Cadiz City in Negros Occidental launched a Visayas-wide painting contest that will culminate in January next year in time for the 51st Dinagsa Festival.
Themed “Pagsibol sa Kabihasnang Pamumuhay” (Visayan life), the art contest is open to artists 18 years old and above in the Visayas Region.
At stake is a grand prize of P200,000.
Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said this “ambitious project” will expand the city’s reach to other places in the Visayas.
“But art knows no boundaries. We need to expand our horizons for the sake of other artists in the Visayas just waiting to be discovered,” he added.
Escalante institutionalized a painting contest in Cadiz shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic.
It started with only Cadiz artists as participants, allowing them to display their art works via a mall exhibit.
With that, the mayor was more than inspired to see local artists thrive amid the challenges.
The following year, he expanded the painting competition to CaSaMa (Cadiz-Sagay-Manapla) or the Second District, and made it twice a year – every Dinagsa Festival in January and Cadiz Charter Month in July.
Escalante widened the contest last year, luring participants all over Negros Island.
Again, it was a resounding success and for the fifth year, he decided to open it to artists in the entire Visayas.
“This is also our way of exposing our local artists to their Visayan counterparts. We need to know more about Visayan life through art,” Escalante said.
“This is also our newest approach being in the list of creative cities by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Lungsod Lunsad Program. Storytelling via art works is one of the best ways to communicate with the people and the community,” he added.
Here are the key details on how to join:
Dimensions: 32 x 26 inches – vertical or horizontal
Mediums: Oil, or acrylic on canvas
Eligibility: Open to Visayan residents 18 years old and above.
For registration: sign up at https://forms.gle/5Xssz2QdT9p9pmSJ9. Other options: Entry or entries can be coursed through courier from Jan. 6 to 8, 2025 (to ensure arrival before the competition).
Via walk-in submission at Cadiz City Arena on Jan. 9 to 10, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ||
