From Baguio to the World: Ibagiw Creative Festival 2022 gears up for artistic global competitiveness

Baguio City stages its artistic culture anew this November at the 2022 Ibagiw Creative Festival with the theme, “Locally Creative, Globally Competitive”

This year’s theme focuses on showcasing and developing the creativity of the region’s local artists through culture and arts. With this, the city welcomes this opportunity for the Cordilleran culture to further highlight its global identity through activities and celebrations after being previously hailed in 2017 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the first Philippine Creative City to join the worldwide network of now almost 300 cities that work together towards a common objective placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.

In preparation for the famous creative festival which is in its fifth year, art exhibits in various galleries, talks, performances, workshops, and fairs are being scheduled and mapped out for locals and visitors to enjoy during the month-long celebration. (please refer to the Ibagiw calendar of activities) The exhibitions will focus on providing free, creative spaces in celebration of Cordillera’s social and cultural identity through local artistic expression.

The festival will begin on November 12 with an opening ceremony to be held at the Baguio City Convention Center. City officials, led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, will grace the event together with special guests and the Baguio creative community will come together to witness and celebrate Ibagiw 2022’s Opening Ceremony.

Major activities of the Ibagiw Creative Festival include the gamified Creative Crawl, a traveling activity with a creative twist that features a map of various venues from all over the city that locals and guests can visit and enjoy. Mechanics of the activity and more information regarding prizes will be available on the Baguio Creative City official Facebook Page. (https://www.facebook.com/BaguioCreativeCityOfficials)

Competitions such as the Creative Upcycling Challenge will also be held during the festival. This aims to highlight the arts and craftsmanship of Cordilleran artists and craftspeople. Their works will be displayed at the Baguio Convention Center during the closing and Awarding Ceremony.

Moreover, curated exhibits include the SACCADES: A walk-through art experience featuring a solo exhibit by Ar. Dulthe Carlo Munar, Color Implosion: A De-construction on Pintagraph which will be a solo exhibit by Sonny Zandueta, and many more exhibits in various art galleries will simultaneously take place until the end of November.

These and many more exciting events and activities are in store for everyone to experience. Yet through it all, one message rings clear. It is the wealth of Baguio and the Cordilleran local culture, ingenuity, and creativity that makes us realize that if we care for and nurture our creative assets, these may very soon shine like glistening gems for all the world to marvel at and place the Baguio Creative City in the international spotlight. This will enable locals, and visitors from across the globe to experience and understand how our rich cultural heritage and creativity can drive sustainable urban development and renewal through the Ibagiw Creative Festival. # (PR)