Theertha is an autonomous, artist-led non-profit initiative based in Colombo. It was established in 2000 to facilitate the local community of artists in innovation, experimentation, exchange and dialogue within Sri Lanka. Theertha since its inception has grown from a small informal group to an organization with 17 resource persons (mostly visual artists) working on a number of projects that include publication, teacher training, international workshops/ residencies, exhibitions, computer training, website development and sustaining regional and international connections.

After eight years of working for the artists' community locally, Theertha has in more recent times emerged as an organization with a triple function. One is to function as an umbrella organization for informal and formal organizations and individuals that are interested in working for the artists' community who have similar aspirations as Theertha. The second is as a ' home' that supports and nurtures artists and address their artistic requirements, negotiate artists' rights and issues and guide through their personal crises. The third function is as a negotiator, facilitator and promoter of Sri Lankan art and artists in the international and regional art scenes.

The explicit objectives of Theertha are:

To encourage experiments in artistic possibilities by providing a conducive environment to stimulate artistic exploration.

To widen and strengthen vital new links and formulate networks with art communities in Africa, the Asia Pacific Rim, Euro-America and especially our neighboring countries; we are committed towards developing a South Asian network for the arts.

To widen and strengthen vital new links and formulate networks with art communities in Africa, the Asia Pacific Rim, Euro-America and especially our neighboring countries; we are committed towards developing a South Asian network for the arts.

To provide documentation of educational, local and international outreach programs, produce written texts dealing with art and its politics, maintain art archives, publish quality art catalogues, and produce video documentation and other art related material.

To enhance and update local art education qualitatively by undertaking the training of art teachers in regional areas

Theertha has received funding from Hivos (the Netherlands), Ford Foundation (USA), Art Network Asia (Singapore), Prince Klaus Fund (the Netherlands), Swedish Institute, Lunuganga Trust (Sri Lanka), Goethe Institute (Sri Lanka), FLICT (Sri Lanka)  and Sri Lanka Telecom (Pvt). Ltd (Sri Lanka) for its programs.

Members of Theertha

THeertha International Artists Collective 187 Oruwala ,
Athurugiriya. Sri Lanka
Telephone: 00 94 112798611 Email: theerthaiac@yahoo.com Website: www.theertha.org