EREHWON CENTER FOR THE ARTS FORMS THE EREHWON ART COUNCIL

Erehwon Center for the Arts CEO/Chairman Rafael Rivera Benitez posing the question, “We have twelve artistic groups in our fold, now what?”

On 10 Nov 2018, CEO/Chairman Rafael Rivera Benitez posed the question, “How do we consolidate our artistic and cultural gains?”, before an audience which comprised of leaders and representatives of 12 artistic groups from the visual arts, music, dance, theatre and film. In its six years of operation since its founding in October 2012, the Erehwon Center for the Arts is now home to 12 artistic groups, namely:

• Andres Bonifacio Concert Choir (ABCC) headed by composer-conductor Jerry Dadap;
• Dulambuhay Playback Theatre under Fhabi Fajardo;
• Erehwon Art Collective under Prof. Neil Doloricon;
• Erehwon Chorale under Greg de Leon;
• Erehwon Dance Scholars under Dante Ballesteros;
• Erehwon Jazz Orchestra under Jack Lagonoy;
• Filmdogs (Indie films) under Raymond Dimayuga; Likhang Bata Creativity Center under Bianca Denise Manlapaz;
• Manila Piano Trio under Laling Ordoñez; Metro Manila Concert Orchestra (MMCO) under Prof. Chino Toledo;
• MUSIKA under Heber Bartolome; and
• Tag-Ani Performing Arts Society under Bonifacio Ilagan.

This question marked the formation of Erehwon Art Council, the objective of which is to consolidate the artistic and cultural gains of the Erehwon resident artistic groups through collaborations and performances that will utilise as many talents as possible from its fold of artists.

The Erehwon Dance Scholars’ performance during the first ever Erehwon Art Council

In his reaction, Bonifacio Ilagan exclaimed that it is about time to officially add the fourth “C” to the earlier three – Converge, Collaborate and Camaraderie, coined by the late Behn Cervantes, a Filipino artist, activist, and a renowned theatre pioneer, as the three reasons for the existence of the Erehwon Center for the Arts. And that fourth “C” is “Consolidate”, hence, the task of the Erehwon Art Council to spearhead the consolidation of the artistic and cultural talents and gains of the artistic groups. In the discussion that ensued, the representatives of the artistic groups expressed their concurrence to become members of the Erehwon Art Council, with Laling Ordoñez suggesting that from today onwards, all artists will be indicating, “A member of the Erehwon Art Council” on their official communications, such as newsletters, marketing materials, memorandum, etc. She has also raised the immediate need to set-up an Executive Committee to head the conceptualisation and execution of collaboration projects and performances.

The core members of the Erehwon Art Council with the Erehwon Dance Scholars

Apart from providing rehearsal and performance spaces for its resident artists, Erehwon is also driven by its mission to connect the artists to the community – to produce platforms, performances and projects that will help the artists sustain their creative practice, both artistically and economically. Jack Teotico, an owner of a chain of commercial galleries in the Philippines, who was also present during the Erehwon Art Council meeting, expressed interest in commissioning the Manila Piano Trio for a performance at one of his galleries, the “Fundacion Sanso”. This is a case in point which stresses the importance of Erehwon Art Council, as through collaboration and consolidation, stronger and productive ties will be forged between artists and the community.

Themed, United as One: Erehwon Art Council, the first ever art council meeting was made more lively by performances from Erehwon Chorale and Erehwon Dance Scholars. Also present during the meeting are Erehwon Art Foundation, Inc. (EAFI) Chairman Boysie Villavicencio; Erehwon’s Curator General Santiago Albano Pilar, and social realist Pablo Baen Santos.

Click here to visit Erehwon Center for the Arts’ website.