Theertha Artists Collective

Theertha is an autonomous, artist-led non-profit initiative based in Colombo. Theertha have undertaken considerable amount of art activities since its inception in 2000. First, started by 11 visual artists to facilitate international art exchange through international artist workshops in Sri Lanka, it has expanded its activities to include art education through art teacher training, publications on art/culture, workshops for artists, international and local exhibitions. Through these activities Theertha has intervened positively to create awareness on the contemporary art and its ideologies among the art students and the artists’ community based in Colombo and selected communities in the regional areas. Through their art publication they also have tried to disseminate discussions on current art/ culture issues to a larger community within Sri Lanka.Theertha, who support art of the 90's trend which challenged the existing aesthetics, methodologies and ideology in art making has always emphasized and encouraged innovative and experimental ideas among artists. Theertha has showcased some of the innovative artworks done by the contemporary artists. Through the patronage of Theertha the relatively new art forms to Sri Lanka such as performance art and installation got the opportunity and forums to expand and evolve.Theertha activities that need exhibition spaces increased considerably over the years, While, Sri Lankan art community grew and the global connections have expanded the goals, aspirations and needs of artists, the infrastructure to support greater visibility and art presentations mechanisms to local and international audiences have been slow to meet international standards and requirements. Therefore, Theertha established its own alternative art space ‘Red Dot Gallery’ in 2007 in order showcase the experimental and contemporary art produced within its programs.To open up avenues for local artists and maintain connection internationally Theertha invests considerable amount of their energy, resources and expertise on building up close relations with international art managers, artists, art institutions and funding bodies. Theertha facilitated artists’ mobility through its regularly held international art workshops and residencies. As a result of these activities Theertha was able to be a founding partner of the 'Network' , a South Asia-based network of artists with Pakistan (Vasl), India (Khoj International), Nepal (Sutra) and Bangladesh (Britto Arts Trust). Other networks have been formed and connections expanded over the 15 years of Theertha’s existence, which has resulted in interesting and innovative collaborations internationally and in Sri Lanka.
International Art Exchanges
In 2000, Theertha came together to facilitate an international artists workshop with support and encouragement from Khoj International India. Since then Theertha has had regular international workshops and art residencies for over 14 years. Theertha’s International Art Programs have two objectives in mind. One is to provide opportunities for Sri Lankan artists’ community to benefit from the art exchanges with international artists and the other is to give maximum exposure to Sri Lankan art in international art forums by building awareness through art promotion activities. Theertha also supports international collaborations and exhibition projects under its international art program. Theertha’s International Art program Activities includes Artists Workshops, Art Residencies and Collaborations. Many art exchanges have taken place where over 200 artists have taken part in our international art programs and art exchanges. Theertha also initiated the Performance Platform, an international forum for performance art in 2015 and Theertha and its members provided the crucial initial support for Colombo Art Biennale (CAB) to commence where its founder member Jagath Weerasinghe co-founded the CAB in 2009.
Theertha works with contemporary artists to promote and encourage experimental art. Its own art space, Red Dot Gallery showcases innovative and experimental art. Theertha regularly holds sponsored international art residencies and exhibitions. International Art Residencies are held as an integral part of Theertha’s international art exchange program where international artists are annually invited to work with local artists for 3-4 weeks ending up with an exhibition held at the Red Dot Gallery or another exhibition venue. Theertha encourage curator and art critique residencies and has collaborated with Art Scribe Award supported by Shrine Empire Gallery (New Delhi) and Take on Art (New Delhi) in 2015. Theertha provides accommodation at their residency facility for participating artists. For self- sponsored residencies Theertha International Artists’ Collective, centrally situated at 39/4A, D. S. Senanayake Mawatha, Borella offers residency facility for visiting artists, writers and scholars for short and long term stays in Colombo. Theertha residency includes 2 rooms, a well equipped kitchen and studio space.
Red Dot Gallery
The Red Dot Gallery was opened in 2007 as an expansion of the Theertha's activities which demanded exhibition spaces that understood the needs of the contemporary art. Theertha supports art such as of the 90's Trend. It is a trend of art that challenged the existing aesthetics, methodologies and ideology in art making. Primary intentions of the Red Dot Gallery is to show case art that has found contemporary interpretations and manifestations taking their point of departure from art of the 90s Trend. Since its inception Red Dot Gallery have had many annual exhibition programs such as ‘Freshly Baked’ (for young artists to sponsor their first solo shows), Pradharshana Wasanthaya (Gallery season showcasing mid career and senior artists innovative work) and retrospectives of master artists. In 2013 Red Dot Gallery was shifted to Borella, a more central location in Colombo which it remain at present.
Theertha Publishing
Theertha Publication Program is an attempt to make available contemporary writing in art and culture to a wider audience in Sri Lanka. Some of the publications of Theertha were done in partnership with Colombo Institute for the Advanced Study of Society and Culture (Colombo Institute), an organization with an emphasis on research and dissemination of writings on Sri Lankan society and culture active from 2005 to 2012.
ArtLab is an art practices based journal for publication of contemporary writings on art that would be informed of the current global/ regional trends, ideologies and debates. ArtLab was published in Sinhala and Tamil languages. Patitha (Sinhala) and Panuwal (Tamil), an annual publication included writings on socio-cultural interrogation, research based text and theoretical writings by local and international scholars, art and cultural writers. South Asia Journal for Culture (SAJ) was an attempt to publish and distribute with in South Asia and internationally a journal that would give a forum to express ideas, discussions generated within South Asia which is based on locally produced knowledge, theoretical discussions and documentaries specifically concerning South Asian art and culture. SAJ is published annually. In addition, Theertha has published numerous catalogs and books on art.

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