UK Tsunami Recovery Charity (HARF) Opens Cultural Centre in Sri Lankan Jungle In Hikkaduwa - which was devastated by the Tsunami and last week suffered a suicide bomb, writes BBC World News, Press Release, 8th January 2007.
Forwarded by Geoff Payne 100107. 

On 10th January a cultural centre will open in the Sri Lankan jungle in the heart of Hikkaduwa region.  The area which was devastated by the Tsunami (impacting more than 38,000 local people) last week suffered another catastrophic blow from a suicide bomb.

Funded by the Hikkaduwa Area Relief Fund (HARF) the Chandrasevana Creation Centre (Creation Centre) Sri Lanka will provide both a base for community activity and a unique international cultural centre where artists from around the world will come and work with the local community and its artists.

HARF Chairman Neil Butler said. "The Creation Centre has attracted support and interest from artists and festivals across Europe, North America and Australia.  The power of art to communicate, inspire and heal is now widely recognised. We believe the centre can have a significant impact on the lives of those it touches. As well as helping local people, we hope the Centre continues to remind people to visit this wonderful country and the Hikkaduwa region where tourism is essential to the local economy."

This unique Centre will use 'art' to provide entertainment, education and above all inspiration - healing wounds, building understanding and peace. Based in the jungle in the heart of the community, it is the latest project by the Charity which has rebuilt much of the Hikkaduwa community - from whole fishing fleets to homes, businesses and much more.

Neil Butler and his wife Nicky Sheehan who established the charity live in Brighton, they are in Sri Lanka overseeing the establishment and opening of the Centre together with Claire Cater (HARF Board member) of The Gallery Lindfield who raised the initial funds.

Said Community leader Chaminda Pandithage" Art is central to Sri Lankan culture, we use it to mark and celebrate everything that is important to us from birth to death. The Creation Centre will provide a wonderful focus for our community as we continue to recover from the loss of our friends, families and homes."

The Centre has facilities for artists to work and perform individually and with groups, residential facilities, a Dutch barn theatre ( The Bellany Theatre), an outside garden area for meeting and performing (Alex's Garden), and IT facilities for training and education.

The artists will partner directly with the community as well as schools, orphanages and much more. Their work will be dictated by their response to what they experience - they will present it to local people as well as taking it back to the West - building understanding and in part acting as ambassadors of peace.

The opening Ceremonies will last 24hours - starting on Tuesday 9thJanuary with 8 hours of overnight chanting There will be an opening ceremony at 11.am on the 10th January followed by lunch at 1pm and presentations by the artists from 2pm - 5pm.

The inauguration ceremony on Wednesday 10th January will be conducted by the Venerable Rewatha, the Glasgow based Sri Lankan Buddhist monk who has travelled from his temple in Maryhill Glasgow for the ceremony.

Artists and performers are travelling from across Sri Lanka for the event which will be covered by Sri Lanka TV and Radio. Attendees include film star Anoja Weerasinghe and eminent international artist Thenuwara Chandragupta  who said: "The programme of international artists will bring real benefits to our artistic community in Sri Lanka - establishing relationships and exchanging expertise and skills that will benefit us all."

There are currently 4 artists from Scotland working at the Centre with their residencies supported by the Scottish Arts Council. They include performance artist Ian Smith, multi media artist Guyan Porter, dancer / performer Angie Dwight and puppeteer / sculptor Ewan Hunter.

The artists will present performances and exhibitions in the Bellany Theatre -  built with funds raised from the sale of a painting donated by the Scottish Artist John Bellany.

Ian Smith's performance installation will be presented at the National Review of Live Art in Glasgow in February 2007.

The Creation Centre is a long term arts and community project.  HARF is now seeking funds to develop a community film programme (£2500), equip the library (£5000), to fund a year round IT Education programme (£7500) and buy the freehold of the Centre  (40K) to secure its long term future. Anyone interested in helping should contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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