ORGANIZATION
The Cambodian-German Cultural Center “Meta House” was established in January 2007 in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh by German filmmaker and arts activist Nico Mesterharm. What once started as a small community center in a private villa has grown into an award-winning arts and media hub, hosting a large variety of in-person events such as art exhibitions, film screenings, concerts, theatre, DJ parties or workshops. In cooperation with the German “Goethe-Institute”, Meta House offers German Language Classes. Since 2014, Meta House’s umbrella organization “Cambodian-German Cultural Association” (KDKG) is registered as “Non-Governmental Organization” (NGO), fostering links with SE Asian and international universities, galleries, curators and other NGOs. Meta House / KDKG continue to support Cambodian and Cambodian-based artists to promote the renaissance of contemporary art and media in the Kingdom after almost three decades of civil war and the Pol Pot genocide.
PARTNERS
Phnom Penh is enjoying an urban artistic renaissance, a revitalisation of Khmer contemporary music and art, which is as fast and exciting as the development of the capital itself. The reasons for this revival are numerous and complicated, but it includes the influence of the increasing presence of international artists, a vibrant local scene and numerous organizations and players who aim to encourage and rejuvenate Khmer artistic expression. In the course of the last decade, our center has cooperated with a large number of partners in and outside of Cambodia, including UN organizations, the European Union (EU) or German political foundations. We’d like to thank the Goethe-Institut and the German Embassy for their on-going support. Meta House/KDKG is a member of the German Business Group (ADW) and the European Chamber of Commerce.
OUR PRINCIPLES
Meta House’s goal is to foster international creative exchange, deepen understanding across cultures, and create ties between Cambodian artists and communities and counterparts abroad. International arts exchange is fundamental because it creates an environment for genuine compromise and conciliation, enhances the education of all citizens, fosters tolerance of diverse cultures within our country, and prepares us to contribute both artistically and economically within the global society. Valuable cultural exchange is mutual and offers the opportunity for deeper and prolonged commitment between artists and encourages responsible global citizenry. We support diversity through the visual and performing arts events that we present. Because we are a multi-use art center, we make our space available to artists and groups who may not otherwise have access to a professionally equipped and accessible facility or the cultural mainstream. In a world that is increasingly interconnected, we provide programs and services for individuals and organizations to promote intercultural communication, cross-cultural intelligence, diversity and inclusion.
