Iloilo to host opening ceremonies of museum, galleries month

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

KNOWN for its rich cultural heritage as depicted in its number of museums, it is no wonder that Iloilo has been the chosen venue for the opening ceremonies of this year’s Museum and Galleries Month.

For the first time, the Museum and Galleries Month opens today, October 1, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) Case de Emperador, Festive Walk Parade in Mandurriao District, Iloilo City.

ILOMOCA is the first museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art in the Visayas.

With a theme “Building the Nation, One Exhibit at a Time”, this year’s museum and galleries month celebration recognizes the role of museums and galleries as instruments in creating national consciousness for Filipinos.

“The celebration stresses the importance of arousing national consciousness and pride in the Filipino culture and heritage embodying the aspirations of the nation, expressed in all media of art as well as historical and religious artifacts,” National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Head of the National Committee on Art Galleries John Delan Robillos said in a press conference on Monday.

Robillos lauded Iloilo as a venue for a very dynamic gallery industry in the country.

“Iloilo is a venue for a very dynamic gallery industry. Through the initiatives of ILOMOCA, you started the tours for different galleries and art hubs. I also see printed maps so you would visit the museums here and I think that is really very encouraging that you have a very dynamic gallery and museum industry in Iloilo,” he said.

According to Robillos, the gallery and museum industry in Iloilo has played a major role in supporting artists and talents in Visayas.

“The museums here, they have activities even for commercial galleries and you even included them in the tours. Ang gaganda na nabibigyan niyo ng venue ang mga artists kasi ang daming talent dito sa Visayas,” he said.

Meanwhile, several activities have lined up as part of the celebration such as the “ARTarp Banner Exhibition” in Intramuros, Manila, Mindanao Art Fair Exhibit, and ManilART, among others.

NCAA said that some participating museums will also offer free admission as part of the celebration.

The museum and galleries month is observed every month of October by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 798, series of 1991.