The European Union (EU) entered in to a partnership with the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka’s (MMCA Sri Lanka) second exhibition titled ‘Encounters’ which opened on February 11, 2022.
Chief Curator of the MMCA Sri Lanka Sharmini Pereira said, “The EU’s support of the ‘Encounters’ exhibition made it possible for the MMCA Sri Lanka to offer a six-month free public programming.”
In spite of the difficulties in the country, the MMCA Sri Lanka continued to attract visitors. Pereira said, “Those who attended group events like puzzle days or discussion-based events during this time were higher than expected. This indicates how vital it is for museums like ours to prioritise public engagement, and open our doors more consciously to the societies in which we are located.”
The EU supported the delivery of 61 free, public programs of 1,087 participants. These included 11 workshops which engaged the participants with the artworks on display through hands-on experiences.
“These workshops, curated alongside thematics related to the exhibition, have allowed participants to engage in a variety of interests ranging from reading history from stamps, storytelling, botanical drawing, visual journaling, sewing and embroidery, and origami to eco-friendly living,” said Pramodha Weerasekara, Assistant Curator of Education and Public Programming, MMCA Sri Lanka.
Weerasekara said, “Participants engage in these learning experiences within the context of the museum and the exhibition. They leave with not only the knowledge they gained from the workshop, but hopefully, a renewed interest in Sri Lankan modern and contemporary art.”
At the beginning of each rotation of ‘Encounters’, the MMCA Sri Lanka hosted private previews for educators connected with the museum through its outreach programs. This is another initiative which the EU’s support enabled, encouraging the educational endeavours of the MMCA Sri Lanka. At the beginning of Rotation 1 and 2 of ‘Encounters’, two such events were held on February 10 and June 22, attended by 34 teachers.
“As an education-led museum, providing learning experiences for our audiences is a priority for us,” said Weerasekara, adding that, “We are, therefore, extremely grateful for the continued support of the European Union towards Public Programs related to ‘Encounters’.”
The MMCA Sri Lanka seeks support of a diverse range of people, including artists, architects, and designers among others for their public programs. The EU grant made it possible to work with and support 103 such resource persons for various workshops, gallery talks and other public events. The grant also supported the recruitment of 25 Visitor Educators to the museum. As the first points of contact between visitors, and the exhibitions and programs, VEs are present in the MMCA Sri Lanka’s galleries to engage with audiences of all levels.
EU International Relations Officer for Politics, Trade, and Economics Relations - Sri Lanka and the Maldives Anne Vaugier-Chatterjee said, “It was a pleasure for the EU Delegation to support the innovative approach of the MMCA Sri Lanka and its Chief Curator Sharmini Pereira. As well as repositories of the past, museums should be living experiences and this was achieved in a very successful way with the current exhibition ‘Encounters’.”
Vaugier-Chatterjee said, “Encounters provides a new window into the country’s modern and contemporary art, while also reflecting socio-political developments of significance,” adding that “We trust that it will continue to attract a very diverse audience of young and old, cutting across class and age groups in an inclusive outreach.”