Artists' Welfare Project extends support to artists-in-need

There is a sector of society that works without benefit of social security, health insurance, or pension benefits yet they contribute significantly to national development. They often bring great honor to the country in the international arena, and their work in different fields brings great delight to our people.

They are the artists, musicians, painters, sculptors, dancers, writers, actors, production people, weavers, builders, creators of beauty. They, too, are the cultural workers and arts managers, the keepers of traditional arts, and the exponents of national identity. The work they do is of immeasurable value, and yet when they are faced with sickness or disability or other material and physical needs, they are generally left on their own, to fend and provide for themselves.

In an effort to meet this urgent need, the Artists’ Welfare Project Inc. or AWPI was formed late last year to extend, provide or grant financial, legal, medical and hospitalization privileges or benefits and/or similar assistance, support and/or advice to Filipino artists who may be disabled or incapacitated by reason of age or physical or mental infirmity and are thus unable to “earn, support or maintain his subsistence, health and basic life needs.

A SEC-registered, non-stock, non-profit organization, AWPI is run by a 15-member board of trustees and currently has 182 members. Its immediate concern is to build up an endowment fund that will enable it to provide members with benefits such as medical and legal assistance, emergency loans, pension and death benefits, among others.

AWPI founding president Fernando Josef, a stage, screen and television actor and currently artistic director of Tanghalang Pilipino, says, “We must support and help our artists, especially during their times of need — for example, when they are sick, or when they need legal assistance. Artists usually are not practical or business-minded people; they don’t invest their money — most of the time they don’t have much money anyway — or have health or any kind of insurance. We at AWPI are trying to fill that gap.”

Beyond meeting emergency needs, AWPI also hopes to assist artists achieve security in terms of having a place to live, providing education for their children, and having funds for their retirement.

To build up its endowment fund, AWPI is undertaking various fund-raising activities in the coming months.

For information, call Clottie Gealogo-Lucero at 832-1125 locals 1606/07 or email at drama_ccp@yahoo.com.