rattana, production manager at MSL, said the company has shot a few comedies and will shoot some television dramas in March. The club has a contract with TVK to produce programs for television, he said.

Mau Ayuth, general director of TVK, said the station has many us­es for trained performers. “What we want for our television is more Khmer style,” he said.

Graduates “can participate in a game show, concert, a comedy, or they can make a se­ries,” Mau Ayuth added.

Although MSL is unusual in not charg­ing its students, art and dance clubs appear to be popular in Phnom Penh.

Art teachers at MSL said there are at least 13 for-profit clubs in Ph­nom Penh, charging month­ly fees of between $10 and $20.

Officials say they are not sure of the exact number, since not all register with the Ministry of Fine Arts and Cul­ture.

Dek Sarin, deputy chief of the Culture Development Depart­ment at the Ministry, said there are at least 100 associations of art and culture registered, although some are inactive.

“Some clubs opened for only three or six months before closing down,” he said.

So the Minis­try now waits for the clubs to become well-established before requiring registration, he said.