CEBU, Philippines – Four Cebuano designers represented the province to the international creative workshop dubbed "Craft Connect!" in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Designers Karla Maria (Kae) Batiquin, of the Holistic Coalition of the Willing (HoliCOW) and Design Ventures Cebu; Anya T. Lim, co-founder and managing director of Anthill Fabric Gallery; Koh Martinez Onozawa, president and chief executive officer and co-founder of Loudbasstard, Inc. and Neil Felipp San Pedro, creative director of Neil Felipp, represented "Creative Cebu" to the five-day creative immersion.
Creative Cebu Council consultant Nelia F. Navarro said that following the successful conduct of the 4th Southeast Asian Creative Cities (SEACCN) Forum in Cebu City last June 25-26, 2015, the “Craft Connect!” first workshop on Design and Marketing for the Crafts and Furniture Industries in Southeast Asia.
“Craft Connect” is a project supported by the German Government via the German International Cooperation (GIZ) to promote collaboration, design development and innovation among ASEAN craft, furniture and decorative items makers/designers.
Over a four month-period, invited designers, furniture makers, and craft makers from Chiang Mai (Thailand), Cebu (Philippines), and other cities in Southeast Asia will be working together and exchange ideas to help promote innovation and technology in ASEAN countries.
In Chiang Mai, the project is managed by the Chiang Mai University Science & Technology Park (also the secretariat of Creative Chiang Mai). Other project partners and supporters include the handmade-Chiangmai partners (NOHMEX, CAMT, and the British Council), the TCDC (Chiang Mai Branch) and the DITP (Chiang Mai), as well as the partners of the Southeast Asian Creative Cities Network (www.seaccn.com), particularly the Creative Cebu Council and the Department of Trade and Industry in Cebu.
In November 2015, Cebu will take its turn in hosting the Second Workshop of the Craft Connect Project, which will invite more local designers and craft makers from Cebu along with other designers, craft makers and furniture makers in Chiang Mai and other Southeast Asian Creative cities.
Cebu’s creative industry is being led by the Creative Cebu Council, a non-profit group with is an alliance of artists and creative entrepreneurs who have bonded together to promote, develop and champion the creative industries sector in the province.