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Artisans d'AngkorArtisans d'Angkor : Story
When the Angkor Empire with its regal builders was at its glorious zenith, thousands of craftsmen erected what is now considered one of the wonders of the world-the Angkor temple complex.
In more recent times, years of war and genocide decimated a great number of the heirs of this artistic tradition. With them disappeared a vast body of skills and expertise. The Angkor site was gradually overtaken by a stranglehold of vegetation and forest growth which invaded the sanctuaries, embracing the temple roofs and walls with their serpentine roots.
The Chantiers-Écoles de formation professionnelle, a professional training school, was founded to help young Cambodians rediscover traditional handicrafts and give them the opportunity to take part in the rebuilding process their country had undertaken.
The CEFP is a public institution which was established in response to an urgent need to train disadvantaged young people with little formal education, living for the most part in rural areas, and offer them a job entry program.
Artisans d'Angkor was established as a natural offshoot of the Chantiers-Écoles project as a school-to-work transition for the young craftsmen that had been trained. The skilled artisans could thus be organized into a self-sustaining handicraft network.
Artisans d'Angkor became a limited liability company with a minor public share in 2003. It is now completely self-financing and independent: in 2006, nearly 75 apprentices were attending the Chantiers-Écoles program in stone sculpture, wood carving and silk painting. They will join Artisans d'Angkor at the completion of their training.
It now employs more than 1,000 persons. It stands as model of sustainability and fairness for Khmer arts and crafts. |  |
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Creations from Artisans d'Angkor | |
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