Located in what was a massive floating hotel in the Kingdom of Wonder, The Boat could become a thriving center for arts and culture in Cambodia. Floating on the edge of Phnom Penh, where the Mekong meets the Tonlé Sap River, the nonprofit organization plans to focus on displaying Khmer art. Dana Langlois, future artistic director of The Boat, envisions it as “a multi-disciplinary space that is creative in every aspect — where creatives and artists can have a dedicated space to work, to engage new audiences, and deepen the conversation on art practice in the region.”
As a social enterprise, with restaurants, office spaces, galleries, art studios, and more, the nonprofit art center will be supported by the proceeds from these businesses. With the recent shuttering of Romeet gallery — one of only a handful of contemporary art galleries in the capital city along with Sa Sa Bassac and JavaArts — and a struggle to sell contemporary Khmer art in one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in Southeast Asia, The Boat will be no small feat.
by Ben Valentine on January 22, 2016
