Awarding Excellence in Indigenous Handicrafts

Cambodia’s best indigenous designers of 2011 were announced at an Award Ceremony and Indigenous Handicraft Exhibition held at the National Museum of Cambodia On October 5, in-front of more than 100 national and international guests from the government, embassies, UN agencies, NGOs and the private sector.

The first event of its type in Cambodia organized by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in close collaboration with the United Nations, the competition and exhibition displayed traditional handicraft designs made by indigenous people living in four Cambodian provinces: Kompong Thom, Preah Vihear, Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri.

Khmer Indigenous Handicrafts

The indigenous producers were supported with over two years of technical training provided by the Artisans’ Association of Cambodia (AAC) in collaboration with and financially supported by the UNSpain Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund (MDG-F). The trainings aimed to build the capacity of indigenous handicraft producers to develop new design techniques, foster entrepreneur skills and expand their market networks.

“Today’s Award Ceremony and Exhibition Inauguration serve to recognize and raise awareness of the unique and vivacious breadth of Cambodia’s indigenous cultures as well as the commercial potential of traditional Indigenous products,” Mr. Douglas Broderick, the UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia said at the ceremony.

A Committee of 14 judges from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the Ministry of Commerce, the Creative Industries Support Programme (CISP), the Artisans’ Association of Cambodia, and representatives from the private sector selected the award winners. The criteria included quality in craftsmanship, cultural authenticity, innovation in design, and marketability.

The 11 producer groups will compete for awards covering 3 different types of products: textile weaving, pottery, and basketry. Kamet Viek, the winner of the award in textile weaving is one of the traditional textile producers from a Kreung community in Pouy Village, Ratanakiri province.

Khmer Minority group's dance

The best producer of the year for the basketry is Yorn Chieng, from an indigenous Tumpuon community in La Ern Kren village, Kon Mom district, Ratanakiri province. The award for the best ceramic produce goes to Nou Na, an ethnic Lao living in Kompong Cham village, Veunsai district of Ratanakiri province.

Winners were announced at tonight ceremony and prizes awarded by H.E. Mr. Him Chhem, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts and Mr. Douglas Broderick, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cambodia.

The ceremony also marked the inauguration of the Indigenous Handicraft Exhibition, which remains open to the public until 12 November 2011.

“The temporary inauguration of Indigenous Handicraft Exhibition which is inaugurated today showcases handicrafts that reflect the diverse cultural identity of the Cambodian indigenous people.”