Creative minds gather in Cebu in September

CEBU, Philippines — At least 150 artists, designers will gather in Cebu on September 13, 2019 to start-off a creation of community of creative minds from Cebu and other parts of the world.

Dubbed as the “Tropical Futures Forum,” the gathering will bring in 15 globally-acclaimed and influential artists from different parts of the world to explore Cebu’s fertile ground in creativity.

Initiated by Cebuano activists in creatives led by Mark Deutsch of Happy Garaje and founder of Tropical Futures Institute, the forum is part of the Cebu Design Week celebration.

The event, which encourages networking and connection among the community of artists in Cebu and other countries, will talk about how creativity and design can help make cities or communities nurture their creative talents and take advantage of its economic contribution.

According to Tropical Futures co-founder Chris Fuusner, foreign delegates to the forum will also explore providing incubation avenues here in Cebu.

Cebu, which is well reputed in the creative industry all over the world being one of British Council’s “Creative City” destinations, has so much capability to fully extract its creative juices, added Fuusner, who also operates an open space for artists called 856G Gallery located in Mandaue City.

“Speakers from New York, Singapore, Manila, Tokyo Yamagata, and from Cebu will talk about their creative projects that address education, small and medium business challenges, film, music, art, and personal creative growth,” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) assistant regional director Nanette Arbon.

The creative industry is a US$2 trillion business, and Cebu, Arbon said, has yet to scratch the surface, despite its wealth of creative minds.