Projects

Sala Artspace

From 2006 and 2007, Java Café & Gallery, with additional support from private donors, established an art center (Sala Artspace) for the purpose of creative exchange and producing art events. During that time, over 50 artists were involved in community meetings, exhibitions and workshops. As a result several artists have started their own independent groups and JavaArts was established to continue the promotion and support of emerging Cambodian artists.

Artist Support

In 2008, Meas Sokhorn was supported to participate as a finalist in the Signature Art Prize, hosted by the Singapore Art Museum. Then in 2009 Ouer Sokuntevy, the first Cambodian invited to join, was supported to participate in the second Incheon Women Artists’ Biennale (Korea) in 2009.

Our City

In 2008, JavaArts initiated Our City, a collective project that provides a platform for the art community to respond to the rapid changes of their urban environment through various mediums: architecture, film, photography, sculpture and dance. Our City started out as a few events in 2008 around the theme of architecture, involving Java Café & Gallery, Meta House, the French Cultural Center, Khmer Architecture Tours and Mith Samlanh and has grown to include performing arts in 2009. In 2010, JavaArts will work with Greyspace (Melbourne) and The Incidental (London) on public art installations that involve artist exchange and collaboration. Each of these projects will be incorporated into the Our City program.

SpotMap

In collaboration with ChildSafe and ANZ Royal, the SpotMap, a map designed to promote the emerging Cambodian art scene and positive tourism, was released early 2009. It featured the artwork of Kong Vollak and Khvay Samnang.

You Khin Memorial Women’s Art Prize

The first ever art prize for Cambodian women, You Khin Memorial Women’s Art Prize, in collaboration with the US Embassy (Cambodia) was launched in March 2010. The competition aims to bringing awareness of the emerging art scene and the women that are part of it. Working with local and international media, the Cambodian government, and educational institutions, the competition will highlight both up-coming and established women in the arts community and encourage a future generation.