Eminent local and international artists support the fundraising initiative of the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Titled “Funding the Future,” the event celebrates the institution’s commitment to engage with contemporary art and culture, its practice and production, as well as its presentation and interpretation. 

As a non-profit museum, MCAD relies on the generosity of patrons, supporters and its closest advocates to ensure its curatorial and learning programs remain free and accessible to all. Proceeds of the affair will go towards sustaining the museum’s various cultural and art-inspired undertakings. 

The depository’s projects include Curatorial Conversations, the annual mentorship program for young practicing curators; MCAD Commons, a collaborative exhibition platform with regional institutions and art spaces that allows for creative development, ideas exchange, and curatorial discourse; and MCAD Publications, which promotes the generation and propagation of new ideas in contemporary art and design through exhibition-related catalogues and artist monographs.

Art patron and planning committee member Pam Gonzales Lopez shared, “I support MCAD because I truly believe in what it stands for: a free, inclusive space for dialogue and discovery through art.”

“I love that MCAD is a non-collecting museum, which means it stays fresh and experimental, bringing world-class exhibitions to Manila while supporting living artists,” she added. 

Central to the success of this fundraiser is the generosity of artists, individuals and galleries, who donated artworks and experiences to the exhibition and auction. 

The exhibit will showcase pieces from the collection of artist-supporters, to include Pacita Abad, Pio Abad, Poklong Anading, Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, Martha Atienza, Victor Balanon, Nice Buenaventura, Lesley-Anne Cao, Mariano Ching, Jonathan Ching,  Charlie Co, Lena Cobangbang, Kiri Dalena, Corinne De San Jose, Lourd de Veyra, Patricia Perez Eustaquio, Dex Fernandez, Michelle Lopez and Tona Lopez. Completing the roster are Zoraya Lua, Dominic Mangila, Lui Medina, Manny Montelibano, Wawi Navarroza, Manuel Ocampo, Kaloy Olavides, Gary-Ross Pastrana, Paul Pfeiffer, Goldie Poblador, Issay Rodriguez, Luis Antonio Santos, Elisa Tan, Maria Taniguchi, Derek Tumala, Miguel Lorenzo Uy, Veejay Villafranca, Liv Vinluan and Costantino Zicarelli.

The artwork donations, which range from drawings and paintings, to objects, photographs and video art will be on view to the public beginning 9 November at the MCAD. It is open from Tuesdays through Sundays, and will run until 16 November. An online catalogue will likewise be available on the website of Leon Gallery, the official auction partner of the event.  

The benefit dinner and auction will be held on 15 November at MCAD. Attendees will receive a limited-edition work by artists Lani Maestro and Neo Maestro. 

MCAD is located at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) along Dominga Street, Malate, Manila. For more information, visit mcadmanila.org.ph/funding-the-future-2025.