Phnom Penh, May 6 — The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has announced the upcoming “National Chapei Dang Veng Festival 2025,” scheduled to take place over three days from June 11 to June 13 at the Theater Hall of the Department of Visual Arts in Phnom Penh. The festival aims to preserve and promote Cambodia’s traditional Chapei Dang Veng art form, celebrate national cultural identity, and encourage continued participation among artists specializing in this unique musical and storytelling tradition.
The ministry invites artists, organizations, associations, and individual performers across Cambodia with expertise in Chapei Dang Veng to participate in the competition. Eligible candidates must be Cambodian nationals who have not previously won first place in the national festival. Participants are required to submit a newly recorded performance video of their Chapei Dang Veng singing or playing that is 15 minutes long. Videos edited with sound-assisted techniques are prohibited and will be automatically disqualified. The festival also welcomes talented individuals with disabilities who demonstrate proficiency in this art form.
Winners of the festival will receive prestigious prizes. The first-place champion will be awarded a gold medal, a certificate of appreciation, and 6 million riels. Second and third place will receive silver and bronze medals, along with cash prizes of 4 million and 2 million riels, respectively. Additionally, an honorable mention will be awarded a certificate and 1 million riels.
The competition involves three rounds: a video qualifying stage, semi-finals, and finals. The deadline for video submissions is May 12, 2025, with results to be announced on May 15. Successful candidates will move on to the semi-finals on June 12, followed by the final round on June 13.
In the first round, participants must perform or sing a 15-minute piece on a free topic with educational significance. Those advancing to the semi-finals will perform on the theme “Tampaing Snoung Rusei.” For the final round, contestants will perform on “Tampaing Snoung Rusei” and a second topic selected by the committee during a live, 15-minute performance.
Interested applicants are instructed to submit their applications through the provincial Departments of Culture and Fine Arts or directly to the Festival Organizing Committee at the Department of Visual Arts. The detailed address and contact information are provided in the official announcement. The deadline for submission is May 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
This festival represents an important cultural event to safeguard Cambodia’s intangible heritage, provide a platform for emerging and established performers, and foster the continued vitality of Chapei Dang Veng across generations.
