Nations Trust Bank Private Banking powers ‘#SupportLocalArt: The Talk Series’

Supported by Nations Trust Bank Private Banking, the virtual ‘#SupportLocalArt: The Talk Series’ is the latest initiative taken under the Bank’s partnership with Saskia Fernando Gallery. The online event series is dedicated to providing a holistic platform for the Sri Lankan art community to share their stories, concerns, and solutions to the chronic underfunding of the local art scene, especially during the pandemic. 

“Art is a passion for most of our Private Banking clients and it is also a very attractive way for them to diversify their financial portfolios. Since 2019, our partnership with Saskia Fernando Gallery has allowed us to offer exclusive Art Advisory Services to our members and help them enrich their passion as well as generate revenue through their art collections. We’re now also able to support and uplift the local art community by giving them a voice through this timely and valuable talk series hosted by Saskia Fernando Gallery,” said Sanjaya Senarath, Chief Marketing Officer at Nations Trust. 

The first session titled ‘#SupportLocalArtTalk: The Patron’ featuring four of Sri Lanka's most prominent art patrons and moderated by Saskia Fernando, was held in July via Zoom and livestreamed on the Saskia Fernando Gallery Facebook page. Discussing the varied forms of art patronage alongside their unique experiences and projects, from the corporate to the individual patron, was Anojie Amerasinghe, Patron and Social Entrepreneur, Ajit Gunawardene, Founding Committee Chair of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka, Nadija Tambiah, Head of John Keells Foundation, Member of the Executive Committee of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka and Udayshanth Fernando, Chairman of Paradise Road Group of Companies and Head of Udayshanth Fernando Foundation. 

Upcoming events of the ‘#SupportLocalArt: The Talk Series’ will feature art institutions as well as artists to help debunk misconceptions about funding in the art community and also engage in discussions to figure out solutions and support needed by the art community to come out of the pandemic. 

The recording of the first panel discussion, ‘#SupportLocalArtTalk: The Patron’ can be found at www.saskiafernandogallery.com/video/36-supportlocalarttalk-the-patron-a-conversation-on-art-patronage/. 

Nations Trust Bank PLC is among the top 15 business establishments in Sri Lanka as ranked by Business Today. Stemming from its vision of “helping people and businesses by providing financial services and information to achieve their goals and aspirations in a sustainable way”, the Bank serves a diverse range of customers across both individual and corporate, with an enviable portfolio of banking and financial products and services. Strongly focused on digital empowerment through cutting-edge digital banking technologies, the Bank is a pioneer in many innovative customer centric banking solutions such as extended banking hours, and FriMi – Sri Lanka’s first digital banking experience. Delivering premium value, service and connecting its Card Members to rewarding experiences and opportunities Nations Trust Bank PLC is an issuer and sole acquirer of American Express Cards in Sri Lanka. The Bank operates 96 branches across the country and has an ATM network covering 127 locations and 48 Cash Deposit & Withdrawal Machines, plus more than 3,700 ATMs on the Lanka Pay Network. 

Established in 2009 and expanded to include a private viewing gallery in 2013, Saskia Fernando Gallery plays a vital role in nurturing the local art industry and works to take the island’s unique contemporary art scene onto the global stage by giving its creators structure and support. 

The largest contemporary art gallery in Sri Lanka, Saskia Fernando Gallery is not restricted by medium, showcasing artists across disciplines; from paintings and sculpture to installations and photography. Working with curators, publications, and galleries on both a local and international level, Saskia Fernando Gallery aims to cement Sri Lanka’s position as part of the South Asian art movement. Since its inception, the gallery has collaborated on solo and group exhibitions in London, Los Angeles, Dubai, and Singapore - even representing Sri Lankan artists at events like Art Dubai and the India Art Fair.