Khmer Language Arts and Culture Academy

Khmer Language Arts and Culture Academy
Common name	KLACA
Alternative names	Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy
Type	Education
Focus areas	Khmer language education; arts; cultural programming; youth education
Subjects	Language & Literacy; Dance & Theatre
City	Tacoma
State / province	Washington
Country	United States
Address	3513 E Portland Ave, Tacoma, WA 98404
Founded	2017
Organization identifiers	EIN (United States): 83-4229696
Website	Website
Donation	Donation
Contact	[email protected]
Facebook	Facebook
Instagram	Instagram
YouTube	YouTube
Operating status	active

The Khmer Language Arts and Culture Academy (KLACA) is a volunteer-run nonprofit in Tacoma, Washington, that teaches Khmer language and Cambodian classical and folk dance to Cambodian American children and youth. It was founded in March 2017 by parents and community leaders and is a 501(c)(3) organization. (Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, About KLACA; City of Tacoma, AMOCAT arts award nominations (2024)) It is a member of the Cambodian American Community Council of Washington (CACCWA). (Cambodian American Community Council of Washington, member organizations)

History

KLACA began with a group of parents who wanted to keep Khmer heritage alive for the younger generation. It started with a small team of volunteers offering modest Khmer language and dance classes. (Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, About KLACA) Its co-founders include Savong Lam, a second-generation Cambodian American in Tacoma, who with about a dozen other Cambodian American families in Pierce County started the academy. KBTC's 2024 profile reported that it teaches language and culture to 40 to 50 Cambodian American children each year, from pre-teens to high school seniors. (KBTC Profiles (PBS), Khmer: A Connection to Culture (2024)) The CACCWA member directory describes its classes as held each Friday and Sunday at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma. (Cambodian American Community Council of Washington, member organizations) Its programs are funded in part by Tacoma Creates, which funded KLACA for 2025-2026. (Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, home page; City of Tacoma, organizations funded by Tacoma Creates for 2025-2026)

KLACA's mission is "to open doors to learning and cultural experiences, empowering every member of our community to grow, explore, and thrive" (បេសកកម្មរបស់យើងគឺបើកឱកាសសម្រាប់ការរៀនសូត្រ និងការចូលរួមវប្បធម៌ ដើម្បីឱ្យសមាជិកសហគមន៍របស់យើងអាចរីកចម្រើន). Its vision is a thriving Khmer community, empowered through collaboration, unity, and shared opportunities. (Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, About KLACA)

Programs

Khmer language

Beginner classes: Saturdays 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. and Sundays 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., in person and online.
Intermediate classes: Fridays and Saturdays 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., online only.
Enrollment for language classes is open all year. (Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, Our Programs; Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, home page)

Khmer dance and performing arts

Classical and folk dance and chaiyam classes on Sundays, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. (Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, Our Programs; Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, About KLACA)
KLACA's dance instructors come from the Khemarak Samaki Classical Group, a classical dance group that originated at the Wat Samaki Ratanaram temple in Tacoma (Wat Samakki Tattanaram (Wat Tacoma Chas)). Its dancers pass their knowledge on to KLACA students. (Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, community partners and funders)

In-person classes meet at 3513 E Portland Ave, Tacoma (schedules effective November 17, 2025). (Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, Our Programs)

People

KLACA's website lists the following team. (Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, About KLACA)

Khmer language advisors: Venerable Khemara Chanh, Vuthy Chao, Nek Kru Darachan Ros
Language instructors: Venerable Sam Bo Son, Jenda Kong and Sovannary Sang (beginner); Sanhei Nhor, Ph.D., and Sophalla So (intermediate)
Performing arts: Ben Taing (performing arts director and dance instructor); Sras "Precious" Chuop, Somalin Thach, Boray Thach and Luna See (classical and folk dance); Sarom Son (chaiyam)
Board of directors: Michael-Te Chieng (president), Savong Lam (vice president), Chammy You (treasurer), Em Lovan (secretary), Sammy Sou, Sampy Chen and Chanrith Peth

Savong Lam also serves as KLACA's program coordinator. (Tacoma Arts Month, Kaleidoscope 2026)

Community partners

KLACA lists these community partners and funders. (Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, community partners and funders)

Asia Pacific Cultural Center
Khemarak Samaki Classical Group
Tacoma Creates
Wat Samaki Ratanaram Buddhist Temple (Wat Samakki Tattanaram (Wat Tacoma Chas))
Wat Chantarangsey Khmer Krom Buddhist Temple
Cambodian Buddhist Monks Association of Washington Buddhist Temple (Cambodian Buddhist Monks Asso. of Washington State)
Khmer Anti-deportation Advocacy Group (KhAAG)

Cambodian Heritage Night (2026)

KLACA anchored the first Cambodian Heritage Night with the Seattle Mariners, at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, September 24, 2026, when the Mariners played the Los Angeles Angels. (International Examiner, September 2026 events calendar; Stayhappening, Seattle Mariners Cambodian Heritage Night listing; Seattle Mariners, Cambodian Heritage Night)

The special ticket included a Mariners-themed Cambodian Heritage T-shirt, and $5 of every ticket sold went to KLACA. (Seattle Mariners, Cambodian Heritage Night)
The organizers' listing said ticket proceeds would also help save Khmer at the University of Washington. It named a community collective behind the event that included KLACA, KhAAG, CACCWA and Save Khmer Language at UW, and reported more than 3,000 tickets sold before the game. (Stayhappening, Seattle Mariners Cambodian Heritage Night listing)
KLACA also hosted the official post-game afterparty at Trinity Nightclub, with a lineup of Khmer artists including Jay Chan, Kid Cambo, Wannary, Ezale, Davey Tsunami and Hella Chluy. (Eventbrite, Cambodian Heritage Night Afterparty)

Save Khmer at UW

In September 2026 KLACA used its Facebook page to spotlight Save Khmer at UW, a grassroots campaign to preserve the Khmer Language Program at the University of Washington. The campaign aims to raise $100,000 to fund the program for one full year. (KLACA on Facebook, Organization Spotlight: Save Khmer at UW (September 2026); Save Khmer at UW, Givebutter campaign page)

Name

The United Cambodian American Network (UCAN) in Stockton, California runs a separate Khmer Language Arts and Culture Academy program with the same name. The two are separate organizations; see United Cambodian American Network for the Stockton program.

Contact and participation

Address: 3513 E Portland Ave, Tacoma, WA 98404 (office hours Sundays, 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.)
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.klaca.org
Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G7PCRMJAAW228 (Khmer Language Arts & Culture Academy, home page)

Sources