Point 1: Immediate Considerations for Baguio's Creative Community

In my original presentation, I forwarded the following:

  IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATIONS

1.       Identifying individuals and groups that belong to the sector

2.     Granting creatives access to services and businesses that would allow them to continue practicing their respective professions under the current circumstances, and while strictly following physical distancing and other mitigation policies, such as, but not limited to:

a)      Art supply stores

b)      Music stores

c)       Computer shops

d)      Crafts suppliers/stores

The first item, determining our constituency, is necessary before we proceed, and for this to be done properly, we need to go beyond social media.

As for the second item, while we are still in the process of identifying the members of the creative sector, there are initiatives that the LGU could already execute that would have an immediately have an impact on artists and artisans who wish to be productive even while in quarantine such as granting them access to services and supplies necessary for them to do so. Much like the way auto supply shops and hardware stores were given the privilege, certain arts and crafts supply stores and allied creative services may be allowed to operate on certain days for this purpose.

• VISUAL ARTISTS/ARTISANS/CRAFT MAKERS: Art Supply Stores for canvasses, paints, brushes, basic crafting tools and supplies such as knitting/crocheting supplies, etc.; Framing Services.
• MUSICIANS: Music Stores such as Musar, Musicworld, etc. for basic consumable needs like guitar strings, rosin for violins, reeds for woodwinds, etc. and certain basic equipment such as microphones, keyboard pedals, etc.
• PHOTOGRAPHERS AND OTHER DIGITAL ARTISTS: Computer and other digital/electronics shops for consumables such as printer ink, accessories and services such as computer/gadget repair, etc. 

The above are just some examples, and those in other fields of creative expression who are currently rendered unproductive but may be able to do some work if only they had access to supplies and services.

In addition, the issue of creatives who may be in dire need of immediate relief was brought up. I did comment that we really do need that database of individuals and groups that belong to our sector first. But since that might take some time to complete, we could provide a way for us to identify and reach out to artists and artisans who are in more distress and need immediate relief...

...and vice-versa, an office much like the Creative Desk that has now, to my understanding, been basically replaced/superseded by the secretariat of the CBCC, or perhaps a task force created specifically for this purpose that artists and artisans can go to, call or communicate with to request for assistance.

And since resources are limited, and we in the creative industry cannot expect to be given special attention by the government over other sectors of the community for in this once in several lifetimes situation, we are all in distress, we cannot expect to be able to provide monetary or relief goods or any other form of assistance to EVERYBODY. Thus, we must be able to come up with a system that could determine who among us needs such assistance more, and in what form.

I am sure that the council would be working on coming up with such system/process, but we can all contribute ideas and may share these with them for consideration.