Cambodian Living Arts

What Cambodian Living Arts does

Cambodian Living Arts (CLA) is a Cambodia-based non-profit arts organization founded in 1998 by Khmer Rouge genocide survivor Arn Chorn-Pond to rebuild Cambodia's cultural sector after the loss of approximately 90% of the country's artists during the regime. Operating under the US 501(c)(3) public charity Living Arts International (EIN: 45-5218362), CLA has for nearly three decades connected surviving master artists with emerging talent through grants, scholarships, festivals, and community outreach. Its core programming comprises Grant Programs (Dam Dos Project Grants, Mobility Grants, New Creation Fellowships), the Arn Chorn-Pond Living Arts Scholarship (120+ beneficiaries since 2011), Community Arts Outreach (Khmer Magic Music Bus, village concerts, provincial tours across 12 communities), Fiscal Sponsorship for emerging cultural organizations, annual Cultural Season festivals, the Amatak Award, and Cultural Delegations for international visitors. The organization runs headquarters in Phnom Penh, a Heritage Hub in Siem Reap, and a US office for donor processing.

CLA's business model is built on diversified non-profit revenue streams: institutional grants (SIDA, UNESCO IFCD, embassies of France, Australia, US, plus Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung and Japan Foundation Asia Center), individual donations processed via the four-tier membership program (Friends of CLA from $100/year to Amatak Circle at $25,000/year), corporate matching and AmazonSmile channels, and earned revenue from paid 10-12 day Cultural Delegations and educational tours. Its go-to-market is event-driven: annual Cultural Seasons, festivals (Arts4peace, REPfest, Chapei Dang Veng), village concerts, and provincial tours, supplemented by digital channels (newsletter, social media across six platforms) and Arn Chorn-Pond's global speaking engagements. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization runs on standard web and social media infrastructure (website, Constant Contact newsletter, Facebook, YouTube, Telegram). In 2026 CLA entered its 2026-2030 strategic priorities period, with newly appointed Country Director Yon Sokhorn leading four pillars: contemporary arts quality, organizational capacity, digital amplification, and regional/international collaboration.

Name

Cambodian Living Arts

Legal name

Living Arts International (d/b/a Cambodian Living Arts)

Website

https://cambodianlivingarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cambodian Living Arts is a Cambodia-based non-profit founded in 1998 that supports emerging and master Cambodian artists through grants, scholarships, cultural festivals, community outreach, and fiscal sponsorship, funded by institutional donors, embassies, and a tiered membership program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts & Cultural Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)

Keywords

• Arts nonprofit organization
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Arts education programs
• Arts grants funding
• Cultural delegation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Phnom Penh

HQ country

Cambodia

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: CLA operates primarily through donations, grants, and a supporters program. The organization accepts contributions via check, bank wire transfer, gifts of stock, AmazonSmile, and corporate matching programs. Tax-deductible donations are available for US donors through Living Arts International's 501(c)(3) status.
2. Cultural Delegations and Educational Tours: CLA organizes cultural delegations, school trips, and private tours to Cambodia, offering immersive experiences into arts and culture. These paid programs provide revenue while promoting the organization's mission.
3. Grant Programs: CLA distributes grants to artists including Dam Dos Project Grants, Mobility Grants, and New Creation Fellowships, funded by institutional donors and the supporters program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cambodian Living Arts is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 1998 by Arn Chorn-Pond that supports the Cambodian arts sector through grants, scholarships, festivals, cultural delegations, fiscal sponsorship, and community outreach programs. The organization operates under Living Arts International, a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and functions as a catalyst connecting grassroots arts groups, individual artists, international audiences, and donors.

Product overview

Cambodian Living Arts operates as a single unified non-profit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected cultural programs rather than a product-platform architecture. The core offerings include Grant Programs (Dam Dos Project Grants, Mobility Grants, New Creation Fellowships), Community Arts Outreach (village concerts, music demonstrations, provincial tours), Learning and Development (Arn Chorn-Pond Living Arts Scholarship), Fiscal Sponsorship for emerging arts organizations, Cultural Delegations and tours, the Khmer Magic Music Bus program, annual Cultural Season festivals, Amatak Awards, and Arn Chorn-Pond Speaking Engagements. These programs work together to support artists, preserve cultural heritage, and strengthen Cambodia's arts sector from grassroots to professional levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arn Chorn-Pond Living Arts Scholarship: Scholarship program supporting emerging artists with financial support and professional development opportunities
• Dam Dos Project Grant
• Mobility Grant
• New Creation Fellowship
• Cultural Season
• Khmer Magic Music Bus
• Connected Canopy
• Heritage Hub

Products and services

• Cambodian Arts Grants Program Funding support provided directly to individual Cambodian artists and grassroots arts organizations to sustain and develop their creative practices.
• Arts Education Scholarships Scholarship support enabling Cambodian students and emerging artists to access formal arts education and training programs.
• Cambodian Living Arts Festival A flagship public festival showcasing Cambodian performing and visual arts, presenting the work of supported artists and community ensembles to local and international audiences.
• Cultural Delegation Programs Curated international exchange programs that bring Cambodian artists and cultural practitioners abroad for performances, residencies, and cross-cultural engagements.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Nonprofit fiscal sponsorship services enabling grassroots Cambodian arts groups and individual projects to receive tax-deductible donations through Cambodian Living Arts' 501(c)(3) status.
• Supporters Program A membership-style community of recurring individual donors and supporters who fund the organization's mission and receive updates on programs and artists.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120+ scholarship beneficiaries supported since 2011 through Arn Chorn-Pond Living Arts Scholarship
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Living Arts InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Living Arts International is the parent organization doing business as Cambodian Living Arts and Mekong Cultural Hub. It is a Section 501(c)(3) public charity that processes tax-deductible donations (EIN: 45-5218362) for CLA operations.
• Safe Havens / Living Arts InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-hosting the Safe Havens meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia from December 2-4, 2026 with Living Arts International, bringing together global and Asian arts stakeholders to strengthen interaction and artistic freedom discourse.
• Institut français du CambodgemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the ongoing Chakto project focusing on writing to benefit emerging Cambodian talents in cinema, books, dance, and music sectors.
• Anti-ArchivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Chakto Choreography Writing Project supporting emerging Cambodian talents in cultural sectors.
• SiparmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Chakto Choreography Writing Project supporting emerging Cambodian talents in cultural sectors.
• Creative GenerationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated and designed the Connected Canopy program, a newly established outdoor community arts space inaugurated in February 2025 with capacity for 80 people.
• Rosewood Phnom PenhmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported the 'Artists In Bloom' photo exhibition celebrating 10 years of Arn Chorn-Pond Living Arts Scholarship. Provided venue hosting and promotional support.
• Japan Foundation Asia CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes cultural exchange between Japan and Cambodia through fellowship programs, art events, and bringing Japanese Film Festival to Cambodia. CLA curatorial fellows have connections to this organization.
• Mekong Cultural HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization of CLA operating as a bridge between Asian arts communities and regional networks across Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
• Bamboo Curtain StudiomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaiwan-based cultural organization founded by Margaret Shiu that facilitated exchanges and fellowships for CLA members, contributing to the development of Mekong Cultural Hub.
• Phum Impact Siem ReapminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner facilitating the Creative Catalyst Program for emerging artistic and cultural initiatives.
• Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (Cambodia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry supporting cultural initiatives and arts development in Cambodia.
• Chenla MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for Arts4peace Festival providing promotional support.
• Bangkok International Performing Arts Meeting (BIPAM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional performing arts meeting where CLA Mobility Grant recipients participate in exchanges and networking.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights12 records

Direct peers

• Institut Français du Cambodge: Cambodian branch of France's global cultural diplomacy network, sponsoring the Arts4peace Festival and supporting the Chakto Choreography Writing Project. Comparable as a peer cultural institution in Cambodia that co-funds programs and shares overlapping artist development initiatives with CLA.
• Prince Claus Fund: Netherlands-based fund providing grants and awards to artists and cultural organizations in developing countries, with a focus on regions where cultural expression is under pressure. Directly comparable in providing seed funding, mobility support, and recognition awards (Prince Claus Awards) to artists from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
• Amrita Performing Arts: Cambodian contemporary dance company founded in 2003 that fuses traditional Khmer arts with modern movement. Directly comparable as a homegrown Cambodian performing arts organization that CLA has historically supported through programs like the New Creation Fellowship.
• Mekong Cultural Hub: Sister organization under Living Arts International operating as a regional bridge for Asian arts communities across Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Directly comparable as it shares parent entity, donor pipeline, and overlapping mission of supporting Southeast Asian cultural development.
• Phare Ponleu Selpak: Cambodian NGO founded in 1994 in Battambang that uses performing arts, visual arts, and music education to support at-risk youth and community development. Closely comparable in mission, Cambodian geographic focus, arts-based social impact model, and reliance on international donor support and tourism revenue.
• Asian Cultural Council: US-based nonprofit founded by John D. Rockefeller III providing fellowships and grants for cultural exchange between Asia and the US. Directly comparable mission of funding individual artists and cultural practitioners for international mobility, training, and artistic development.
• Bamboo Curtain Studio: Taiwan-based contemporary arts organization founded by Margaret Shiu that facilitated exchanges and fellowships for CLA members and contributed to the development of Mekong Cultural Hub. Comparable as a regional arts catalyst with artist residency, exchange programs, and Asian cultural network participation.
• A Blade of Grass: US-based nonprofit that funds artists working at the intersection of art and social change through fellowships and field-building programs. Directly comparable in mission of supporting socially-engaged artists, providing unrestricted funding, and connecting artists to communities.

Broad incumbents

• Sundance Institute: US-based nonprofit founded by Robert Redford supporting independent artists across film, theatre, and other media through labs, fellowships, and grants. Comparable as a much larger and more established arts catalyst organization using grant programs, fellowships, and curated showcases to develop individual artists.
• Japan Foundation Asia Center: Major government-affiliated cultural organization with a regional Asia center based in Phnom Penh that funds cultural exchange programs, fellowships, and Japanese film festivals in Cambodia. Comparable as a direct CLA partnership funder and broader regional cultural diplomacy player with overlapping program goals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cambolivingarts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCs7dz8xbmM2h0NP2vNwxDtA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Cambodianlivingarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cambodian-living-arts
• Instagraminstagram.com/cambodianlivingarts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cambodian Living Arts