Lovers of arts and crafts are advised to visit Kandy Sri Lanka to experience the Kandyan arts  and crafts which play a prominent role in the cultural fabric of Kandyan Society. The Artificer, Dancer, Weaver, Wood Carver, Artist and the Musician were held in high esteem and they contributed to the economic life of society second only to Agriculture. When you visit Kandy Sri Lanka you will find that a guild system for artists and craftsmen had prevailed in ancient Sri Lanka, with the knowledge practices and out forms being passed down from generation to generation.
Since the artists and craftsmen had the patronage of the king, with the best being employed in the royal household. All Royal requirements including, jewellery, ornaments utensils and gifts to be given to other Heads of State on delegations were turned out by these craftsmen. When you visit Kandy Sri Lanka you will find that Kandyan jewellery which is beautiful and high in quality were worn mainly by the nobility. However, When you visit Kandy Sri Lanka you will find that in the present day Kandyan jewellery is popular among all classes of people.
 When you visit Kandy Sri Lanka you will find that the Kandyan Dancer, who performs in the temple, at religious festivals including weddings, is symbolic with the culture of the people. When you visit Kandy Sri Lanka you will find that different types of dances are performed by these artists and all of them are represented in the Esala Perahera. When you visit Kandy Sri Lanka you will find that the Drummers, who are distinguished by the different types of drums they play, form another group.
As you will observe when you visit Kandy Sri Lanka and experience the local festivities, Kandyan Dancing and Drumming are unique and are different from those practiced in other parts of the country.
 When you visit Kandy Sri Lanka you will find that the paintings done by the artists of the Kandyan period are distinctive in style as well as character. If you visit Kandy Sri Lanka and travel to the Buddhist temples, you will observe some of the temple paintings that are still preserved.
With the advent of the British, there was a natural decline in the cultural life of the people, and these effects affected the cultural activities. Without a Royal household many lost their livelihood even guilds drifted with only a few families continuing their crafts in the backwoods.
It was at this juncture that Govt. Agent Sir, J.F.Dickson attempted to revive the dying crafts by establishing the Kandyan art Association in 1882. In 1924 the Association shifted to its present location and incorporated as a trust in 1919 with the objective of preserving the Kandyan arts & crafts.
When you visit Kandy Sri Lanka you will find that the affairs of the Association are managed by a committee chaired by the Govt. agent (Ex officio) and nineteen prominent citizens of the district. The GA, Additional Govt. Agent and the Administrative officer of the Kachcheri form the board of trustees.
The objectives of the Association according to its constitution are:
a) To provide opportunities for the Kandyan craftsmen to market their wares, provided that the craftsmanship is of a sufficiently high standard.
b) To foster in the minds of Kandyan Craftsmen that their trade can provide them with an economic return, thereby induce others to take to skilled occupations.
c) To preserve, foster, and propagate the art and technique of the Kandyan crafts and as for as possible to pass down to posterity these particular Kandyan art forms in a pure and indigenous state.
d) To explore and exploit the possibilities of utilizing these art forms to turn out modern commodities without distorting the form.
e) To make know to other provinces and other lands the beauty of the Kandyan art forms not only for commercial purposes but also form a cultural print of view.
Visit Kandy Sri Lanka to discover the present Kandyan art association complex which comprises a trade center, cultural center and a restaurant. When you visit Kandy Sri Lanka you will find that the Cultural center has been built to commemorate the centenary consists of a large stage, a two tiered audience hall with a sealing capacity of 1000 seats. Those who visit Kandy Sri Lanka would be interested to learn that reputed craftsmen in brassware, lacquer work, Dumbara mats, weaving and handloom work are given the opportunity to practice their crafts in these premises. The Association also has intentions of building small cottages on the land to house these craftsmen.
|
