A man walks through the grounds of the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. Hong Menea
France is set to dispatch museum experts to assist in the restoration and expansion of the National Museum of Cambodia.
The initiative was announced by French ambassador to Cambodia Jacques Pellet during a January 15 press conference at the embassy, coinciding with Prime Minister Hun Manet’s official visit to Paris.
Pellet said the project came about following a state visit by King Norodom Sihamoni to France last November.
During the visit, discussions between the King and French President Emmanuel Macron led to a commitment from France to support collaborative efforts in cultural endeavours between the two nations, particularly focusing on the museum project.
“France is collaborating with Cambodia to prepare for the museum’s expansion. We plan to have French museum experts work alongside the National Museum of Cambodia for the task,” Pellet said.
Chhay Visoth, director of the museum, added details about the relocation plans for the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA), currently situated adjacent to the cultural archive in the capital’s Daun Penh district.
The school is set to be moved to Chroy Changvar district and its former site will be repurposed for the museum, given its proximity.
Visoth noted that the study and expansion plans might take nearly two years to complete, justifying the relocation.
He emphasised that a thorough study of the project is a priority, involving both French experts and specialists from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.
“As of now, we still lack a definitive master plan for the museum’s expansion,” he added.
He said that in 2023, representatives from the ministry had met with French specialists, who had evaluated the site and submitted a proposal to both the French government and the ministry.
A subsequent meeting is anticipated to further the plans.
“Post-expansion, our focus will be on displaying artifacts with comprehensive information. Unlike our current approach, where numerous artifacts are showcased with limited details, we aim for a more informative display in a standard museum setting,” Visoth said.
He expressed optimism about the project’s potential to significantly enhance the Kingdom’s cultural offerings, envisioning a diverse array of artistic objects on display in line with the National Museum’s standards.
