Discovering the Beauty and Benefits of Art: A Call to Action for Boholanos

In 2006, I attended the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence awards ceremony, an event that every artist in the country aspires to conquer. I didn't go to the Metrobank Plaza in Manila for anyone else's business, but rather as a finalist in sculpture. It was there that I had the pleasure of meeting the late Napoleon Abueva, taking pictures with him beside my artwork, making it a day to remember forever.

Local artists are unrecognized

But this moment also reminds me of how Boholano artists, even those who are National Artists in Sculpture, like Abueva, were less appreciated in their home province. It's alarming that we couldn't even recall the province presenting his artworks here through a gallery show until the National Museum did it. This glaring omission speaks volumes about us.

We lack a gallery in our province, which means that Boholano artists often become strangers on their own turf. Please take note that we are among the two provinces in the Visayas that do not have a well-visited gallery, which could partly reflect our intellectual finesse. This situation needs to change because art is very important among Boholanos, even if they don't realize it.

So what's in a work of art?

As an artist myself, people often ask me why I chose the path of a serious artist, even though I had been a business mentor at Central Philippine University (full-time) and Holy Name University (adjunct professor). I do art for pleasure, even though it is also an important career. I sculpt and paint because I feel the intrinsic benefits of expressing my mind to the public and stirring discourses through my art. Humans need to express their emotions, and these expressions elevate the soul from despair to a place of courage and hope. A person who reaches that place creates a healthier community, and a healthy community builds a strong nation.

The Arts Council of England quantifies how art improves societies in its publication entitled "The Value of Arts and Culture to People and Society: An Evidence Review." The report compiled scientific studies to highlight the benefits of art in various areas, such as the economy, health and well-being, society, and education.

The benefits of art in a community

For instance, art businesses in the UK produced an aggregate turnover of ￡12.4 billion in 2011, and for every ￡1 of salary paid by the art sector, ￡2.01 is generated in the overall economy through indirect and induced multiplier impacts. Moreover, participation in art can contribute to cohesion, reduce exclusion and isolation, and make communities feel stronger and safer.

In the field of education, involvement in structured art activities in school increases the cognitive abilities of students, and schools that combine art activities across the curriculum consistently show higher reading and mathematics scores compared to similar schools that do not. And among poor students, those who take part in art activities in school are three times more likely to finish a degree.

We must conquer mountains to move forward

It's clear that promoting art is essential, so we must conquer the mountains that lie ahead. The reason we climb hard mountains in Bohol to develop our visual arts is that we don't have proper venues for exhibits. We have the Talimbaw Gallery in Albur, but it's not enough. The exposure of the public to art is quite minimal, and Boholanos wonder why a mass-produced wall décor bought from the mall would only cost P800, while a signatured painting by Sam Penaso, a Boholano painter, is priced at P100,000 – and he earned a living from his art alone.

When I calibrated the appreciation of my fellow teachers, I realized that their knowledge is very minimal even with humanities subjects offered by our schools. With all due respect to our humanities teachers, they only see pictures and read books about fine arts. They are not exposed to real art around.

We Need to Take Action

So what can we do to promote and appreciate art in Bohol? Here are some suggestions:

1. Build galleries - We need to construct more galleries in Bohol where artists can showcase their work. This will not only give them a platform to promote their art but also educate and inspire the public.
2. Promote art education - We need to incorporate art education into our school curriculums. This will help students appreciate and understand art, and potentially inspire future artists.
3. Support local artists - We need to support local artists by attending their exhibits and purchasing their artwork. This will not only provide them with financial stability but also encourage them to continue creating art.
4. Collaborate with artists - We need to work with artists in creating public art installations. This will beautify our community and promote the importance of art.
5. Attend art events - We need to attend art events in Bohol, such as exhibits, concerts, and festivals. This will not only expose us to different types of art but also contribute to the growth of our local art scene.

Art is an integral part of our society, and it is our responsibility to promote and appreciate it. Let us work together to cultivate a culture of art appreciation in Bohol, and celebrate the talent of our local artists.

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