Organization
United Khmer Cultural Preservation
United Khmer Cultural Preservation (UKCP) is a Fresno, California, nonprofit that teaches Khmer language and traditional arts in the Central Valley.[1][2] It serves Khmer Americans and allies through community programs and leadership development, and its young dancers form a community dance troupe.[1][3]
Programs
UKCP's stated aims are to preserve memory and to promote Khmer heritage, culture and identity.[1] Its community programs in Khmer language and traditional arts help people stay rooted in their heritage by passing on cultural knowledge, and they also teach Khmer culture to others who are not familiar with it. Leadership development runs alongside this cultural work.[1]
In 2023 UKCP ran a weekly language and cultural arts class for children and teens, meant to bridge the cultural gap between generations. On weekends Setha Nhim taught the children to play traditional Cambodian instruments.[4]
Dance troupe
UKCP's community dance troupe is run by young dancers devoted to Khmer dance, and it is part of California's Cambodian dance community.[3] The troupe has practiced on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Holistic Cultural and Education Wellness Center, 4867 East Kings Canyon Road, Fresno.[3] Charya Burt of Charya Burt Cambodian Dance has taught the troupe a master class and hopes to work with it again.[3]
The Fresno Chaffee Zoo opened its Kingdoms of Asia exhibit to the public on June 3, 2023. Before the opening, the zoo held a special reception to honor the Cambodian cultural advisers who had helped guide its construction, and UKCP's dancers performed there.[5]
Funding
UKCP is a 501(c)(3) organization, and its registered address is in Clovis, California.[2] In 2024 it applied for a $48,400 Measure P grant in Fresno, with Siphanarene Lonh named on the application.[6] The Fresno Arts Council announced its intent to award UKCP $43,704 in general operating support for emerging organizations, under its Expanded Access to Arts and Culture grants for July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.[7] Charity Navigator lists the organization but has not rated it, because it has not received the public data needed for a star rating.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 United Khmer Cultural Preservation, mission and vision
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Charity Navigator, United Khmer Cultural Preservation profile
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Charya Burt Cambodian Dance, Community Engagement, United Khmer Cultural Preservation entry
- ↑ KVPR, How Cambodian Americans heal the cycle of intergenerational trauma (October 16, 2023)
- ↑ Asia News Network, Californian zoo features ancient Khmer Empire influences, style (June 20, 2023)
- ↑ The Munro Review, Measure P grant applicants (May 17, 2024)
- ↑ Fresno Arts Council, EAAC 2024-25 Intent to Award notice
Sources
- United Khmer Cultural Preservation, mission and vision
- Charya Burt Cambodian Dance, Community Engagement, United Khmer Cultural Preservation entry
- United Khmer Cultural Preservation, Facebook page