At Kep West Wellness Center

Art for Kep and the Association of Conservation and Development of Khmer Kites (ACDKK) will hold two free kite-building workshops on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026 at the Kep West Wellness Center, inside Kep West.

Participants will learn to make a khleng ek, the traditional Khmer kite fitted with a bamboo bow that hums in the wind. The same one-day programme runs on both days, from 8.30am to 5pm. Lunch is provided.

The day opens with a display of Khmer kites and kite-making tools. Mr Roeung Sareth of ACDKK will present the history of Khmer kites and the beliefs attached to them. Mr Roeung Daro will then lead the hands-on sessions. Teams will build and cover the bamboo frame, tie the tails, and make the musical bow and its reed, the andat ek. The day ends with test flights on the field.

The workshops are open to young people aged 12 and over, students and university students from Kep, Kampot and nearby communities. Parents and families are welcome. The organisers expect 30 to 50 participants.

The workshops prepare the International Kite Festival, one of the highlights of Kep International Art Week, held from 11 to 14 December 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.”

Practical information

Dates: Saturday 26 or Sunday 27 September 2026 (one day to choose)

Time: 8.30am to 5pm

Venue: Kep West Wellness Center, inside Kep West, Kep

Cost: Free, lunch included

Registration: 078 888 556 or [email protected]

About Art for Kep

Art for Kep is an artist residency programme and arts organisation based in Kep, Cambodia. It organises Kep International Art Week, whose first edition takes place from 11 to 14 December 2026.

About ACDKK

The Association of Conservation and Development of Khmer Kites works to preserve and promote traditional Khmer kite-making.

Media contact

Moni Keol, Art for Kep

[email protected] · +855 78 888 557

Photos available on request.