At the end of January 2013 the annual Kala Pola celebrated the 20th anniversary of an event that has exposed the Sri Lanka public to art in its many forms. This open air art fair presented by the George Keyt Foundation held on Nelum Pokuna Mw, is the most prominent platform for artists and sculptors from around the country to present their work to a large and receptive audience. The first Kala Pola was held in 1993 with George Keyt, the prominent Sri Lanka artist in attendance after whom the event is named. This drew a modest 30 artists. The 2013 two day event drew 345 artists and sculptors with works in a range of mediums and 30,000 visitors. The Kala Pola gives aspiring artist a break and the more well known among them attract admiring crowds and get record sales and perhaps further commissions. The Rs 7 million generated from the 2013 event is an indication of the growing popularity of the event. Sponsored by a key corporate conglomerate, the Kala Pola is a demonstration of the use of Corporate Social Responsibility to foster new talent and to be the means of introducing art to a wider audience.

The informal ambience of the event where art lovers can walk among rows of colourful tents to view and chose their preferred work, very much like shopping at a village fair, is growing from being just an art show to something with greater appeal to a wider audience. The 2013 event included an art auction for the first time, a series of public lectures on art, a children’s art corner, also for the first time that attracted 120 participants, exhibitions of artists from SAARC countries and entertainment that included stilt walkers, live music, a drumming show and traditional dancers. Several galleries in Colombo also joined the event and presented their own exhibitions. Another first was the presentation of art work by differently abled children. The popularity of the show and the demand for cultural activities such as this was demonstrated by the fact that a large and appreciative crowd attended the two day event and within the first couple of hours practically everything was sold out. The works on display included oil on canvas, acrylics, water colours, abstract paintings, landscapes, portraits, sculptures in wood, clay and metal on a range of themes, traditional masks, woodcuts, handicrafts and items made from recycled material.

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Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+