DTI, British Council Hold Creative Placemaking Session in Escolta

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the British Council Philippines hosted an immersive session on creative placemaking as part of the ASEAN-UK Creative Economy (ACE) Hybrid Creative Economy Policy Training Programme on Feb. 12 at the First United Building in Escolta.

The session, titled “Shaping Spaces: An Immersive Exploration of Creative Placemaking,” featured a guided tour of Escolta’s revitalized creative hubs, showcasing how cultural spaces drive economic growth and community development.

Developed by the British Council in partnership with Cultural Associates Oxford, the ACE program is a hybrid course designed for policymakers and creative industry professionals across Southeast Asia. The latest iteration ran from Oct. 15, 2024, to Jan. 30, 2025.

Speakers included William Chamberlain of Creative Wick, First United Building Managing Director Robby May-Sylianteng, Julius Redillas and Shara Francisco of 98B Collaboratory, and Jodinand Aguillon of The HUB: Make Lab. DTI-Creative Industries Development Office Director Lilian G. Salonga also delivered remarks.

Following the tour, policymakers and industry stakeholders engaged in discussions on urban renewal, cultural tourism, and the economic sustainability of creative hubs.

“Today is more than just a discussion—it is an opportunity to learn, exchange ideas, and reimagine how we design and develop creative spaces that are both economically sustainable and culturally meaningful,” said DTI-Competitiveness and Innovation Group Assistant Secretary Leonila T. Baluyut.

The initiative aligns with the DTI’s broader efforts to strengthen the Philippines’ creative economy. Last year, the agency partnered with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the British Council Philippines for major projects such as the Creative Nation Summit and the Creative Placemaking Dialogues in Bacolod and Victorias.