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Lowell History: Cambodian Culture


asian people in white riding in golden ornamental boats
Photo courtesy Lowell Water Festival

Welcome to Cambodian Culture in Lowell

This guide offers primary sources related to the emergence and growth of Cambodian American culture in Lowell from the early 1980s until the present. The focus is on cultural and artistic organizations and events, such as the Angkor dance troupe and the Southeast Asian Water Festival, within the changing political and historical context of Lowell. Primary sources reflect the role of Cambodian cultural organizations and events in Lowell's cultural economy, which includes Lowell's art district and city organizations like the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL), the Merrimack Repertory Theater and the Lowell National Historical Park.