Organization
Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts
ក្រសួងវប្បធម៌ និងវិចិត្រសិល្បៈ
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (ក្រសួងវប្បធម៌ និងវិចិត្រសិល្បៈ)[1] is the Cambodian government ministry for culture and the fine arts.[2]
A law promulgated by royal decree in 1996 set up the ministry under this name. Its headquarters are on Norodom Boulevard in Phnom Penh.[3]
History
During the Sangkum Reast Niyum (សង្គមរាស្ត្រនិយម) period, cultural affairs came under the Ministry of Education.[3][1] Under the Khmer Republic, a ministry was set up with its headquarters inside the Royal Palace (ព្រះបរមរាជវាំង). Um Samut (អ៊ុំ សាមុត) was its minister.[3][1]
The People's Republic of Kampuchea re-established the ministry as the Ministry of Propaganda, Culture and Information, with offices on the corner of Street 180. Its ministers in that period included Cheang Phon (ឆេង ផុន).[3][1] Under the State of Cambodia, the ministry stayed at the same site as the Ministry of Culture and Propaganda, led by Hang Chhuon (ហង់ ជួន).[3][1]
A royal decree dated January 24, 1996, promulgated the law that created the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.[3] Nut Narang (នុត ណារ៉ាង) was minister during the first legislature of the National Assembly. In the second legislature, the ministry moved to Norodom Boulevard in Chamkar Mon district. Norodom Buppha Devi (នរោត្តម បុប្ផាទេវី) became minister. Prince Sisowath Panara Sirivudh (ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ ប៉ាណារ៉ា សិរីវុឌ្ឍ) was minister at the start of the third legislature, and Him Chhem (ហ៊ឹម ឆែម) in the fourth.[3][1]
Phoeurng Sackona (ភឿង សកុណា) became minister in 2013.[4] She was reappointed in the cabinet of Prime Minister Hun Manet, which took office in August 2023.[5] As of 2026, the ministry's website names her as minister.[6]
Role
The ministry's website describes its role as managing Cambodia's culture and fine arts sector. The duties it lists include the upkeep, protection, repair and restoration of the national cultural heritage. They also include measures against the destruction and illegal trafficking of cultural property, and demands for the return of stolen objects held in Cambodia or abroad.[2] The same list covers arts training at primary, secondary technical and higher levels. It also covers the files that ask the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to inscribe Cambodian heritage on its lists.[2]
The website assigns departments to license film businesses and keep records of Cambodian film. Others are listed to register works under copyright and to take part in issuing permits to export and import art objects.[2] In 2026 the ministry announced the repatriation of 74 Khmer antiquities to Cambodia in February, and of 20 more, from a private collection in Asia, in April.[6] The 15th Cambodia International Film Festival opened at the Chaktomuk Conference Hall on March 24, 2026, and Phoeurng Sackona spoke at its opening ceremony.[7]
The ministry's website lists several bodies under it. They include the National Museum of Cambodia, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the APSARA National Authority, the Preah Vihear National Authority and the Sambor Prei Kuk National Authority. The National School of Fine Arts and the Royal University of Culture and Fine Arts are also on the list.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Ministry's History, Khmer page (undated; in Khmer)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Role and Responsibility (undated)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Ministry's History (undated)
- ↑ Fresh News, Two Female Ministers to Remain in the Same Position: PM Hun Sen (March 7, 2023)
- ↑ Cambodianess, Teng Yalirozy, Biggest Change in Government in Decades Sees the Rise of the New Blood (August 22, 2023)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Home page (undated)
- ↑ Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, The 15th Cambodia International Film Festival 2026: A Vital Platform Connecting the Cambodian Film Industry with the International Community (March 27, 2026)