Sri Lanka’s highly popular open-air art exhibition cum fair, Kala Pola, is an annual event which attracts numerous artists, island-wide. Conceptualised by the George Keyt Foundation, the Kala Pola has enjoyed the unbroken patronage of the John Keells Group for 16 successive years. While initially modelled on the open air summer art fairs in European capitals, like the legendary Montmartre in Paris, the underlying rationale for the existence of Kala Pola goes beyond the search for fascinating colour, exuberance and camaraderie. It is more importantly a valuable forum to launch the careers of talented artists and sculptors, foster the development of a client base, and thereby promote art as a lucrative and professional career.