By Pia Lorraine Yater-Dalmazo
Building on the success of the inaugural phase of Navigate the Touring Circuit in 2024, the program is set to advance with its highly anticipated second phase. The capacity-building initiative for the performing arts, which previously brought expertise and inspiration to Manila and regional hubs including Clark, Dapitan, and Bohol, is now intensifying its efforts supporting the development of the Philippines’ creative industries.
Phase II kicks off with a two-day intensive workshop designed to hone the skills of the country’s performing arts groups. Taking place on January 30-31, 2025, at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay, the workshop will delve into topics such as pitching for specific audiences and market and client engagement. These free sessions aim to equip participants with the tools necessary to attract local and international clients ahead of the CREATEPhilippines X Manila International Performing Arts Market (MIPAM) in 2026.
The program will also include additional legs slated for March and June of this year. Interested creatives can visit https://createphilippines.com/createph-x-mipam to register and avail of the free training.
Charting the Path for Creative Growth
Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), CREATEPhilippines has been at the forefront of promoting the nation’s creative industries as a high-potential export sector. Through knowledge-building activities, event promotions, and its digital hub, www.createphilippines.com, the program aims to showcase Filipino talent on the global stage.
For 2025, CREATEPhilippines will focus on supporting the priority sectors such as Performing Arts, Animation, Game Development, Visual Arts, and Communication Design through targeted interventions.
The Performing Arts and Music sector will benefit from local promotion initiatives, capacity-building programs in entrepreneurship and service exports, and knowledge-sharing activities on international markets. These efforts aim to strengthen international networks, providing Filipino performing artists with opportunities to expand their reach and impact globally. Key programs include the Value Creation initiative, which focuses on capacity-building and market exposure through the CREATEPhilippines X MIPAM: Navigating the Touring Circuit Capacity-Building Sessions.
The Animation and Game Development sector will see expanded connections with industry players, facilitation of contracts with international buyers, and enhanced promotion of the indie game scene and animated film landscape in the Philippines. Strategic initiatives include a hosted foreign buyer program for selected local industry events such as CREATEPhilippines X Philippine Game Development Expo, and CREATEPhilippines X Animahenasyon.
In Communication Design, efforts will focus on encouraging legal practice among players and facilitating connections with local clients. The domestic promotion program for creative solutions dubbed as CREATELab will debut at IFEX Philippines on May 22 to 24 and Manila FAME on October 16-18.
The Visual Arts sector, on the other hand, will prioritize enhancing overseas promotion through Overseas Trade Fair (OTF) participation and showcasing Filipino talent at prestigious events such as FOCUS New York and Asia Now Paris.
Strengthening the CREATEPhilippines Community
To bolster its creative directory, CREATEPhilippines will implement an incentivized system to boost member retention and satisfaction. Activities include a monthly creative spotlight, matching of creatives with buyers and stakeholders, interactive creative community activities on the website and the social media platforms and a networking activity in time with the Philippine Creative Industries Month (PCIM) in September.
The future of the Philippines’ creative industries is bright, and CREATEPhilippines invites all creatives to join this journey. Register now through www.createphilippines.com to learn more about upcoming events and opportunities.
About CREATEPhilippines
CREATEPhilippines is the country’s flagship trade promotions program that showcases the Philippines’ creative industries as a high-potential export sector and driver of economic growth.
It brings together the creative industries and champions local talent by organizing events that create an enabling environment for the creative ecosystem to learn, network, and seize opportunities in the Philippines and beyond.
As a content and community platform, it promotes the creative industries and its products and services. It also offers a database to help Filipino creatives become searchable to a global audience looking for talent.
