The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) is pleased to announce a new working relationship with Nations Trust Bank (NTB), who will be supporting the museum as a major benefactor for a period of three years, from 2022 to 2025.

Sharmini Pereira, Chief Curator, MMCA Sri Lanka, speaking about the partnership said, “The museum is hugely grateful to NTB for its three years of support of the MMCA Sri Lanka. Their funding helps build the MMCA Sri Lanka which is a museum in the making. As we endeavour to build such an institution, we are also focused on building capacity by offering opportunities to a new generation to think about careers as young museum professionals. Empowering the next generation of professionals to tell stories through modern and contemporary art through exhibition-making, public programmes and digital engagement is essential if we are to be relevant to a society of young people that want change, prosperity and inspiring career opportunities in Sri Lanka.” MMCA Sri Lanka prides itself as a cultural initiative focused on building modern and contemporary art for the country and fostering learning and engagement for the public. Alongside its curated exhibitions and education programmes, the museum is the first publicly accessible trilingual cultural initiative in Sri Lanka.

Speaking about the partnership, Sanjaya Senarath, Chief Marketing Officer of Nations Trust Bank, said, “We are very proud to champion arts and culture in Sri Lanka by helping to support the MMCA Sri Lanka. The museum is the first of its kind and is helping to raise the bar in showcasing the work of our modern and contemporary artists in ways that have not been done before. We are committed to giving back to society, through our CSR activities, with a broader view of “Empowering Our Next Generation.”

For the past 22 years, Nations Trust Bank has supported a range of art-related activities in the country, leading the ways in which the private sector should. The Bank commits themselves to this initiative as an effort to create a sustainable tomorrow. Providing quality education is one of the key pillars of the Bank’s CSR policy which has been derived from the sustainability development goals set by the UN. This association will pave the way for the country’s next generation to enhance their knowledge on modern and contemporary art while helping develop future experts in this field.