Phnom Penh: On September 2026—Art for Kep, in partnership with the Association of Conservation and Development of Khmer Kites (ACDKK), will host two free traditional Khmer kite-building workshops on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the Kep West Wellness Center inside Kep West.
The workshops will introduce young people, students, families and local communities to the traditional art of Khmer kite-making, with participants learning how to create a khleng ek — a distinctive Khmer kite fitted with a bamboo bow that produces a humming sound as it flies in the wind.
The same one-day programme will be offered on both days, running from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with lunch provided for participants.
The programme will begin with an exhibition of traditional Khmer kites and kite-making tools. Roeung Sareth of ACDKK will introduce participants to the history of Khmer kites and the cultural beliefs associated with the tradition.
Participants will then take part in hands-on kite-making sessions led by Roeung Daro. Working in teams, they will build and cover the bamboo kite frames, attach the tails, and create the musical bamboo bow and its reed, known as the andat ek. The workshop will conclude with test flights on the field, allowing participants to see and hear their handmade kites in action.
The workshops are open to young people aged 12 and above, students, and university students from Kep, Kampot, and surrounding communities. Parents and families are also welcome to participate or attend. Organisers expect between 30 and 50 participants across the two workshop days.
The September workshops are also intended to prepare participants for the International Kite Festival, one of the highlights of Kep International Art Week, which will take place from December 11 to 14, 2026.
“These workshops are our preparation for December,” said Jef Moons, CEO of Kep West. “The kites people build here in September are the ones we want to see flying over Kep during Kep International Art Week.”
The organisers said the workshops provide an opportunity for younger generations to learn about traditional Khmer kite-making while contributing to the preservation and continuation of Cambodia’s cultural heritage.
Photo by: Supplied
