DTI, NCCA, British Council hold 2024 Creative Nation Summit
Filipinos are known to bear some of the most creative minds in the world. From the medium of fine arts to the realm of performing, many Filipinos have garnered international recognition for their creative work within various fields. However, the local creative industry is often overlooked, leaving many creatives struggling with lacking support while still underappreciated by the general public despite their potential to thrive.
Recognizing the need to take action to allow the industry to fully prosper, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has partnered with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as well as the British Council Philippines (BCP) in staging the 2024 Creative Nation Summit.
The two-day summit, which coincided with the end of the Philippine Creative Industries Month (PCIM), featured several plenary presentations and panel discussions among industry leaders, policymakers, and creative professionals about the future of the creative economy in the Philippines when it comes to creative technology, creative and cultural statistics, and creative placemaking. It aimed to begin a comprehensive and inclusive dialogue when it comes to the future of the Philippine creative economy.
British Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau Laure Beaufils shared in her message of support during the first day of the summit that her time exploring the country had exposed her to the creativity of Filipinos in various industries.
“The talent and the potential are huge, which is why it is right that we celebrate this and that we think hard together about how we can further support the creative agenda, empower creative firms, artists, creators, content providers, creative workers, and unleash that talent and the heritage, tradition, and the culture upon which it is based,” said Beaufils.
DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba, PhD added to the discussion by pointing out how the creative industries in the country have contributed about 1.72 trillion US dollars to the Philippines’ GDP and provided jobs to more than 7.26 million Filipinos.
“With the massive contribution of the creative industries in jobs and business in the Philippines and globally, it is important to have a clear foresight of the trends that shape the future,” said Aldaba, further discussing how the local industries of film and music have been seeing growth and garnering recognition abroad.
“In developing innovative industries, we are emphasizing the integration of technology, and culture, and unlocking new avenues for artistic expression, making creative experiences more accessible and engaging,” she added.
Apart from discussions about topics such as the future of the global creative economy, the state of creativity and technology in the current world, and the opportunities that came with the challenges in creative technology, the first day of the summit saw performances from the Mandaue Cultural Dance Troupe, Folk singer Bayang Barrios, and the Performance Martial Arts Philippines.
Meanwhile, the second day of the summit featured discussions about UNESCO’s Framework on Cultural Statistics, the creative statistical classification of creative industries and occupations, the power of creative placemaking as well as how it is applied in the Philippines. Shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra also had a cultural performance during the event.
The summit also had an installation featuring the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan awardees and their works which had been recognized by the NCCA.
The 2024 Creative Nation Summit was held at the Rizal Park Hotel on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
