DTI works on database for Cebu's visual artists

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Cebu Provincial Office) is now working on a data base of all visual artists in Cebu to help this potential sector maximize its potential and take advantage of the good commercial prospects in the world’s visual artistry.

DTI-CPO provincial director Nelia F. Navarro said that through the Creative Cebu Council, the visual artists in Cebu will be gathered and a directory will be officially made to strengthen the visual arts industry in Cebu.

This is also in preparation for the upcoming funding that Cebu may get from the ASEAN Funding group, to help the creative sector in the region. And Cebu, being named by the British Council as the Creative City, it is expected to get a share of this funding, Navarro said.

According to Navarro although the visual arts sector in Cebu has a good potential to get the attention for the visual arts enthusiasts, and collectors not only in the Philippines, but also in other markets abroad, there is a need for the Cebuano visual artists to be well organized, so that they can get a proper help from the government.

Although other sectors also in the creative industry is being organized, Navarro said getting a list and complete data base of the good visual artists in Cebu is quite difficult, as the players are disperse and loosely organized.

Also, Navarro said the DTI’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) has included the visual arts in its budget, through inviting visual artists to participate in the world trade fairs, and promote their works to the international market.

With this, there is a big chance for good Cebuano artists to take advantage of this opportunity. After-all Cebuano talents have already gained name in the world’s creative sector, Navarro said.

In an earlier interview, multi-awarded Cebuano visual artist Fred Galan said although there is now increasing number of visual artists in Cebu, market for this kind of work of arts are also increasing.

Surprisingly, Galan said the more informed and education new generation or young market have started to appreciate to local work of arts through paintings, thus demand is becoming dynamic.

Because of government’s lack of support for this kind of “profession”, Galan said serious artists are doing their own promotional campaigns, and participating exhibitions here and abroad required in order to establish their names.

Luckily, the construction boom in Cebu has sustained the players’ livelihood. Unlike in the past, consumers were only the “collectors” and painting investors.

Galan, who has been in the profession for over 40 years now, said Cebu market for paintings have improved significantly, boosted by the appreciation of young generation to invest in paintings.

On the other hand, Visual Arts Industry association in Cebu president Dennis E. Montera earlier said that Cebuano visual artists have potential to be worldwide players, if given the right technical support.

At present, he said the industry has no “direction” and players and visual art hobbyist are only doing their own “thing” as individual, without hitting the right market, with no proper venue to display their craftsmanship.

Navarro believes that Cebu, as a tourism destination, should be a good venue for visual artists to make their creations sell to the global market.

Montera added that in Cebu, most visual artists’ exhibit their creations in different locations, and has become a traditional “Sunday thing”, with no support from other government agencies, or development organizations.

“There is a big potential for the visual arts industry in Cebu, only if players will come and reach out to the right people,” Navarro said.