ManilART 2012: the country's most awaited Art event of the year

MANILA, Philippines - In the past three years, the Manila International Art Fair (ManilART) has established itself as the best venue to view the finest in Philippine visual art. It takes most of the Philippine’s more notable galleries and presents a culmination of the works of their artists and exhibitions in an art fair spanning several days— curated in a way that allows the event to become a survey of the latest in the visual art community.

Its consistency in attracting not only record crowds (6,000 people last year) but also a diverse set of galleries representing the very best visual artists makes ManilART the most biggest and most exciting art event in the country.

Already one of the largest cultural events in the country, this year’s ManilART promises, by popular demand, to be even bigger. This year sees ManilART hosting over 46 galleries, up from last year’s 24, with over 1,400 art works from a diverse set of artists—which includes this year’s featured artist Ronald Ventura, fresh off a record auction sale at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong. The sheer number of galleries necessitates a move to a larger venue, thus ManilART 2012 will be held within 2,800 square meters of exhibition space inside the SMX Convention Center in the SM Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City. With an invitation-only Gala Night scheduled on October 2, ManilART 2012 will run until October 6—one day more than last year’s edition.

The major activities at this year’s ManilART include a By Invitation Only Gala Night on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, a Walking Tour by Fatima University Gallery’s Director Robert Bjorn Santos; an Art Auction featuring up to 30 works reinterpreting the iconic Philippine passenger jeepney, done in partnership with the Jeepney Arts Festival; an International Night with attaches, diplomats, artists, and other art industry personalities; and an event celebrating the renowned artist Ronald Ventura. Workshops, demonstrations, and lectures are also scheduled during the 5-day event.

Gaining a lot of traction from the successful staging of the past ManilART events, this year’s edition has the support of a multitude of media organizations, first among them being Contemporary Art Philippines, the premier magazine dedicated to visual arts. Also lending media support are the cable channels of the ABS-CBN group, including the Lifestyle Network and Velvet; as well as the lifestyle magazines of the Metro group, including Metro Society, Metro Home; and leading radio stations such as Radio High 105.9.

ManilART 2012 is an event that no enthusiast of visual arts should miss. It has something for everyone, all in a convenient location under one roof. Its pedigree, as well as the commitment from its partners, ensures that ManilART remains the top visual art event in the country and a major cultural event in the social calendar.

Now on its 4th year, ManilART is an event organized by the Bonafide Art Galleries Organization (BAGO), with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). ManilART 2012 is co-presented by Contemporary Art Philippines, Lucerne Jewelers and Johnnie Walker. For inquiries, call (632) 910 8016 or email manilart12@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.manilart.com