2 Best Performing Arts Venues in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodia's answer to Cirque du Soleil is a "circus with a purpose"—and truly a must-see. The circus launched in 2013 to provide jobs for graduates of the Phare Ponleu Selpak circus school in Battambang, formed in 1994 by nine refugees. Their mission was to use the arts as therapy as much as a means of lifting locals out of poverty. After quickly becoming one of the most popular activities in Siem Reap, Phare moved to a larger site fifteen minutes from the center, with a cafe-bar, an outdoor stage for free cultural performances before the main show, and a shop selling gifts made by local artists and designers. The high-energy shows are rooted in Cambodian stories, traditional and modern, combining circus arts, dance, and music to captivate audiences every night.

Get inspired! A really interesting initiative, The 1961 is a gallery-art-events-cowork space. People gather for the quality exhibitions, to enjoy cool drinks in the outdoor pavilion, or just to find a quiet little spot to catch up on some work and have a coffee. The regular exhibitions feature local and international artists and aim to bring them closer to their audiences, showcasing classic to avant-garde, and visual to musical forms of art.