The Kala Pola Art Fair

The sidewalks alongside and opposite the National Art Gallery in Colombo came alive at 8 am on Sunday, January 23 with Sri Lanka’s popular open air art fair, ‘Kala Pola’.

This colourful event, once again, offered visitors a myriad of artistic creations representing a kaleidoscope of talent and skill of the island’s artists and sculptors.

Presented by the George Keyt Foundation, Kala Pola has continued to enjoy the patronage of the John Keells Group for 17 consecutive years. Launched way back in 1993, Kala Pola drew inspiration from the open air summer art fairs in European capitals such as the legendary Montmartre in Paris. The deep rooted rationale for its existence goes beyond the mere search for fascinating colour, exuberance and camaraderie.

Kala Pola is a key platform for artists and sculptors to launch and build their careers. Not only does it help them build a steady clientele, but also promotes art as a lucrative and professional career. Because of Kala Pola, many artists have become successful professionals: some have even gone on to launch careers in the international arena.

Each year it attracts hundreds of artists and sculptors from all parts of the country and affords them the rare opportunity to display their work to a large number of buyers. This is undoubtedly a boon to these highly talented yet very simple men and women, some of whom may not be able to exhibit in Colombo’s established art galleries.”

Kala Pola is sponsored by the John Keells Social Responsibility Foundation — the CSR arm of the John Keells Group dedicated to make a positive difference and enrich the communities in which the Group operates. The Foundation has continued to espouse and implement sustainable initiatives under various focus areas of corporate responsibility, earning the company many an accolade over the years.