A new chapter begins with archive on Lionel Wendt
View(s):The Trustees of the Lionel Wendt Memorial Fund launched the Archive on Lionel Wendt and the Centre for the Arts built in his memory, on December 3, to commemorate Wendt’s 120th birth anniversary.
The 120th Birth Anniversary Commemorative Programme commenced with a tribute to Lionel Wendt’s first love – music. The Young Musicians Concert featuring emerging musicians was held in January 2020. However, owing to the current COVID-19 regulations, the subsequent events that had been planned have had to be cancelled.
The Archive includes the LWMF’s unique collection of Lionel Wendt’s photographs, audio-visual materials (including specially filmed oral history interviews), ephemera and publications related to Wendt’s work, as well as a record of the history and events of the Art Centre and Theatre. The last couple of years have been spent digitising the LWMF collection of photographs, exhibition catalogues and programmes of events held at the Centre and other ephemera, as well as collating information on the life and times of Lionel Wendt and the Centre.
The Archive which was launched on the revamped website includes photographs from the LWMF collection and private collections and other material on Lionel Wendt and the Centre for the Arts. The Archive is an ongoing project and material will be sourced and added constantly. Regular visitors to the website will therefore always find something new to discover.
The Trust also intends to establish a permanent gallery of Lionel Wendt’s photographs and a Museum/Archival Room which will be open to the public, scholars, researchers and students. Selected material as well as his photographs will be accessible on the website.
The LWMF is dedicated to making this Archive the most comprehensive repository on Lionel Wendt and the Lionel Wendt Centre for the Arts. Lionel Wendt was instrumental in charting new paths in the arts and the Centre has been the platform for the launch of many artists and art forms, both visual and performing. The LWMF will be grateful for any relevant material such as Lionel Wendt’s photographic work, books, music scores, press cuttings, articles, magazines and other publications and documents with his work or references to him, as well as exhibition and theatre performance catalogues, reviews and any memorabilia. Any references to Harold Peiris and others who were closely associated with Lionel Wendt and the Centre will also be of great use. The stories and memorabilia of exhibitors and performers at the Centre as well, will be greatly appreciated.
A Register with details of the donor and the contributions will be maintained and acknowledged wherever possible.
Please email: Lionel Wendt Art Centre at info@lionelwendt.org, or digitalarchives@lionelwendt.org or call +9411 2695794 in this regard.