CCP Touring the Arts kicks off at CMU

To equip the regional artist-managers with the essential knowledge and expertise in managing cultural tours, local and international arts and to establish an active network of professional tour managers in the country, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in cooperation with ‘Kaisa sa Sining’ Regional Arts Center presents the “Touring the Arts: Regional Lecture-Workshop on Organization and Management of Touring Arts and Cultural Productions,” which kicks off at Central Mindanao University, at the AVHall, Natural Products Research and Development Center (NPRDC), March 26-28.

The CCP ‘Touring the Arts’ with the ‘Kaisa sa Sining’ Regional Arts Center is conducting the lecture-workshop in three strategic sites in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao from March to May this year. It is a three-day specialized course on the organization and management of touring arts and cultural productions facilitated by notable experts, arts managers, and cultural administrators.

The project was initiated by the CCP Cultural Exchange Department spearheaded by Carmencita “Chinggay” Jasareno-Bernardo, Department Manager III.

Ms. Chinggay revealed in her talk before the orientation proper that the outreach program of CCP is turning its 40^th this year. She also pointed out that they were able to do the same lecture-workshop last 2009.

“We did this in 2009, in celebration of our 30^th year of outreach, umikot din kami sa iba’t-ibang probinsya to share our experiences and expertise in tour management particularly arts and cultural production,” Ms. Chinggay emphasized.

She added: “Sabi namin, marami ng nagbago since 2009 and we would like to share with our counterpart in the region, kung ano man ang aming na gain over the years…”

Ms. Chinggay also expressed her enthusiasm in her message in the program included in the lecture-workshop kit. She conveyed her excitement in creating arts and touring at the same time.

“We decided to organize this series of lecture-workshop to impart to the artists-managers-cultural workers in the regions the lessons we learned, the exciting experiences we gained, and the expertise we acquired through many years of touring the arts, not just in the Philippines but overseas as well”

There were five competent resource persons tasked to tackle five various topics. Two of them were from CCP, Carmencita “Chinggay” Jasareno-Bernardo, the Department Manager III of CCP Cultural Exchange Department, and has been in the forefront of cultural outreach work and artistic productions in the last three decades, local and international arena; and Arnelio B. Manzano, the technical Coordinator of all programs implemented by the CCP Outreach in the regions and occasionally in the foreign countries too and has joined CCP Outreach and Exchange Division in 1988.

Other resource persons were: Dr. Steven Patrick C. Fernandez, a professor of Humanities, Literature, Dramatics, and Stagecraft, and the Artistic Director and Founder of the Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG) of MSU IIT, and an awarded dramaturge and playwright in various productions worldwide.

Moreover, Rodel M. Fronda, the current President of Philippine Folk Dance Society and the Division Chief for Arts and Culture under the Provincial History, Arts, Culture, and Tourism Office of Bulacan, and he is the Artistic Director/Choreographer of the Lahing BatanganDance Troupe and the Sining Bulakenyo Pangkat Mananayaw ng Bulakan.

Margarita B. Galupa, also known as ‘Odette’ is currently the Press Relations Manager of the Philippine Madrigal Singers and a soprano for the MAdz and was part of the world concert tours in 1998, 2000, and 2002.

Various topics were deliberated and discussed in five sessions: Session A –Why bring the Arts on Tour?; Session B –Local/National Tour Management; Session C –The World sees the Philippines through the Arts; Session D – Touring the Arts in the International Community; and Session E – International Tour Management.

Twenty-five participants from the different areas in Mindanao and other three resource persons excluding CCP joined the lecture-workshop. These include the following institutions: Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges in General Santos City and Marbel, St. Francis College of Agusan del Sur, Mindanao State University- Marawi, Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology, Mindanao State University Tawi-tawi, and Central Mindanao University

There were also participants coming from the different socio-cultural groups: Hinugyaw Cultural Dance Troupe in Koronadal City, Dumengdingan Arts Guild, Ateneo de Davao, and Musikahan sa Tagum Foundation. Other participants also include the two Local Government Units of Tacurong City and Glan, Saranggani.(MJLTalisay)