Theertha over the years have developed a strong local art program that has taken into consideration the lacks, needs, expectations and aspirations of the growing contemporary art community.  Although Theertha was first established with the primary ideas of supporting and facilitation international art exchange, it soon realized that in order to maintain a successful and healthy art exchange internationally, one has to seriously invest in energizing and supporting an innovative and evolving art scene within Sri Lanka.  This realization has made Theertha  to be sensitive to the needs of the artists’ community and to give direction that would support and sustain the innovation, keep the artists community connected with the outside world and to bring attention to Sri Lankan art in international forums.

During the period 2003- 2004 of Theertha went on to engage in a more holistic approach to art exchange. In order to support the art education, Theertha started art teacher training in regional and economically difficult areas and publication on art and culture for university level art student.   Local art/ craft workshops were designed to encourage art appreciation, art practices and to encourage the local artists in regional areas to connect with the larger discourse on Sri Lankan art.

In 2004 Theertha  programs gave emphasis to supporting the young women artists who graduate from Art College to continue their art practice and to experiment with new ideas, to initiate the process of forming their own identity as artists. The woman Artists’ Colloquiums (and International Women Artists Residency program) was initiated during this period.  Some women artists who were dormant in their practice were brought back to being active artists during this period.  Women artists exhibition were included as part of regular activities within Theertha.
With so many exhibition events forming part of Theertha activities it refocused its attention to building audiences.  As part of building audiences, large emphasis was given by Theertha to stimulate the school level art education during this period. A large education exhibition on 20th Century Sri Lankan Art History was compiled which travelled to number of location in 2005 and 2006. It managed to draw large crowds of students in the places they were exhibited. The exhibition was well received as a crucial educational tool.  Local exhibitions have remained an integral part of Theertha’s activities as a art educational effort as well as to support experimentation and innovation in art.
Future interests of Theertha include the development of an extensive cultural policy document and to engage in expanding the art management capacities in artists.  Theertha’s intention is to encourage artists to think and work towards social entrepreneurship where they take responsibility in providing the leadership for art initiatives that would benefit the artists’ communities in urban centers as well as in peripheral areas.

Theertha Local Art Program has the following focus:
• Supporting innovative art practices to emerge and to encourage critical art thought.
• To facilitate dissemination of art knowledge to regional areas specifically focusing on areas that have a visible lack of art knowledge.
• Building art audiences

Activities under Local Art Program:
• Art Teacher Training Workshops
• Women Artists’ Colloquium
• Local Art Workshops
• Artists’ Skill Development Program
• Community Art & Art Educational Initiatives
• Building Local Art Networks