Over the past 18 months we've been talking with Sri Lankan arts, cultural and community facilitators about creative ways of supporting communities. Following years of civil war, the 2004 tsunami
and facing a myriad of complex social, cultural, economic and environmental issues, Sri Lankans want (and need) to be actively involved in the country's transition from conflict and disaster.
Conversations reveal a desire by local people to be meaningfully involved in how this happens. Artists want to use their practice to help individuals and communities recognise their strengths, share
their histories and nurture visions for a better future. Community development facilitators want to use more creative approaches to their work and to connect with local artists and culture workers who are often under resourced and under valued. Government seeks
partnerships with grass roots agencies and to support local measures that create local resiliency.
The Venesa Program, by Ferment Collaborate, aims to support these desires and to showcase new ways of working together. Our work supports local people to collaborate, learn and share skills, build
networks, access resources and develop their practice.
This fundraising campaign seeks your support to do just that.
PROJECT 1 - Art and Social Change Symposium
The Symposium is a gathering being held in August this year to bring together artists, cultural workers and community development facilitators to talk, train, showcase and plan for how practitioners
can develop and support creative approaches to social change and community building in Sri Lanka. Supported by Sri Lankan community and arts organisations
Shoba Life To Hands Foundation,
Nirmanee Development Foundation,
Inter Act Art, Centre for Social Concern and
Shyamala School of Arts and Australian agency
Contact Inc.
PROJECT 2 - The Local Food Project
Declining food security, rising costs of food production and transport as well as the loss of plant diversity jeopardises peoples ability to access healthy, nutritional and fresh produce, particularly in poorer regions outside
of established cities and towns. The Local Food Project seeks to build upon traditional knowledge in Sri Lanka by researching literature and leading practice approaches to localising, organic agriculture, permaculture and local livelihood development and
then showcasing the outcomes of research through pilot projects. This project is supported by a group of researchers located in Australia, USA, UK and Asia who are from related fields and who are volunteering their time to support this work.
PROJECT 3 - Bundala Youth Arts
We've been working with the Bundala School, located on Sri Lanka's south coast, since 2011, initially delivering photography and zine (DIY magazine) workshops with students aged between 8 and 15
years. Bundala is a small community of around 250 families and is located adjacent to the Bundala Wetlands and National Park. The goal in working with the school is to use participatory arts practice to help students connect with each other and their community,
develop confidence and to express themselves through do-it-yourself media. We have the support of the school's Principal and our work is guided by a management committee of local adults appointed through the school.
For more on the Venesa Program - www.venesa.org
For more on Ferment Collaborate - www.fermentcollaborate.org
