May 31, 2019
GIANT PUPPETS GO BEYOND SR
Peter Olszewski
Siem Reap’s long running and beloved Giant Puppet Parade, which took a break last year, is back in action and happening tomorrow night – but in Battambang, not Siem Reap.
The puppet’s presence in Battambang is part of the growing city sisterhood between Battambang and Siem Reap that’s flourishing in the arts.

It is also part of the inaugural S’Art Urban Art Festival which kicked off on May 28, and that new festival is part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of Phare Ponleu Selpak, or ‘The Brightness of the Arts’ in Khmer.

“S’Art Urban Art Festival has the honour to welcome the Giant Puppet Street Festival,” says the official press release.

“After 10 years in Siem Reap, the Giant Puppet Project is bringing their puppet creation activities to Battambang for the first time.

“These giant puppets – collaboratively created – will invade the city in the form of a street parade, along with musicians, circus performers and fashion designers to impress young and old, and fill the first night of June with colour and joy.”

Siem Reap architect Stuart Cochlin, who co-founded the puppet parade in 2007, says the puppets came to Battambang for a number of reasons.
“Firstly, we have always wanted to,” he says. “All of the artists from the Puppet Project over the ten years we’ve been in operation were graduates from Phare Ponleu Selpak based in Battambang, with many of them affiliated with the local art galleries.

“Thus there has always been a connection from the very beginning. We have always kept open the possibility of bringing the project and parade to Battambang and over recent years, and we have had discussions with Srey Bandaul and Tor Vutha from The Visual Arts Department about a possible collaboration.

“Luckily, this all came to fruition last year. Friend and director at Phare, Osman Khawaja, asked if we would like to take part in the S’art Urban Art Festival for 2019. We jumped at the opportunity and responded with a resounding yes.”
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/609491/gia ... beyond-sr/

Exploding urban art.

I am more a fan of the non urban Cambodian arts if urban art means pish grafitti. I am not anti posh grafitti (as opposed to filthy tagging), but there are fantastic artists (painters, sculptors, musicians, etc.) in Cambodia

Cambodian Environment Minister and Singaporean Ambassador Unveil Street Art Fest Mural at UYFC Phnom Penh
13/10/20 12:37
Phnom Penh (FN), Oct. 12 – Minister of Environment and Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC) Vice-President Say Samal and Singaporean Ambassador Michael Tan unveiled a Street Art Fest++ mural at the UYFC Phnom Penh headquarter in Chroy Changvar on Monday evening.

“Generously donated to UYFC by OV Investment and titled Community Wall 1, the mural was the first to open to the public during the SAF++ Official Launch on 15 February 2020. UYFC was the festival’s community engagement partner,” according to the media release dated Monday.

Read in full below.
http://en.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/e ... 42-57.html

UPDATE
Street Festival - Fun for free!
S'Art Urban Art Festival will be on in Battambang from 12-17 June 2023. There's something for everyone and the kids will love it !

See you at Battambang Province in the "Clean City" Art Festival from 14 to 15 June 2020.
Join and entertain freely with various programs everyday including giant puppet parade around Battambang, wall painting, workshops, discussions, hip hop contest and artist chat, and many other programs.
Register to join via telegram channel https://t.me/SartBTB2023
For more information, please send a message or visit the S'ART Urban Art Festival Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/sartfestival

Join us at the S'ART Urban Art Festival in Battambang from June 12 to 17, 2023!
Experience a week of creativity, entertainment, and the creations talented artists. From giant puppet parades to murals, art workshops, thrilling breakdance battle and much more, there's something for everyone. Don't miss out on this celebration of art and community!
Register through the telegram channel https://t.me/SartBTB2023

For more information please send us a message or go to our S'ART Urban Art Festival Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/sartfestival.