“It is said that the twin purpose of art education is not to turn out more professional dancers, actors, etc., but to create more human beings who can be critical thinkers and lead productive art lives.”

The remarks are from Chris Millado, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) vice president and artistic director, a keynote speaker at the CCP’s national consultation with regional partners in Mindanao, held recently at La Salle University, Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.

Similar consultations have been held in Casa San Miguel, Zambales and in Roxas City, Capiz. These are in line with the yearlong celebration (September 2019-September 2020) of the CCP’s 50th anniversary

Participants were cultural workers and leaders from the three main island groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The delegates from all over Mindanao came out with action plans to be implemented in the near future with the assistance of the CCP, and divided themselves into six groups: arts, heritage/indigenous peoples (IPs), education, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), youth and local government units (LGUs)/ tourism.

The youth sector proposed an Art Appreciation Series, a Mindanao Arts Festival and a Summer Apprenticeship Program. LGUs/tourism called for the creation of LGU-based creative groups. The NGOs opted for a Children’s and Cultural Bearers Summit, a Meeting of Emerging and Seasoned Artists, and an outreach program called Ugnayan Mindanao Arts & Culture.

The arts group wanted the drafting of a bill to decentra- lize cultural centers and to create a Mindanao Academy of Creative Expressions. “Creative expressions means not just art because art is a Western concept,” opined one participant.

Education proposed the revival of the local Art Council and an arts festival summer camp. Heritage/IPs recommended a Mindanao Children’s Arts Festival, a Mindanao IP/Moro Theater, in which storytelling will be performed, and cultural immersion.

“We hope to have stronger ties with the different centers in the regions,” Millado said. “And we are looking forward to the next 50 years.”