Photo courtesy Lowell Water Festival
This course examines the emergence and growth the Cambodian American culture in Lowell from the early 1980s until the present. The course focuses 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 during that period. Particular attention is given to 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.