Phare Ponleu Selpak
Phare Ponleu Selpak is a non-profit Cambodian arts organization founded in 1994 in Battambang that delivers integrated arts education, vocational training, and social support to 1,000+ at-risk youth annually through schools, a Guinness World Record-holding circus, and social enterprises that employ graduates.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersBattambang, Cambodia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Phare Ponleu Selpak does
Phare Ponleu Selpak is a non-profit Cambodian arts and social-enterprise organization founded in 1994 in Battambang, with origins in the Site 2 refugee camp (1986) where founders began studying drawing under French art teacher Véronique Decrop. The organization serves 1,000+ at-risk children and youth annually through an integrated ecosystem that includes the Performing Arts School (circus, theatre, dance, and music), the Visual and Applied Arts School (VAAS) for vocational graphic design and animation training, and the Phare Public School and Kindergarten for formal education. It also delivers a Social Support Program providing nutrition, medical care, counseling, and family assistance to 200+ families directly and 800+ indirectly, addressing vulnerabilities including school dropout, domestic violence, drug abuse, and risk of illegal migration.
The organization's core revenue-generating products center on the Phare Battambang Circus, a Guinness World Record-holding integrated performance venue (24 hours, 10 minutes, 30 seconds continuous performance) running 3-4 shows per week with adult tickets at $16 and child tickets at $9. Complementary offerings include campus tours ($3-5 per visitor, available in Khmer, English, and French), workshops and events for tourists and corporate groups, an on-campus boutique and café, and four annual/biennial arts festivals (Tini Tinou, S'Art, Chumnor, Ros). The 24-month VAAS vocational program carries a $6,000 cost but is subsidized to $720 per year with scholarships, campus work options, and post-graduation loan repayment; the organization claims 100% graduate employment, with alumni performing internationally including with Cirque du Soleil and being hired by 50+ Cambodian companies. The forthcoming Phare Commons and Museum project, designed by Martin Duplantier Architects and selected for Venice Biennale 2025, will add museum/gallery space, collaborative workspaces, an IT-equipped library, and expanded nutrition services.
The business model combines earned income (ticket sales, tours, workshops, retail) with diversified fundraising across recurring child sponsorship (minimum $20/month), one-time and recurring international donations via country-specific platforms (France, UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium), and institutional grants from EU, UNESCO (IFCD), GIZ, Air France Foundation, AnBer Foundation, Terre des Hommes, and TUI Care Foundation. Wholly-owned social enterprises include Phare Creative Studios (graphic design/animation studio), Phare Handicraft Boutique, Phare Productions International (touring), and Phare, The Cambodian Circus in Siem Reap. Leadership is anchored by Executive Director Osman Khawaja alongside active co-founders Khuon Det, Srey Bandaul, Tor Vutha, and Lon Lao. No AI capabilities, APIs, software products, or external technology integrations are part of the offering.
Phare Ponleu Selpak firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Phare Ponleu Selpak
- Legal name
- Phare Ponleu Selpak
- Website
- https://phareps.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Phare Ponleu Selpak is a non-profit Cambodian arts organization founded in 1994 in Battambang that delivers integrated arts education, vocational training, and social support to 1,000+ at-risk youth annually through schools, a Guinness World Record-holding circus, and social enterprises that employ graduates.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Phare Ponleu Selpak industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts Education
- NAICS
- Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)
Keywords
Where Phare Ponleu Selpak is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Battambang
- HQ country
- Cambodia
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Phare Ponleu Selpak business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Circus Show Tickets: Ticket sales for Phare Battambang Circus performances. Adults $16, children $9. Shows run 3-4 days per week, generating direct revenue while funding free arts education programs.
- Boutique Sales: On-campus boutique selling artworks, crafts, and designs created by students. A portion of proceeds returns directly to artists, rest funds PPSA programs.
- Campus Tours: Guided campus tours offered Monday-Friday at $5/person (groups <5) or $3/person (groups 6+). Tours available in Khmer, English, and French.
- Workshop Packages: Group workshops in circus, traditional dance, music, art, and breakdance for tourists and businesses. Packages available for groups of 5+ or 10+.
- Child Sponsorship: Monthly recurring donations through collective child sponsorship program. Minimum recommended $20/month providing lunch, stipends, medical care, and school supplies to at-risk students.
- General Donations: One-time and recurring donations from international donors across multiple platforms with tax benefits in Cambodia, France, UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Belgium.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Circus show tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Campus tours |
| Subscription | Annual | VAAS Vocational Program (24 months) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Child Sponsorship |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Workshop packages |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Phare Ponleu Selpak product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Phare Ponleu Selpak operates a non-profit arts school and social enterprise in Battambang, Cambodia, delivering performing arts (circus, theatre, dance, music), visual and applied arts (graphic design, 2D/3D animation), and general education to children, youth, and the community. Programs are funded through ticket sales for its Big Top circus shows, on-campus retail, workshops, donations, and child sponsorships.
Product overview
Phare Ponleu Selpak is a non-profit arts and social enterprise organization operating as a multi-disciplinary creative campus in Battambang, Cambodia. The organization functions as an integrated ecosystem of educational programs and visitor-facing attractions rather than a traditional software product portfolio. The core educational offerings include the Visual and Applied Arts School (VAAS) with vocational training in graphic design, animation, and visual arts; the Performing Arts School with circus, theatre, dance, and music training; and Phare Public School and Kindergarten for formal education. Visitor attractions center on the Phare Battambang Circus, which holds a Guinness World Record for the longest circus performance, supplemented by campus tours, workshops, and arts festivals. Social support programs include a collective child sponsorship initiative. The organization also operates retail (Boutique & Café) and event hosting services. Major new development includes the Phare Commons and Museum project. Associated social enterprises include Phare Creative Studios (graphic design/animation studio) and Phare, The Cambodian Circus in Siem Reap. No AI capabilities, APIs, or technical integrations are offered.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Phare Battambang Circus A live circus performance series combining theatre, dance, music, and acrobatics, performed by Phare's students. Shows run three to four days per week. Tickets sold online and at the door ($16 adults, $9 children).
- Visual and Applied Arts School (VAAS) A vocational art school offering professional training in graphic design, 2D/3D animation, and visual arts, with both recreational classes for children and intensive 24-month vocational programs. Reports a 100% graduate employment rate.
- Performing Arts School Multi-year vocational training in circus, theatre, dance, and music preparing students for professional performance careers, including with Phare Cambodian Circus and Cirque du Soleil.
- Campus Tours Guided tours of the Battambang campus available in Khmer, English, and French, offering visitors insight into the school's operations, training facilities, and history.
- Workshops & Events Educational workshops for tourists and businesses covering circus, traditional Cambodian dance, music, art, and breakdancing, plus corporate event hosting and team building at the campus.
- Boutique & Café On-campus retail outlet selling student-created artworks, designs, and handcrafted products, alongside a café serving refreshments before circus shows and on-campus group Khmer dinners by advance booking.
- Arts Festivals Annual and biennial arts festivals including the Tini Tinou Circus Festival, S'Art Urban Art Festival, Chumnor Art Festival, and ROS Battambang community festival, drawing local and international audiences to Battambang.
- Child Sponsorship Program A collective child sponsorship program providing vulnerable children with free nutritious meals, stipends, medical care, school supplies, and counseling, funded by monthly donor contributions.
- Phare Public School & Kindergarten Formal education programs including community kindergarten (around 250 children aged 3-5) and primary/secondary public school (around 500 students), integrating arts practice into the standard curriculum.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of VAAS graduates find paid employment
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Phare Ponleu Selpak
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Phare Ponleu Selpak technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Phare Ponleu Selpak partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and flagship.
- Martin Duplantier ArchitectscoreAward-winning architecture firm designing Phare Commons and Museum. Project selected for Venice Biennale 2025 showcasing sustainable design using adobe bricks, rammed earth, bamboo, and climate-adapted architecture.
- GIZmajorGerman development organization contracted Phare to implement nutrition awareness raising through 43 community live arts performances reaching 25,000+ people across Cambodia.
- WaterAid CambodiaminorPartnership to train sanitation workers in photography and videography storytelling skills, with exhibition raising public awareness on sanitation and hygiene challenges.
- Rosewood Phnom PenhmajorAnnual fundraising gala partnership supporting Cambodian youth through arts. Multi-year collaboration with prestigious hotel hosting charity events.
- Phare France MarseilleflagshipParent organization that preserves approximately 200 original artworks from Site 2 refugee camp. Will transfer collection to Battambang museum once built.
- Phare Creative StudiosflagshipSocial enterprise graphic design and animation studio providing professional employment for VAAS graduates. Located in Battambang.
- Phare Productions InternationalflagshipInternational touring productions employing Phare alumni for professional circus performances globally.
- TUI Care FoundationmajorCo-organizer of S'Art Urban Art Festival with Phare Ponleu Selpak. Foundation supporting responsible tourism and community development.
- UNESCOminorInternational Cultural Cooperation Fund for the Development of Culture (IFCD) supporting arts and culture programs.
- Cambodian Living ArtsminorLocal NGO collaborating on arts promotion and cultural activities.
- Asian Social Circus AssociationminorRegional network supporting social circus practices and professional development.
- Battambang Provincial GovernmentmajorLocal government partnership for educational and community programs.
- 50+ Cambodian CompaniescoreNetwork of companies around Cambodia employing VAAS graduates in graphic design, animation, and visual arts positions.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Phare Ponleu Selpak competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cirque du Soleil: The global circus industry leader and known employer of Phare alumni; while a commercial entertainment giant rather than a school, it directly competes for circus audiences and talent globally and provides the aspirational career pathway that anchors Phare's vocational value proposition.
Direct peers
- Friends International: A long-established Cambodian social enterprise providing education, vocational training, and social support to at-risk youth — directly comparable mission, target beneficiary profile, and social-enterprise funding model, operating in the same geographic market.
- Cambodian Living Arts: Phare's named partner and the most directly comparable Cambodian NGO, also founded in the post-conflict era to preserve traditional performing arts while supporting contemporary artists — overlapping mission in arts education, cultural preservation, and youth development within Cambodia.
- Sala Baï Hotel and Restaurant School: Cambodian vocational training social enterprise offering subsidized hospitality training with strong employment outcomes for disadvantaged youth — directly parallel vocational training model, employer-pipeline approach, and tuition-subsidy structure, though in hospitality rather than arts.
- Epic Arts: Social enterprise using the performing arts (including circus) for inclusion and empowerment of disabled and marginalized people in Cambodia — overlapping arts-education-and-social-impact model, vocational circus training, and Cambodian operating context.
- Pour un Sourire d'Enfant (PSE): Major Cambodian NGO providing education, vocational training, and social support to at-risk children and families — comparable scale, beneficiary profile, multi-program campus structure, and donor-funded operating model in the same country.
Regional players
- Enfants du Mékong: French-founded NGO sponsoring at-risk children across Southeast Asia through education support — directly comparable child sponsorship model (the model underpinning Phare's $20/month program), tax-deductible donation infrastructure, and Francophone donor base.
Emerging players
- National Circus School of Montreal (École nationale de cirque): The world's leading circus vocational training institution; comparable program in providing professional-level circus training to youth, though operating in a vastly different geography and economic context, with longer training programs leading to professional performer careers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Phare Ponleu Selpak social profiles
Digital presencePhare Ponleu Selpak financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Phare Ponleu Selpak leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Phare Ponleu Selpak subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Phare Ponleu Selpak funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Phare Ponleu Selpak M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Phare Ponleu Selpak
What does Phare Ponleu Selpak do?
Phare Ponleu Selpak operates a non-profit arts school and social enterprise in Battambang, Cambodia, delivering performing arts (circus, theatre, dance, music), visual and applied arts (graphic design, 2D/3D animation), and general education to children, youth, and the community. Programs are funded through ticket sales for its Big Top circus shows, on-campus retail, workshops, donations, and child sponsorships.
Is Phare Ponleu Selpak a public or private company?
Phare Ponleu Selpak is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Phare Ponleu Selpak founded?
Phare Ponleu Selpak was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Phare Ponleu Selpak based?
Phare Ponleu Selpak is headquartered in Battambang, Cambodia, in the Asia region.
How does Phare Ponleu Selpak make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Circus Show Tickets are the primary driver. The others are boutique Sales, campus Tours, workshop Packages, child Sponsorship and general Donations.
Who are Phare Ponleu Selpak's main competitors?
Cirque du Soleil is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Friends International, Cambodian Living Arts, Sala Baï Hotel and Restaurant School, Epic Arts and Pour un Sourire d'Enfant (PSE). Enfants du Mékong is listed as a regional player. National Circus School of Montreal (École nationale de cirque) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Phare Ponleu Selpak have an API?
No public API is recorded for Phare Ponleu Selpak.
What industry is Phare Ponleu Selpak in?
Phare Ponleu Selpak's product category is Arts Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAL, Circus & Physical Theatre. Its NAICS code is 71311 and its SIC code is 7900.