Theertha International Artists Collective 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, art and cultural publications, local workshops for artists, skill development through programs such as computer and English language training 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. The traveling exhibition “20th Century Sri Lankan Visual Art” systematically documented Sri Lankan visual art history for the fist time. Through their art publication they also have tried to disseminate current art 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.  Through exhibitions such as  Urban and the Individual,  Celestial Underware by Jagath Weerasinghe ( Finomenal Space Gallery),  Goddesses Descending by Anoli Perera (Studio @ HW Architects), Ka Ga Ja by Sujith Ratnayake (Studio @ HW Architects),  The Maze by Bandu Manamperi and G. R. Constantine (Lionel Wendt Gallery), (A)critical Intimacy  (Harold Peiris Gallery) and Contemporary Sri Lankan Art ( GTZ  Colombo Office) 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 , earth works and installation got the opportunity and forums to expand and evolve.

In addition, Theertha has held number of exhibitions that included work produced during the international residencies in 2004, 2005 and 2006 which also gives an ideas of the art exchanges facilitated between international and local artists.

To emphasize the importance of bring art into contact with the public and the art community Theertha also has made number of attempts to encourage popularizing contemporary art in alternative art spaces in the private and public locations.  By doing this Theertha's intention was to encourage corporate sector and business enterprises to open their offices to art exhibition so it would expand the exhibition spaces for artists while it build awareness within the offices staff and visitors.  Theerha was acutely aware of the restrictions and difficulties artists felt in accessing the established galleries to show their art.  Theertha collaborated with the HW Architects, an innovative architect company founded by the architect Hiranthi Welendawa to curate exhibitions in its office building.  As such the Studio @ HW Architects opened in 2003 where it operated as a gallery space until HW Architects moved to a new space in 2006.   Theertha also helped the GTZ (German development agency) Office in Colombo to curate its first exhibition in 2003 when they opened their office space as a gallery. 

Theertha activities that need exhibition spaces has increased considerably and the network of artists locally as well as internationally have grown during the last two 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. In this environment Theertha has undertaken the  major task to establish a  gallery system that present artist's art portfolios in professionally 'curated' exhibitions and to present them in international art forums such as biennales, triennials, residencies and workshops in a formal and sustained. Its intension is to convince the art institutional and state’s  cultural  policy makers and the international art community to acknowledge  contemporary art as part of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage. Therefore establishing its own alternative art space ‘Red Dot Gallery’  in 2007 became the logical next step for Theertha .

Over the years Theertha has developed a extensive art archive with a larger intention of systematically recording and documenting the contemporary artists which can be accessed by the international art establishments as well as to historically locate various artists and their work.  At present, this archive is being frequently accessed by visiting curators, artists, international museums and local educational art programs.  Theertha has also functioned as a quasi- cultural department where they have provided financial support, created opportunities and connections for artists to take part in international workshops, residencies and exhibitions.  Every year, Theertha facilitate minimum of 2 artists to travel abroad for art exchange/ educational programs in the Asia region and number of artists are given opportunity to take part in international exchange programs within Sri Lanka.  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.  As a result of this 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).

With its substantial art archive on contemporary Sri Lankan art, international and local collector have come to accept Theertha as a place where they could see and buy cutting edge and innovative art.  Theertha art exhibitions also draw a large number of art students.  By Theertha opening the Red Dot Gllery as an alternative art space its has ushered in attention to art curatorship and internationally establish standards in gallery practices within the art community.

With its many functions in the local art community and focus on building up networks internationally, Theertha has grown into the role of an international facilitator and art manager for the local artists.