Though for centuries the cradle of a sophisticated civilisation which shaped the destiny of South East Asia, Cambodia has in more recent times become known principally for the excesses of the Khmer Rouge government in the 1970s.

As the country continues to rebuild its shattered infrastructure to meet the challenges of the 21st century, it welcomes this opportunity to showcase its rich cultural heritage and at the same time to encourage its cultural sector to participate in creative dialogue and co-operation with other countries.

The Cambodia Cultural Profile represents the first major attempt to map the cultural infrastructure of this fascinating and hitherto poorly-documented country. It offers a detailed sector-by-sector guide to Archives, Cultural funding, Cultural policy and infrastructure, Cultural training, Cultural research, Ethnic culture, Festivals, Film, Heritage, International cultural exchange, Libraries, Literature, Media (Broadcasting, Press, Publishing, Internet), Performing Arts, Tourism and Visual Arts. Each sectoral overview concludes with a detailed directory of key contact organisations, making it possible for the reader not only to learn about what is happening in a particular cultural sector, but also to make direct contact with the key people working in it.

A collaborative project between Visiting Arts and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, the Cambodia Cultural Profile is one of three online cultural guides to the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) - see also the Việt Nam Cultural Profile and the Laos Cultural Profile. All three have been created with financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation.

Targeted at cultural professionals, yet packed full of information and images which will be of interest to the cultural tourist, the Cambodia Cultural Profile forms part of a new and highly authoritative global source of web intelligence on culture.

The Cambodia Cultural Profile is updated regularly; please contact us to add or amend your details by E-mailing Tim Doling (Managing Editor, Visiting Arts Cultural Profiles Project) at tim.doling@culturalprofiles.net.