CEBU, Philippines — Spark starter and art enabler Create Cebu is again gathering creative entrepreneurs in Cebu in an event where they can showcase their products and services.

Dubbed as "Crisscrossings: Creative Convergence", the event is happening on January 12-14 at Crossroads Cebu and ECCP (European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines) Matic.

Building on its first edition held in 2015, the 2018 reboot will be a 3-day gathering to showcase creative entrepreneurship, art, design, and maker culture in the Queen City of the South.

As one of the main highlights, the event will feature a Creator’s Market displaying Cebuano products and services.

It will also be hosting various talks and workshops geared towards advancing creative skills.

Among them will be the Grow Cebu Music: The Summit and Concert, which aims to gather and strengthen the local music community while developing an audience for Cebuano talent.

“We’re hoping to bridge art and industry which will make the creative economy in Cebu flourish. We’re really passionate about nurturing the Cebuano identity through creative entrepreneurship” said Cecilia Martinez-Miranda, one of the co-conveners of Create Cebu.

Kae Batiquin, one of the organization’s leaders said one of the event's main goals is to improve Cebu’s livability through creativity and the arts.

"We believe that art has a role to play in uniting Cebuanos, especially the creative sector, to create more that would boost Cebu’s image as the country’s creative capital

and its standing amongst other ASEAN creative communities," she said.

Crisscrossings intends to promote Cebu as an ASEAN destination for culture and the arts as well as contribute to its chances of being recognized as a UNESCO Creative City.

Crisscrossings 2018 is made possible with the support of DTI-7, DOST-7, A SPACE Cebu and the ECCP Cebu.

Crossroads Mall is located along Gov. Cuenco Ave., Brgy. Kasambagan, Cebu City while ECCP MATIC is located in DOST-7 Banilad S & T Complex, Gov. Cuenco Ave. in Cebu City.

According to Tom Flemming Creative Consultancy, “Depending on how they are defined, the Creative Industries are estimated to represent anywhere from 3 percent to 12 percent of global GDP (all UNCTAD). The rapid growth of the sector originates from an increased demand for distinctive goods and services, including for leisure, in part an effect of the world’s expanding ‘middle-class’ and the increase in disposable income; as well as the expansion of digital technology which is opening up multiple new channels and platforms for contents storage, distribution and production.

"Although growth has slowed in some regions through the global economic crisis and subsequent downturn, overall the creative sector continues to grow. This growth is most pronounced in emergent economies and particularly in those with access to large markets, strong global connections, distinctive and productive cultural sectors, and rapid digitalization; this is certainly the case in the Philippines. Even without the benefits of a coordinated mapping study, the Philippines’ creative industries sector is large, diverse, dynamic and growing.“

The presenters of Crisscrossings 2018 believe that the creative industries can play a transformational role in driving local socio-economic growth and innovation within Cebu City and across the Philippines as a whole.

In 2008, Cebu City was recognized by the British Council as the Creative Capital of the Philippines and is currently a member of The Southeast Asian Creative Cities Network (SEACCN), a network for creative cities and clusters in Southeast Asia. This network includes representatives from the cities, agencies, specialists, experts, groups and communities.

The initial members include George Town (Penang, Malaysia), Bandung (Indonesia), Cebu (Philippines), and Chiang Mai (Thailand). The network was informally founded in April 2014 in Chiang Mai and an MOU was signed in August 2014.

Create Cebu is a team of art-loving individuals who are passionate about urban revitalization and reclamation, through art (in all its forms) and collaboration.

Starting out as the art-executive arm of Youth for a Liveable Cebu, Create Cebu has since autonomously initiated and collaborated with different projects across industries, connecting individuals through the common passion of bettering the city we all live in.

Its vision is to strengthen the Cebuano creative identity by building a brighter, more liveable Cebu where Cebuano history, identity, and a culture of creation and open expression thrive and are visibly alive in the city.

Crossroads is a lifestyle district where things come alive through community and collaboration.

Showcasing some of the best local brands that Cebu has to offer, Crossroads aims to highlight the vibrancy and creativity of the city. It is a place that invites people to gather, collaborate, and create community culture.

Created under the Materials R&D Program by DOST 7 and ECCP Cebu, MATIC serves as a haven for product developers, designers, students, and a hub for Cebu's creative community.

MATIC serves as a repository of material swatches and resources; it is also a venue of inspiration for design industries, a link to materials and design experts, and access to technology suppliers. 

This article was originally published on January 4, 2018 on The Freeman (print)