Colombo’s Performing Arts Center
Sri Lankan infographics usually suck but this chap Banuka Niman Amarasinghe did something very nice with this
China built us a big performing arts center. They took the walls down a good while ago and I like it, especially at night. It’s kinda like getting a complimentary duffel bag from your credit card company, but still. Thing is, I have no idea what it looks like from inside, or above, until now. The view from above is important. See above. The view from inside is more important still.
The Arts Center, like the Hambantota Port, looks open, but is not open. It’s there, but no one is using it. I’m not sure if this is because it’s not fully done or because they’re waiting for an auspicious time, but there’s no action. Serendipity has said that the opening should be on December 15th, and also this:
I was told that as the monthly maintenance of the Center is expected to be around Rs6M a month, that we will only be able to hire the Hall for performances at the rate of Rs300,000 per night.
In my opinion this is the death knell to performance before it even starts, as there is hardly anyone except those with deep pockets or foreign rock star performances that can charge entrance fees to cover this cost, in addition to the other charges for a performance. If one takes the example of an audience of 1500 then it works out at Rs200 each. (The New “Lotus Pond” Performing Arts Center opposite Vihara Maha Devi)
In my opinion, it’s not. A death knell that is. Recent shows have included Jay Sean, Arash, and upcoming is Basement Jaxx, Chicane, Avicii, etc. Other performances have included Asha Bhosle and we almost had Akon. These gigs all pack in more than 1,500 people and cost well more than Rs. 200 a head. For a normal night at any nightclub its Rs. 1000 (for men) and most theatrical performances are at least Rs. 500.
Till now these acts haven’t really had a space to perform – Sugathadasa Stadium isn’t very nice, and other places are kinda ad hoc (Nawam Mawatha Parking Lot, Galle Face Lighthouse, Mount Lavinia Beach). We’re getting more acts, people are getting more income, and I think it could work.
From Above
If you’re organizing something serious, with sponsorship, Rs. 300,000 isn’t that much, especially if it comes with parking. However, if you’re organizing something serious without sponsorship, it is prohibitive. That’s why I do agree with Serendipity that the small theatre on top of the building should be cheaper and open for low budget high concept artists. Looking at the drawings, that looks like an amazing space, open air, a hundred meters above the city, in a big lotus birds nest.
The design itself is quite innovative. I thought it was random frills around a boxy building, but seen from above it’s actually shaped like a lotus, like the pools of Anuradhapura. Good stuff. I just wonder what we’re going to see inside.
Today on the 
Janith has updated 
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Sri Lankan domestics never say anything, they just stop coming. My maid just stopped coming and when I finally pressed her she said I needed to get a washing machine. I was hoping to ride this one out, but I’ve run out of underwear and I have no choice. I finally caved and bought a washing machine, from 
It’s been on Google Maps for a few months now, so you can see what it looks like from above in relation to the surroundings.
Indi thanks for giving my a post some publicity in your blog entry. Our age difference and view point was obviously apparent in the differing opinion on the pricing of a performance. I was thinking of the Hall being filled by local productions of vernacular cultural art form to be appreciated by local (non English speaking audiences) and foreigners alike to whom my questioning of the daily hire charge was directed. If I was a tourist I would like to go to a traditional performance of local cultural art forms. In Vancouver I was most interested in visiting the Indian Tribe attractions for example.
I agree there are performances where a certain crowd can pay the bucks you suggest, but restricts its use to a particular income/wealth strata and I would like the appreciation of the Performing Arts to go into the lower income brackets as well so that their latent talents can also be harnessed by being immersed in productions of local cultural interest.
I see this art form dying and hope that this Performing Arts Center can be used as a catalyst for a revival of older art and dance forms, as well as drumming and music. There is so much rich cultural history that needs to be revived and this can only be done if there is a demand to learn this art form and partake as an audience too.
There will be no doubt a tussle internally within the Ministry responsible for this center, as to what type of productions will be encouraged. Western or Eastern!! It will be interesting to review this mix after a couple of years of performances.
It looks gorgeous. Some more pictures here:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1104129&page=3
Will probably end up being a tourist spot.
From your link, picture of the inside:
http://i55.tinypic.com/1jnjg2.jpg
lol complimentary you say?
Performing Arts Center is beautiful !! Chinese did a good job !!
[...] went past the National Archives down to Thumulla, down Reid Avenue, past the National Museum, the Lotus Performing Arts Center and then round Coffee Bean and back to Independence Square. It’s funny how the recently [...]
According to the Sunday Times, this center is to be called the “Lotus Pond Mahinda Rajapakshe Theatre” (http://www.sundaytimes.lk/111211/News/nws_20.html) … seriously!?!? I think it shows signs of a serious insecurity complex that every government project ends up having the name ‘Mahinda Rajapakshe’ on it .. does he think he’d be forgotten if the name wasn’t emblazoned on all of these structures?!?
Have to agree there. Doesn’t it make the prez feel embarassed? I mean there is already a port named after him.
Obviously not…
What I find more irritating is howimpotent government MPs and even ministers sound when they cant utter two sentences without invoking the name of “athigaru janadhipathithuma” and “Mahinda chinthana”. It’s as is they’re unable to get the simplest thing done on their own.
[...] telling you what their name is? Yeah. The President is kinda like that. They’re naming the new performing arts center the ‘Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa’ theatre, which I think is a bit much. Even Namal [...]
Some new pics:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1104129&page=4
The opening ceremony was stunning! !
[...] embedded the intro YouTube video above, which is somewhat oddly translated into English. I like the Lotus Performing Arts Center well enough, but this looks a bit… pink and [...]