Tam – Awan Celebrates 12th International Festival

Heritage, culture, and Art takes centerstage anew as the Chanum Foundation stages the 12th Tam-Awan International Arts Festival (TIAF) on October 5 to 9, 2022.

In partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the festival is themed “Hapit Di Aammod: Wisdom in Shapes, Colors, and Words,” which converges over 300 artists, culture bearers, workers, and artisans from all over the country and the world for a 5- day artistic display at artist haven, Tam-awan Village.

Hapit di Aammod translates to “voice of the ancestors” in Tuwali, an indigenous language in Ifugao.

Renowned solar Artist and President of Chanum Foundation, Jordan Mang osan said “Art is a potent tool to preserve visual records of time and experiences and it is a visual aid for people to see the world in different and innovative ways. Art is a vehicle that can transport ideas and the wisdom of cultures to the current generation.”

For 12 years, the TIAF offers workshops to various schools in the region as well as talks aimed to educate and enlighten artists and the public on laws, customs, and beliefs not only in the Philippines but in the international community.

The TIAF will open on Wednesday, October 5 with workshops on acrylic painting, Jewelry-Making, Sand art, and Mono Print Workshops and a series of seminars led by lawyers Fernan Dizon, Exequiel Valerio, and Jeremy Bayaras on Copyright, Resale Rights, and Copyright Registration In a bid to empower artists and artisans.

Performances and artist jams are scheduled in the evenings for the duration of the festival. At the same time, murals will be created with the collaboration of artists from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with community projects, also a part of the festival.

On Thursday, Oct 6, the day opens with workshops on Coffee painting, Digital and stone art, and a Lecture by Jaet Braza on Okir Designs of Southern Philippines

On Friday, October 7, a tapuey making demonstration is scheduled with a virtual talk by Dr. Oliver Rabara on the Philosophy of Art: Making Sense of Shapes, followed by a lawyer, Exequiel D. Valerio on Copyrights on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Generated Artworks and Cordillera Rituals by Ike Picpican.

On Saturday, workshops include Statue-Making followed by a Lecture: Globalization of Creativity in the City of Baguio by Dr. Raymundo Rovillos followed by a talk by the Philippine Art Educators Association on documentation of cultural practices, Indigenous Knowledge on Dance Movements

On Sunday, October 9 the festival will see the unveiling of Murals and Art Collaborations and closing ceremonies marked with rituals and thanksgiving.

The TIAF embarked on a series of Art Caravans benefitting the Santol Central School in La Union, empowering teachers and students in workshops on Acrylic Paint, Wire Rings, Pastel, Sand Art, Stone Art, and Screen Printing.

TIAF is backed by the City Government of Baguio and the Province of Benguet with the Department of Tourism – Cordillera.

Schedule of activities