Crowd at a past edition of Art in the Park held in Makati

Art in the Park 2020, the “affordable” art fair scheduled March 15, has been postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Mindful of our collective responsibility to help contain the spread of Covid-19, the organizers of Art in the Park and the Museum Foundation of the Philippines have decided to postpone the event scheduled for Sunday, March 15,” read a statement issued March 9 by the organizers.

“We were looking forward with anticipation to another successful edition of Art in the Park. However, in consideration of the recent advisories by both the World Health Organization and the Department of Health, we feel that pushing through with the event would be irresponsible,” they added.

“We deeply appreciate the support that our participants, visitors, and partners have expressed throughout the planning process for this year’s Art in the Park. Our thoughts are with those who have been affected by the coronavirus globally, and we fervently hope that this crisis will be overcome soon.”

Art in the Park may still be held at a later time this year, they said in closing.

Now on its 14th year, Art in the Park has won a steady following among art collectors for its affordable offerings, with a ceiling of P50,000 set on the artworks for sale. Part of the proceeds fund the projects of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines in support of the National Museum and its network.

The “affordable” art fair is typically well attended.

This year’s event would have showcased the works of contemporary artists Dex Fernandez, best known for his iconic “Garapata” series, and Ilocos-based artist Richard Quebral, who incorporates whimsical architectural touches to his paintings. Also scheduled was figurative artist and art educator Jackie Hontiveros Lozano, who was to have done live portrait painting on the day itself.

Since Art in the Park usually fills the Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati City, with people, it is understandable under the present circumstances why this may not be such a good idea at this time. INQwww.artinthepark.ph, www.facebook/artinthepark; follow @artintheparkph on Instagram