LKIIRSS presents ‘Role of Arts and Culture in Reconciliation’

The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) will host its seventh National Conference in reconciliation under the topic of the ‘Role of Arts and Culture in Reconciliation’ on Thursday, 16 May 2013, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The seventh national conference Role of Arts and Culture in Reconciliation will gather visual and theatre artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, poets, cultural workers, peace building practitioners, activists, educators, students, media, diplomatic corps, public and private sector representatives and the general public.

Cultural work and various different art forms nourish individual and collective capacities often impaired by violence for long periods of time. Arts and cultural activities can re-establish avenues for communication, enhance imagination and creativity, and add on to vibrancy and vitality, restoring trust, a vital element in reconciliation. Thus, arts and cultural work can be the most positive engagement to foster a sense of normalcy to societies in transition.

The main focus of the seventh national conference will be to enhance knowledge within Sri Lankan community and self assessment of diverse cultural heritage as a positive contributor to peace building and reconciliation. To strengthen and encourage artists for their contributions of arts and cultural works to rebuild inter-communal relationships, peace and reconciliation will also be another key focus of the national conference.

Artists can contribute in multiple ways as listeners, witnesses, mediators, interpreters, performers, facilitators or documenters in curing the deep seated prejudices and hatred and also curing traumatic experiences of the young, elderly, men, women across religious and ethnic divides. Artists through the use of creative art forms-film, song, music, dance, drumming, miming, photography, theatre, sculptures, puppetries-contribute to build lasting relations and bring those witnessed conflict back to relationship. Arts and cultural activities opens up psychological spaces to experience love and affection, realise self worth, help release post war trauma and emotional scars positively to social progress with hopefulness and aspiration.

However, for artistic approaches to reconciliation to be effective, the artists need to be conscious of the context, be inclusive, be ready to listen and respond to the needs of concerned parties as well. Moreover, artists’ contribution from arts and cultural activities at peace building stands favourable if opportunities are also provided for artists and cultural workers to interact, learn and contribute in creative form with different communities. Supporting artists working in regions affected by war as well as supporting talents and artistic workers from the communities to learn, work and improve their talents and continue traditional arts and culture as forms of perseverance to next generations are also important factors that will help achieve long term peace.

Another favourable aspect is that the sufficiently skilled young and talented artists can earn a living as professional artists, impacting unemployment levels, as a result make them move away from re-engagement of conflict or adversarial activities.

Over emphasis on culture and art in a society with multi ethnic mix could be counterproductive and likely to create distortions in a reconciliation process as well. Artists from opposing communities can collaborate through cross cultural creative work to connect communities as an answer and to mitigate such challenges. The participatory capabilities offered through art and culture is an important aspect that is widely promoted across the world and incorporated into community development and peace building programs. A collective examination and apprehension of cultural institutions, particularly those at village level-the smallest community can act and contribute at peace building efforts as a more sustainable response to reconciliation.

Reconciliation is paramount in creating a harmonious society. Reconciling the hearts of all those who have been directly or indirectly affected by the conflict is without a doubt the first step in the path to attaining peace. Permanent peace can truly be brought about if all members of a society embrace and sustain it. The reconciliation process should lead to political, social, psychological, and economic fulfilment. Thus, reconciliation cannot be achieved by the directives of the state alone. Reconciliation requires the support and involvement of all Sri Lankans and many segments of society, such as the artists, business community, media, clergy, academia, educationalists, donors and non-governmental organisations.

LKIIRSS aspires to facilitate and act as a catalyst in the reconciliation process by promoting dialogue and collaboration among all such members of society who should contribute to the reconciliation process.  Kadirgamar Institute Executive Director Asanga Abeygoonasekera invites those interested to participate in these events to contact the institute.

The Speakers of the conference will be: Anoja Weerasingha; International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR), Singapore Head Prof. Rohan Gunaratna; National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Chairman, doctor, author and song composer Prof. Carlo Fonseka; Global Law Alliance, Singapore Managing Director/founder, lawyer, exponent, classical Indian dance Sharmila Gunasingham; Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts Chandraguptha Thenuwara; Central Cultural Fund Consultant Director-Publications Prof. Vini Vitharana; Herstories project Consultant, Curator Radhika Hettiarachchi; Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation presenter, journalist, actress Ranjani Rajmohan; Shyamala School of Art Principal and Unity Mission Trust Co-Founder Shyamala Pinto Jayawardane; University of Colombo Department of Sinhala Senior Lecturer Dr. Sandagomi Coperahewa; Global Shapers Hub, Colombo Young Global Shaper (YGS) and Painter Shasmeema Ambegoda and Kadirgamar Institute Executive Director Asanga Abeyagoonasekera.

The sessions will be chaired by actor and politician Ravindra Randeniya and Tagore Society in Sri Lanka President Kamal Premadasa.