It’s 26 years old and growing
Kala Pola is 26. Having notched up a significant milestone, the vibrant, colourful art festival will return for its 26th run on Sunday, February 24, at Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha (Green Path), Colombo 7 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Two artists looking forward to the event: Bhashith Ranaweera and Vikum Bandara
Sri Lanka’s biggest open art fair, Kala Pola provides a platform for aspiring and established artists to show, share and market their art to local and international audiences.
Last year, there were 350 artists, 28,000 visitors and more than Rs. 15 million worth of artworks sold, a big change from its humble beginnings with just 30 artists. It only costs Rs. 1000 to reserve a stall at Kala Pola making it an affordable venture to display art.
Sudath Abeysekera is one of the artists whose work is now displayed in Bangladesh and India through the exposure he received at Kala Pola. He has been a part of Kala Pola for 15 years and does not intend to stop as he says he has great respect for the event that helped make him a full time artist.
Supporting artists for 25 years: Michael Anthonisz, chairman George Keyt Foundation and Nadija Tambiah from John Keells. Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
This sentiment is reiterated by Zamshiya Kaleel who is also a regular at Kala Pola. She expressed her gratitude to the organisers as this was her way of making a living. The exposure and interest garnered through the fair has enabled her to do what she loves whilst providing for her family. “We would eagerly await the day when the next Kala Pola was announced every year,” she said.
With this year marking 25 years of the partnership between the George Keyt Foundation and the John Keells Group to hold the Kala Pola annually, a panel discussion was held on Wednesday with Chairman of the George Keyt Foundation Michael Anthonisz, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at John Keells Holdings Nadija Tambiah, Vice President of John Keells Holdings Dileep Mudadeniya, and artists Sudath Abeysekera and Zamshiya Kaleel. The discussion was moderated by Arun Dias Bandaranaike.
Zamshiya Kaleel: Sharing her Kala Pola journey
Chairman of the George Keyt Foundation Michael Anthonisz, believes that Kala Pola has created a market for art in Sri Lanka and is now a ‘great launching pad for artists’.
As Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at John Keells Holdings PLC, Nadija Tambiah, believes that ‘the development of art is fundamental to the development of our culture’.
This year, there will also be a kids’ corner for children to tap into their creative side.
Other artists present at the panel discussion Vimukthi Sahan, Vikum Bandara and sculptor Bhashith Ranaweera, are all eagerly looking forward to the upcoming event.
So mark the date and celebrate Kala Pola’s 26th year with the artists.