Tops Artfest 2024- A Celebration of Art

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The TOPS ARTFEST 2024: Why The Cebu Community Should Not Miss It? 

By Celso Duazo Pepito

I was happy to graduate in Fine Arts in 1981 at the University of the Philippines Cebu. But for the next two to three decades of  my art practice, my journey as member of creative community were full of difficulties and challenges. In the 80's and 90's we had very limited platforms for exhibition, encouraging us to organize our exhibits in hotels, restaurants, malls, hospitals, etc. Added to our problems is the limited art collectors in Cebu during that time. Attendees of exhibitions, more often than not were same people who have the heart for collecting artworks. And there were instances when these collectors will shy away from art exhibitions, with valid reasons that they do not have enough walls to hang their collections. With this problem in mind, few artists have opted to look for another job, if only to survive. There were few passionate painters, however, that opted to nurture their creativity, with those challenges.

The emergence of Fine Arts Institutions in Cebu, on the other hand have greatly contributed to the artistic development in Visayas. But one great factor that elevated the art awareness in Cebu was the first Art Fair, known as Tubò Art Fair, organized six years ago by Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, Incorporated. Then, in 2021, the Visayas Art Fair had it's first  exhibition in Montebello Villa Hotel. Now in it' s fourth year, VAF 2024 will be held on November 21-24 at Oakridge Business Park in Mandaue City.

Coming as the Third big artistic event in Cebu is the Tops Artfest 2024 which opens on October 17 up to the 20th. More than 200 artists from Cebu, Manila and other parts of the country are happy to be in this event.

As member of the Cultural workers in Cebu, i was one of those who dreamed of having this kind of artistic activities in Cebu. This event will not only allow the Cebuano public to see what the Filipino artists are proud to be doing, but it is also a great opportunity for the Filipino painters to be united in promoting the importance of art in the community.

Tops Artfest 2024  is another platform where the Cebuano Artists can possibly mingle, interact and create positive linkage with fellow artists around the country.

Above all, Tops Artfest will be a great venue for  creative individuals to nurture their skills and hopefully be participants in the coming Art Fairs in Cebu in the future.

So ...art collectors, art enthusiasts and the Cebuano public, in general... TARA NA SA TOPS?

Tops Artfest will formally open tomorrow at 5PM, at Tops, Busay, Cebu City. The exhibition runs until October 20, 2024

Visit us at the booth of ArtPortalCebu. Enjoy our exhibit entitled: ONENESS and Immerse yourself  with our exhibited artpieces. Above all, have the opportunity to interact with our invited Exhibitors:


Manuel Rodriguez, Sr.
Manuel Rodriguez, Jr.
Angel Cacnio
Juvenal Sansò
Prudencio Lamarroza
Lydia Velasco
Aris Bagtas
Espie Bagtas
Roy Espinosa
Ingrid Aimee Piñaflor
Jik Villanueva
Cameron Castrillo
Melencio Sapnu
Celso Pepito
Fe Pepito
Romeo Cortez Jr.
and
Zapphire Benedikt Jayme

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