City Art Gallery in Baguio could soon be opened for art exhibits

Baguio City, Philippines – Committed to keep its reputation as a creative city, members of the city council approved on first reading the proposed ordinance designating the basement of the Baguio Convention Center as City’s Culture and Art Gallery, designed to strengthen the city’s commitment with the UNESCO Creative Cities Networks (UCCN).

With this, the City Art Gallery could soon be opened for art exhibits for artists and visitors.

In a report, the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Baguio cited that the author, Councilor Elaine Sembrano, rationalized that there is a need to support the culture and art development of the Cordillerans through the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of Cordilleran arts and culture. This, she said, is based on the principles of unity in diversity and freedom of intellectual expression in order to sustain the city’s title as a “creative city.”

With the ordinance, required and appropriate artworks shall be installed at the convention center after the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Art projects, according to the ordinance, must be created by artists working in conjunction with arts or those independent artists that are generally recognized by critics and peers as professional practitioners of the visual, performing, or literary arts.

However, artists shall not include members of the architectural or engineering engaged in the design and construction of a development project.

Meantime, the City Tourism Office that supervises the operation and management of the convention center is encouraged but will not be required to employ Cordilleran artists to fulfill the required art project.

As provided, the city government reserves the right to inspect the art gallery to be maintained while the City Tourism Office ensures its maintenance and security to keep the artworks in good condition.

The ordinance also requires the creation of a working committee to execute the art gallery activities such as artwork exhibits.

The members of the committee include the chairperson of the Sanggunian’s Committee on Tourism, Special Events, Parks, and Playgrounds; chairperson of the Committee on Education, Culture, and Historical Research; city planning and development coordinator; city budget officer; Department of Trade and Industry-CAR; Department of Tourism-CAR.

As recalled, Baguio City was designated as a Creative City for Crafts and Folk Arts by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on October 31, 2017.

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