National Artist Award

NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD
This week’s lesson is about the National Artist Award and the importance of the so called Arts’
Support System. Enjoy learning!
National Artist Award
 Bestows the highest form of recognition to Filipino artists for their significant
contributions in the arts and letters.
 The award is conferred every three years through a rigorous deliberation and selection
process jointly facilitated by the two major cultural offices, the National Commission on
Culture and arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
 NAA was established in 1972 under Presidential Decree No.1001 issued by then
President Ferdinand Marcos.
 First recipient was Fernando Amorsolo.
EXAMPLE OF WORKS OF NATIONAL ARTISTS
 Can be found in university campuses.

 One is the Oblation, 1935 found in the University of the Philippines (UP) campus in
Diliman, Quezon City.
 Sculptural work by the classically trained sculptor Guillermo Tolentino (awarded 1973)
 Aside from monuments or statues in public spaces, many of Tolentino’s works can be
viewed at the National Museum.
Sculpture Garden, VARGAS Museum
Sculpture Garden, VARGAS Museum
Benedicto Cabrera (awarded 2006)
Variations of Sabel, 2015 (can be found in UP theather)
Joya served as faculty and

dean of the UP College of
Fines Arts and taught in
UP. Gaining further art
studies in the United
States, he was influenced
by modernist sensibilities
of the period.
In 1964, he represented
the Philippines in the
Venice Art Biennale, one
of the oldest international
exhibitions worldwide .
TRANSISTIONS AND COLLABORATIVE
WORKS OF NATIONAL ARTISTS
 While artists may work independently, artistic collaborations help develop projects
involving elaborate production work, as in the case of film and theatre.
 The actor, filmmaker and producer Manuel Conde (awarded 2009) worked with Carlos
V. Francisco (awarded 1973) in many of his films.
 One of these films was the acclaimed Genghis Khan, 1950, which told the epic
adventure of a Mongolian conqueror.
 Francisco’s imaginative production design likewise enriched Conde’s cinematic vision.

 The film was screened in many film festivals abroad and translated in 16 languages for
international distribution. The most recent of which was at the 2015 Venice Biennale.
 Pop-rock opera Tales of the Manuvu performed at the CCP in 1985 also benefitted from
the efforts of several National Artists.
 Scholar, poet and teacher Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature
(awarded 2006) wrote the libretto, while National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes
(awarded 2014), founder of Ballet Philippines, choreographed the performance
 National Artist for Theater Salvador Bernal (awarded 2003) took charge of the costume
and set design.
 Narratives in existing literary works sometimes become the basis of moving images and
performing arts. The combined drawings and stories popularized by the prolific
Francisco V. Coching (awarded 2014) have inspired filmmakers to create adaptations on
the big screen.
 Pedro Penduko first appeared in Coching’s work in Liwayway comics, and animated into
film by Gerardo de Leon, National Artist for Film (awarded 1982) in 1954.
 National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin (awarded 1976) wrote A Portrait of the Artist
as Filipino, 1950.
 This was adapted into film in 1965 by Lamberto Avellana, National Artist for Film
(awarded 1976).
 His wife and collaborator, the actress, director, and writer Daisy Hontiveros Avellana,
National Artist for Theater (awarded 1999) played the lead character in both film and
theater.
WHAT ARE SOME ISSUES SURROUNDING THE NAA?
 The works of National Artists are explorations about Filipino culture and identity, as
expressed creatively through varied styles and artistic mediums.
SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INSTITUTIONS, AND INITIATIVES ACROSS REGIONS
 Support systems of the arts include (a) institutions (b)organizations and collectives (c)
media and (d) alternative platforms.
 These support systems provide the environment for facilitating production and the
circulation or distribution of art.
 Creates a public for art by initiating events and activities that are not necessarily about
money exchange.
 These newer type of support systems ensure that artworks become more accessible to
the so-called art world and the broader public.
 Held exhibitions and competitions in support of works that the viewers were not very
much acquainted with at that time. (1950’s)
 Support system can be government-initiated, community or municipality based,

privately supported, university oriented, artist-run, or internet based.
 Collectives and artist organizations are composed of individuals who share similar or
related practices. They are committed to experiment and develop their particular forms.
(The Anino Shadowplay Collective and the Sipat Lawin Ensemble)
 Organizations can also emphasize their regional affiliation, as in the Black Artists of Asia
which, at its height were made up of artists from Negros.
References:
Datuin, F.M. et.al. (2016). Contemporary Philippine Arts From The Regions. Rex Book Store, Inc.
Panisan, W.K. et.al. (2016). Contemporary Philippine Arts From The Regions. Mutya Publishing
House, Inc.

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NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD

National Artist Award

 Can be found in university campuses.

Joya served as faculty and

 Francisco’s imaginative production design likewise enriched Conde’s cinematic vision.

WHAT ARE SOME ISSUES SURROUNDING THE NAA?

SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INSTITUTIONS, AND INITIATIVES ACROSS REGIONS

 Support system can be government-initiated, community or municipality based,

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