NCCA leads Museums and Galleries Month this October

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), through the Subcommission on Cultural Heritage (SCH), and in partnership with the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), leads the celebration of the Museums and Galleries Month this October, encompassing the theme “Exhibits and Reflections: Crafting Opportunities for the New World.”

This year, the MGM celebration emphasizes the role of museums and galleries as an institution that acts as a domain of rich Filipino cultural heritage, history, and social condition that serves as a catalyst for human beings, providing chances to reflect, restart, and redirect themselves to a better future.

The theme also interlaces with the motif of “Museums, Sustainability, and Wellbeing” for the celebration of 2023 International Museum Day, which intends to attain the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals that center on regulating climate, fostering inclusivity, and tackling socio-personal issues. It also integrates the theme of the 125th Celebration of Philippine Independence, which highlights the opportunities made by our ancestors that permit the country’s freedom at present.

The MGM is observed every October by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 798, s. 1991. It underscores the importance of arousing national consciousness and pride in our rich Filipino culture and heritage, embodying the aspirations of the nation expressed in all media of art as well as historical and religious artifacts. The observance recognizes that these cultural and artistic forms are necessary for nation-building and shaping national destiny.

Opening Ceremony 

The kick off ceremony of the MGM 2023 will be held at the Old Senate Session Hall, National Museum of Fine Arts on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 4 p.m. This will be open to the public. 

Online Programs

The NCCA will lead three programs for the celebration of the National Museum and Galleries Month. The first program is entitled “Within the Walls,” which is a three-episode series that will be launched every Mondays in October. The said series will feature various employees of the National Museum of the Philippines, to document their daily work routine, which aims to emphasize the role and importance of the everyday operations of museums and galleries. The second program, MGMKNB Interactive Game Show, will encourage public participation in celebrating the MGM by posting weekly prompts via the NCCA Facebook page every Wednesday, and one (1) winner per prompt will be chosen via lottery and will be awarded PHP 1,000, tax-free. The third program, the MGM Museums AVP Competition, will showcase outputs by the competitors every Friday of October via the NCCA Facebook page. The said outputs aim to showcase various museums around the country.

NCCA Gallery Exhibitions

There are two (2) gallery exhibitions during the month of October that may be visited at the NCCA Gallery, 633 General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila.

The first gallery exhibit, “BULDA: Contemporary Itneg Weaves” by Normandino Mina Sr. & Family, will feature the work of the weaves and embroidery of the Agaid-Mina clan. The 79-year-old Norma Agaid-Mina is famous for her Am-amma (Heirloom) works. While the fourth generation of the clan, specifically two (2) grandsons of Norma—Dino and Heart—crafts contemporary design of embroidery that mainly comes from personal expressions and perceptions of Itneg’s life.

The second gallery exhibit, “INUBON a DAYAW (Strings of Hope): The Life and Works of Manlilikha ng Bayan Magdalena Gamayo,” will showcase Inabel master creations, framed each in clear acrylic sheets and an upright loom by MB Magdalena Gamayo.

Both exhibits will run from October 1 to 31, 2023. 

Institutional Activities 

The NCCA will convene activities across the country for the celebration of Museums and Galleries Month. In time with its celebration of 15th year, ManilART ’23 will embody an estimated thirty (30) galleries and two (2) special project areas in over 1,500 square meters of space. It will run from October 11 to 15, 2023, at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura, Taguig.

The Luzon Art Fair will be launched in the Province of Tarlac as it caters to the needs and gives a platform to Luzon’s artists accessible to the public. It aims to revitalize the island’s art scene by working with various sectors, such as artist-led groups, emerging artists, academia, and businesses, to promote an environment where different stakeholders will work together towards the advancement of local culture and the arts. The art fair will run on October 26 to 29 at Diwa & Bulwagan ng Tarlac. 

The 13th Tam-Awan International Arts Festival, entitled "Ajowanan Kaugadian,” will showcase artworks inspired by social, cultural, and community environments to coincide with the Tam-Awan Village’s 25th anniversary. It will offer art workshops and host cultural presentations to transmit the traditions to younger generations. It is a celebration of art, music, and dance where patrons will have exposure to and appreciation for the rich heritage and tapestry of Cordilleran culture. It will be held at Tam-Awan Village, Pinsao Proper, Baguio City, on October 4–8, 2023.

Following the theme of “Mindanao Art in Glitch: Resonating and Reverberating,” the Mindanao Art Fair will highlight how Mindanao artists recover and adapt to the so-called “new normal.” It will focus on the artworks that highlight the glitches that artists face as they struggle for improvement. The exhibit will run from September 25 to October 1, 2023, at SM Lanang, Davao City, while the virtual exhibition can be viewed at https://mindanaoart.org.

Cultural Crescendo: Phil-Kor Folk Concert 

In line with the MGM, the National Museum of the Philippines together with Korean Cultural Center will hold a free mini-concert that showcases individual and collaborative performances by the traditional performance groups—HARU from Korea and TUGMA from University of the Philippines. The mini-concert will take place on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 2 p.m. at the Old Senate Session Hall of the National Museum of Fine Arts. 

Join the various MGM activities online and onsite. Visit https://ncca.gov.ph/museumsandgalleriesmonth.