Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 0638

Introduced
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN B. LEGARDA

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING PHILIPPINE PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL
EXHIBITIONS OF THE VENICE BIENNALE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

With the inception of the 1895 International Art Exhibition in Venice, the Venice
Art Biennale remains the oldest and most prestigious international contemporary art
exhibition. Now on its 58" edition, Biennale Arte is held every other year since 1895.
The first Biennale was opened on April 30, 1895 by the King and Queen of Italy,
Umberto | and Margherita di Savoia.

In the following years, exhibitions and festivals for the other arts were
established: Biennale Musica in 1930 (International Festival Contemporary Music),
Biennale Teatro in 1934 (International Theater Festival), and the Venice Film Festival
in 1934 (Venice International Film Festival)

The first Philippine participation in the Venice Biennale was in 1964 during the
32% Venice Art Biennale through the initiatives of the Art Association of the
Philippines, where the works of painter Jose Joya and sculptor Napoleon Abueva were
established. In 2015, the Philippines retumed to the Venice Biennale and participated
in the 56" International Art Exhibition. After a 51-year hiatus, the Philippines

showcased an exhibition curated by Dr. Patrick Flores titled Tie a String Around the


World, featuring the works of Jose Tence Ruiz, Manny Montelibano and National
Artists Manuel Conde and Carlos “Botong” Francisco.

In 2016, the Philippines’ first participation in the Intemational Architecture
Exhibition was marked by the exhibition curated by Andy Locsin, Jr. and Architects
Sudarshan Khadka, Jr. and Juan Paolo dela Cruz, titled Muhon: Traces of an
Adolescent City. in 2017, the Philippine Pavilion in the 57" International Art Exhibition
is presented by the exhibition titled The Spectre of Comparison curated by Joselina
Cruz and which featured artists Lani Maestro and Manuel Ocampo.

Country participation is formalized through a letter invitation from the President
of the Fondazione la Biennale di Venezia, the arts organization that operates and
administers the biennale, addressed to the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts (NCCA), the highest cultural agency of the country.

This bill seeks to institutionalize the country's participation yearly in the
international exhibitions of the Venice Biennale. To carry out the mandate under this
Act, the Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale Coordinating Committee (PAVB-CC) is
hereby created, to be lodged in the NCCA.

Recognizing the important role of the arts in fostering patriotism and
nationalism, and the vital role of culture and the arts in democratic and inclusive nation-

building, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



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Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NOI638

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN B. LEGARDA

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING PHILIPPINE PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL
EXHIBITIONS OF THE VENICE BIENNALE
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Arts in Venice
Biennale Act of 2019."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared policy of the State to:
a. Recognize the important role of the arts in fostering patriotism and
nationalism and promoting human liberation and development;
b. Recognize the vital role of culture and the arts in democratic, pluralistic and
inclusive nation-building;
c. Nurture, promote and sustain Filipino cultural and artistic diversity that
mirrors and shapes Philippine economic, social and political life;
d. Advance art as a form of expression and understanding and a force for

achieving creative breakthroughs;


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e. Evolve, promote and conserve Filipino national art and culture that mirrors
and shapes Philippine economic, social and political life; and,

f. Promote and disseminate to the greatest number of people the talent and

ingenuity of our artists.

SEC. 3. The Philippine Participation in the International Exhibitions of the
Venice Biennale. - The country shall endeavour to participate yearly in the
international exhibitions of the Venice Biennale held in Venice, Italy.

SEC. 4. The Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale Coordinating Committee. — The
Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale Coordinating Committee (PAVB-CC) is hereby
created to oversee the country’s participation every year in the Venice Biennale
exhibitions in Venice, Italy. It shall act as coordinator and commissioner for the
Philippine Pavilion in the Biennale exhibitions, and lead in the following activities:

a. Manage the selection process for curatorial proposals;

b. Coordinate the timely installation of the Philippine Pavilion in Venice and of

the homecoming exhibition; and,

cc. Such other activities that may be necessary for the execution of its mandate.

The PAVB-CC shall be lodged in the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts (NCCA). When necessary, the Department of Foreign Affairs shall provide
administrative support through its foreign posts.

SEC. 5. Homecoming. — All Philippine Pavilion exhibitions shall be installed and
mounted in appropriate government facilities and exhibition spaces for at least one
year for the viewing and appreciation of the general public.

SEC. 6. Appropriation. — Implementation of this Act in its initial year shall be
funded through the annual appropriations of the NCCA. Thereafter, funding shall be

provided for in the annual General Appropriations Act.


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‘SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the
date of effectivity of this Act, the NCCA shall formulate the rules and regulations for

the proper implementation of this Act

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in
full force and effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive and administrative orders,
rules and regulations inconsistent with the foregoing provisions are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from

its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.