The experience: Artisans D'Angkor established its Chantiers Ecoles (Skills Development Workshops) in 1999 and has since been a key player in the rebirth of traditional crafts in the Angkor area.
Working with young artisans, the team create, produce and market a unique collection of ornamental sculpture, lacquerware, silk weaving and silk painting. Local materials, natural colors and traditional textures are selected to ensure these exquisite products reflect Cambodia's historical traditions.
The Chantiers Ecoles centre welcomes visitors daily between 0730 and 1730. Former students conduct free guided tours of the workshops, offering an intimate insight into traditional handicraft skills. Guides are available in several languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.
Visitors can witness intricate wood and stone carving, lacquering, gilding and silk painting. There is a lavish onsite boutique with an extensive range of beautiful products, open until 1830 daily. Visitors with an interest in traditional textiles will relish a visit to the Angkor Silk Farm, located in Pouk District about 11 km west of Siem Reap.
Here it is possible to experience the entire silk process from the cultivation of mulberry trees through the nurturing of silk worms to the preparation of silk thread for weaving. Free tours are available daily between 0700 and 1700 and a free shuttle bus runs here from Les Chantiers Ecoles at 0930 and 1330. The silk
boutique includes classic clothing, items of interior design and smaller keepsakes like wallets and purses.
As well as these flagship workshops, Artisans D'Angkor also maintains a number of boutiques in Cambodia and beyond. The Angkor Café is located opposite the Western Causeway to Angkor Wat and is an air conditioned retreat after exploring the world's largest religious building. There is an extensive collection of crafts on display, as well as a small café with shakes, cakes and homemade ice cream. Artisans D'Angkor also showcases its style in boutiques in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap International Airports, as well
as in a newer gallery in Hong Kong International Airport. There are also plans to open a new boutique in the Angkor National Museum complex.
How it helps: Artisans d'Angkor is a Cambodian company committed to the revival and preservation of traditional arts and crafts. The company promotes fair, sustainable development in order to provide benefits to the rural communities around Siem Reap. The programme includes extensive training of young Cambodians in the arts of their ancestors to enable them to develop a talent to make a successful living. It encourages students to use these skills at home, enabling them to stay in their villages instead of migrating to the cities.
The Artisans initiative has already created more than 1,000 jobs for young Cambodians, about 600 of which are in the arts and crafts sector. There are currently 12 workshops operating in the Siem Reap area.
Young Cambodians join the programme after taking a series of skill and motivation tests and are
trained for at least six months, free of charge.
Artisans d'Angkor is also committed to responsible employment and has pioneered a new social
policy for Siem Reap with guaranteed levels of pay and social and medical benefits for employees. The artisans operate an association called Artisanat Khmer which owns 20% of the company, offering employees a voice in the decision-making process.
Artisans d'Angkor has created opportunities for hundreds of rural Cambodians by successfully marketing their skills and products to a wider international audience. The Artisans project has reinvigorated Khmer crafts and has uncovered an ancient pool of artisans whose ancestors gave the world the temples of Angkor.
Ultimately, Artisans d'Angkor strives to help build the pride of the Cambodian people in their cultural
roots. The team aims to develop a sense of well being, dignity and self-esteem. Providing a stable
income and a rewarding, sustainable environment to work are part of the picture.
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