Ortigas Art Festival advocates ‘art for all’
Over the past eight years, the Ortigas Art Festival has grown from a local exhibit to a nationally recognized cultural event, and this year it banners the theme ‘Art for All: A Celebration of Borderless Artistic Expression.’
For several years, the Ortigas Malls, under Ortigas Land, in collaboration with artist groups and cultural organizations, has been providing a venue to get more and more people exposed to and experience the arts, promoting the works of artists, especially local and emerging ones, and deepening awareness on and appreciation for the arts through the Ortigas Art Festival, which has been regularly held at the Ortigas Center, a business district in Pasig City.
This year, organizers, artists and art enthusiasts celebrate another iteration of the festival, which is held 10 to 24 July at GH (Greenhills) Mall in San Juan City, with the theme "Art for All: A Celebration of Borderless Artistic Expression.” This is the first time that the festival is being held outside Estancia Mall, bringing with it a slew of events and activities including exhibits, talks, workshops, dance and musical performances, a fashion showcase and film screenings
“Over the past eight years, the Ortigas Art Festival has grown into something truly special — a platform where Filipino creativity thrives, and where art is brought closer to the everyday Filipino. And along the way, this humble idea blossomed into an award-winning festival, recognized for its mission to make art accessible, inclusive, and alive in public spaces,” said architect Renee Bacani, vice president of Ortigas Malls, in her speech during the opening on 10 July.
Artists and organizers of the Ortigas Art Festival including Angono artist Totong Francisco; Nemiranda, founder of Angono Ateliers Association; fashion designer Chynna Mamawal; Tess Rayos Del Sol, head of the NCCA National Committee on Art Galleries; Renee Bacani, Ortigas Malls vice president; Helen Mirasol and Renato Habulan, Ortigas Art Festival head curators and consultants; Franz Lopez, Born in Film founder; Monique Castañeda, Ortigas Malls AVP and head of Marketing; Ortigas family members JV Sullano, Alex Ortigas-Sullano, Maritess Ortigas, Maite Ortigas; and Cathy Dueñas, Ortigas Malls AVP head of Leasing.
“But these achievements aren’t just ours — they belong to all of you. To the artists who continue to push boundaries. To our cultural collaborators who believe in the power of community. And to every guest who walks into the exhibit with curiosity, wonder, and heart,” she added.
Bacani also enthused, “This year, we mark a new chapter as we welcome the festival to GH Mall in San Juan City — a vibrant space designed to uplift and connect. With exhibitions at the East Wing and South Wing Atrium, immersive workshops at the Tech Hub, and a rich calendar of performances, talks, and film screenings, we invite you to experience art in a way that’s interactive, inspiring, and deeply personal.”
Festival consultant Helen Mirasol recalled the journey of the festival, saying, “We started back in 2018 utilizing a portion of the bridgeway in Estancia. Over the years, we got progressively larger, and we occupied a good portion of the East Wing of Estancia.”
“Besides being free to both exhibitors and the viewing public, this festival has also been innovative. Every year saw additions until we had become the multifaceted festival that we are today. We also moved from the traditional National Arts Month of February because many others were exhibiting at the same time. Because of our adaptability, I believe we were the only art exhibit to physically present their works during Covid while others resorted to online presentations,” she added.
