Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS) is marking its 20th anniversary with an interactive exhibition at the National Museum of Fine Arts, showcasing its work in children’s literacy and the visual arts.
The year-long exhibition, CANVAS: 20 Years of Art and Stories, opens to the public on June 14. Located on the fourth floor of the museum, the exhibit explores themes of national identity, environmentalism, and social responsibility through installations, sculptures, and selected publications.
Founded in 2005 by lawyer Gigo Alampay, CANVAS launched its first book project with Elias and His Trees, adapted from Jean Giono’s The Man Who Planted Trees. Since then, the organization has released more than 50 titles, including Hanapin ang Sagot: Ano ang Batas Militar? and I Like Wearing Rainbows. Some books, such as Nadia and the Blue Stars, have been turned into stage productions.
The nonprofit has worked with prominent Filipino writers like Vim Nadera, Cyan Abad-Jugo, and Butch Dalisay, and partnered with artists such as National Artist BenCab, Elmer Borlongan, Leeroy New, and the illustration group Ang INK (Ilustrador ng Kabataan).
The exhibition includes several interactive zones designed to engage young audiences. “Ode to a Young Reader” pays tribute to the joys of reading, while “I Am the Change in Climate Change” features a sustainability-themed roulette.
“Safe Space” teaches internet safety using a magnetic board with AI elements, and “Karapat Dapat” introduces children’s rights through mirrors with positive messages. Large-scale sculptures by Daniel dela Cruz and Renato Barja Jr. are also on display, along with interactive learning pods created in collaboration with Liza Flores and Ang INK. The exhibit is curated by Jaime Pacena II.
A portion of the showcase offers a preview of the upcoming Tumba-Tumba Children’s Museum of Philippine Art in Ibaan, Batangas. The 15,000-square-meter museum-in-progress already features site-specific installations by artists Leeroy New, Elmer Borlongan, and Cian Dayrit, and currently hosts the “If Trees Could Talk” International Art Biennale.
Beyond the exhibit, CANVAS continues its “One Million Books for One Million Filipino Children” campaign, which distributes free books to underserved communities. It also operates the Art for Development program, which installs artworks addressing national issues in public locations, including the University of the Philippines Diliman campus.