Following the success of the 2023 national art competition, held to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the Independence of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Ekarieach 2024 is back with exciting new opportunities for artists across the country. Last year's competition saw 160 talented candidates from all provinces competing in painting and drawing, with three grand prizes totalling $5,000 awarded to the winners.

In 2024, the competition will expand to embrace all disciplines of the noble graphic arts, including photography and digital creation. This initiative, organized by the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra and its partners, aims to foster creativity and artistic expression, and will run from from August to October. A distinguished jury of seven leading personalities from the world of art will review the submitted works in November and December.

This year’s theme, “water”, or “Teuk” in the Khmer language, will see artists explore the theme in four categories: Art Design, Drawing and Painting, Sculpture, Fine Art Photography and Digital Graphic Art.

The selected finalists’ works will be showcased in an exhibition at “The Gallery” throughout January 2025, culminating in an award ceremony.