CITEM boosts creative industry in Visayas

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is promoting the creative industry among performing arts groups in the Visayas.

A seminar dubbed as “Bridging Business and the Arts,” held at the Negros Museum here last Tuesday was attended by more than 50 participants from Negros Occidental, Aklan, Dumaguete and Cebu.

DTI-CITEM head Marjo Evio said the purpose of the seminar is to help talented artists to market themselves so that they could also earn from their craft.

“We want to teach them how to brand themselves, how to do business, how to price their products, market their services and the intellectual property rights,” she added.

We’re trying to promote the creative industry, through this seminar, wherein they would be equip with the right skills and tools to run their organizations professionally, Evio said.

Evio said the creative industry in the province still “needs a push.”

The government should integrate the industry in school for it to be taught and appreciated by the students and for it to thrive, she added.

She said they are targeting the creative economy in the country to be known by 2030.

Meanwhile, Bacolod, whom she claimed as one of the best locators for artists and performers in the Visayas region is the second venue for the seminar after the first one in Cagayan de Oro City on July 2.

It will also be conducted in Bulacan and Manila later this month.