Residencies
The Residency Programme supports artists from all disciplines of art whose work can be enhanced by being made in Sri Lanka. Residencies are for a minimum of 4 weeks and a maximum of 3 months. The Sura Medura centre can accommodate up to 10 people and there is often more than one artist staying.
Sura Medura has close contacts with the local and national artistic community, including the Colombo Art Biennale and the Colombo University of Visual and Performing Arts. It provides mentorship in advance of the visit and support during the residency with introductions to their peers locally and in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city. Artists will be encouraged to make a presentation about their practice at the beginning of their stay and the output of their residency at the end.
Applying for Residency
Artists are advised to research the country and create a proposal that will benefit from being developed in Sri Lanka. The residency should result in the creation of work for exhibition or performance in Sri Lanka. The residency promotes skill sharing and knowledge exchange. Artists often engage with the local community in the development or delivery of their project.
Shortlisted artists will be interviewed and if successful will be supported in the development of their proposal prior to the residency. Once in Sri Lanka they will have access to local support for production or other purposes.
Funding
Funded residencies at Sura Medura can cover transport, food, accommodation and fees.
Artists can be self-funded or apply to schemes in the country where they are based. Sura Medura currently has relationships with funding organisations in the UK, Ireland, the Czech Republic and European countries in the IN SITU network. Contact us for more information.
Self-funded Residencies
Return travel is up to £750 including flights from Europe and transfer from the airport. Local trains and buses are inexpensive. Food and accommodation is £350 per person per week at Sura Medura.
Accommodation
In 2019, we created a new residency facility for Sura Medura in the fishing village of Dodanduwa that offers accommodation for up to 4 artists. The accommodation is located on a secluded peninsular on Rathgama lagoon. For larger groups, we continue to work with our partners in Hikkaduwa at www.sunbeachsurf.com.
Residency periods are generally October/November and February/March but summer dates are also possible.
Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa is a surf resort ‘discovered’ by Western travellers and surfers in the 1970s. It is 100km south of the capital, Colombo; 3 hours from the airport and 10km north of the historic town of Galle.
In the dry season, November to April, the sea offers surf, scuba-diving, fishing and whale watching. There are lagoons, jungles, surfing and safaris within easy reach. See online travel guides for up to date information of Sri Lanka’s history, currency, religion and culture.
The rest of the year, it is quiet with the sea being too dangerous to swim or surf. It has a wide range of inexpensive guesthouses, hotels, bars and restaurants spreading along the 3km of beach. It?s friendly and affordable with the only ‘western’ nightlife (3 clubs) outside Colombo.
How to apply
Opportunities are advertised on this site. If you wish to to apply for a self funded residency please contact the email below.
For further information, please contact neil@neilbutler.org.
