After the Collapse of Khmer Rouge Regime, Cambodia had strived to survive through the difficult time while trying to engage with International Communities. Major international legal instruments have been adopted, but their implementation remains the main challenge. A number of national laws were legislated such as "law on copyright and related rights” was promulgated to help creators and producers befenefiting from their work. Most importantly, the National Policy for Culture, which had been developed in accordance with the UNESCO framework particularly the 2005 Convention with involvement/feedbacks from various public and private stakeholders, was approved by the Royal Government in 2014. This document was developed to address the links between culture and development by integrating aspects such as education, environment, science, media and health, supporting the improvement of quality of life by involving an inclusive approach, the promotion of public private and public civil partnerships. It has served as key guidelines for development of measures and mechanism to promote arts and culture nationally and internationally while the periodic reporting is an opportunity for re-evaluating and re-thinking policy and measures – taking into consideration their feasibility and acceptability for the society.
The Government’s endeavours in supporting culture especially promotions of cultural industries have started in recent years. Arts work and artists are able to showcase their work for both national and international audiences due to the strong involvement of NGOs and Government’s support. To take one good example is the successful work of the “Season of Cambodia,” performed in the United States of America led by the most prestigious partner Art organization, Cambodian Living Arts. Some of independent organisations had possibility to perform in state institution premises (Amrita in Ministry of Culture, CLA in National Museum courtyard, Java cafe in National museum). However these are not enough for the real development and promotion of creative sector. More creative arts and entertainment activities, photography, TV broadcasting, film productions, art galleries…etc. still need stronger policy to support them including new forms of public funding.
Growth of the cultural and creative economy has to be facilitated by the expansion of suitable education and training opportunities (cultural management and entrepreneurship), and the provision of sufficient and appropriate cultural infrastructure, enabling and encouraging production and consumption and guaranteeing a wider market of cultural goods and services. Cultural infrastructure where creative work can be produced and disseminated, accessed and enjoyed by the population remains limited and insufficiently distributed, although it is important to the fulfilment of social and human needs. These challenges have been discussed through wider participation from government’s institutions and civil societies through recent Arts Forum entitled “Creative Industries in Cambodia.”