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MaArte Fair

Leah C. Salterio

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754371293413BCJ_7432.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Officers of the MaArte Fair organizer, The Museum Foundation of the Philippines, pose with MaArte Fair at the Pen 2025 exhibitors who attended a special preview of this year&#x27;s fair. <em>Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — More than just a showcase of Filipino artistry, the MaArte Fair has become a vital lifeline for the National Museum of the Philippines, raising funds to support exhibitions, field sites, and heritage preservation projects across the country.</p><p>Now on its 16th year, the annual fundraiser returns on August 7 to 10 at The Peninsula Manila, bringing with it a renewed mission to champion Filipino craftsmanship under the theme “Kaalaman, Kultura at KaAlaman.”</p><p>Organized by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, the MaArte Fair funds critical grants for the National Museum’s branches and programs, from publishing scholarly books to conserving heritage art pieces and supporting the development of traditional crafts.</p><p>This year, the foundation is awarding nine project grants, with a significant focus on initiatives that preserve and innovate native Filipino fabrics, alongside other heritage conservation efforts in art, textiles, and community museums.</p><p>“We have a grants committee and we have a particular budget for the grants,” Museum Foundation trustee Gemma Cruz-Araneta told ABS-CBN News. “The book of painter Imelda Cajipe, who has been putting up that work for several years now, we are supporting her in the publication.”</p><p>It also supports a project in Angono by relatives of foremost muralist Botong Francisco, who painted the mural that used to be in the City Hall of Manila and is now with the National Museum of Manila.</p><p>“That is his most spectacular work and it was declared a national treasure,” informed Cruz-Araneta. “So the people of Angono want to set up a museum in the house of Botong. We are supporting that.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754371440454BCJ_7257.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The astoundingly intricate, and unmistakably Filipino brass work of Neil Felipp will again be one of MaArte at the Pen’s undeniable highlights. <em>Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>The National Museum has many field museums all over the country. Through the years, field museums were opened as far as Batanes and also in Bohol and the Cordillera.</p><p>“Whenever they request for some funds for whatever project they do, we try to support them,” said Cruz-Araneta.</p><p>The Museum Foundation is happy about the grants that have been given out through the years.</p><p>“We can see that the National Museum takes advantage of all the grants,” Cruz-Araneta said. “Three years ago, the theme of the MaArte Fair was botanical because in that year, we sent three or four botanists from the National Museum to participate in a school (and learn) how to make botanical illustrations in Singapore.</p><p>“We were very happy that we were able to send them to Singapore where they were able to get a higher grade of training. No contest or competition. Their botanical sketches were so beautiful that we decided to use that as a theme of our MaArte Fair that year.”</p><div> </div><div><strong>More participants</strong></div><p>Cruz-Araneta cannot be any happier with the selection of the 160 exhibitors this year in the MaArte Fair.</p><p>“Every year, we seem to get more participants that sometimes, we don’t have enough space for them,” said Cruz-Araneta. “That only shows the Filipino creativity, the handicrafts keep developing despite difficult times.</p><p>“They don’t always get support from the government, NGOs [non-government associations] or other private groups. It’s very hard to get support for them.</p><p>“There are many foundations that have their own interests. There was a time when they were focusing on projects about the environment. There was a time when they wanted to focus on projects abut governance. It’s really not an easy task.”</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754371495875BCJ_7380.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A favorite at the MaArte Fair every year, Happy Andrada’s much anticipated new collection will deliver the wow factor. <em>Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>By mounting the MaArte Fair every year, Cruz-Araneta feels they are contributing to the efforts of the Filipino handicraft industry.</p><p>“Because we give them opportunity to sell their goods,” she said. “We also give them publicity. The products are excellent and superior. They encourage more Filipino handicraft makers to set up businesses and persevere in their business.”</p><div>  </div><div><em>The MaArte Fair will be held from August 7 to 10. It opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. Venues at The Peninsula Manila are the Conservatory, the Rigodon Ballroom, the function rooms Garcia Villa and Balagtas adjacent to the ballroom, and rooms at the second floor and fifth floor of the hotel.</em></div>

<p>Organized by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, this year’s fair continues its vital mission of funding heritage conservation projects, from publishing art books to preserving native fabrics and supporting community museums across the country.</p>

Organized by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, this year’s fair continues its vital mission of funding heritage conservation projects, from publishing art books to preserving native fabrics and supporting community museums across the country.

MaArte Fair returns to champion Filipino craft and cultural preservation

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MaArte Fair returns to champion Filipino craft and cultural preservation

Leah C. Salterio

Published Aug 05, 2025 01:27 PM PHT

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