The Pre-opening of Mekong Arts and Media Festival

Friday, November 20, 2009

The Mekong Region holds the remarkable distinction of being one of Asia’s cultural lifeblood. The interesting cross-cultural diversity of the six countries that make up the region: Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam and the rich mix of history and art provide for a great backdrop for organizing the Mekong Arts and Media Festival 2009 which will be held on November 23-27 at Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Organized by the Philippine Educational Theater Association – Mekong Partnership Program in conjunction with Phare Ponleu Selpak, Save the Children-UK, and Center for Community Health Research and Development, the Festival is seen as an opportunity for artists, media practitioners, cultural workers, and key players in development work to showcase and exhibit creative works that have contributed to the development of new, innovative forms for social advocacy and transforming communities.
The Festival is a five-day event that will converge the diverse cultures and various art and media forms of Mekong. During the Festival, the Arts and Media groups and communities will go center stage and present the range of forms and creative expressions that they have been continuously developing for the past years as alternative tools for social advocacy.
4:00 pm - Interactive performance and workshops with circus school Phare Ponleu Selpak and Puppetiers from the Philipines
6:00 pm - Opening Speach and press conference, followed by the screening of a short documentary
7:00 pm - Opening cocktail with artists from the Mekong region
As one of the official venues for the festival, the Chinese House will hold a series of screenings next week.