Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Hon. Christopher V.P. de Venecia 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING THE ARTS RESIDENCY PROGRAM OF THE PHILIPPINES AND 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
During the height of the pandemic, artists were cooped up in their homes. While these 
circumstances made some artists more productive, some had to look elsewhere for inspiration to 
continue doing art, and more importantly, to continue earning to pay for their daily needs. Some 
were fortunate enough to be accepted in arts residencies, where they were able not only to produce 
work, but showcase them to a local audience as well. 
But what exactly are “Arts Residencies?” 
Arts Residencies are programs where artists and creatives are given temporary locations where 
they can hone their craft. These short-term residencies provide a “change of air, introduce new 
influences and push contemporary atmospheres” that allow artists to improve their craft and 
expand their perspectives.1 
Arts Residencies provide professional development and networking opportunities not only for 
visiting artists, but for the host communities as well. Local communities also benefit from the 
expertise brought in by visiting artists. Members of the public may gain specific techniques and 
skills through skill-sharing initiatives that residencies can offer. They also broaden cultural 
awareness, ignite multi-layered exchanges, and let participants become immersed into another 
setting. Hosting visiting artists also has the potential of raising the profile of their city or region 
1 Grace Ignacia See. The Definitive Guide to Art Residencies in Southeast Asia 2019. March 08, 2019. The Artling. 
<https://theartling.com/en/sell/learn/art-residencies-southeast-asia/> 
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8:00 am
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within the art world sphere. Visiting artists may also initiate projects that can lead to a positive 
impact for the local community in the longer run.2 
 
The Philippines is not new to hosting artists in an Arts Residency setting. 
 
Before the pandemic struck, there had been a number of arts residencies that various organizations 
had opened, both to foreign and local visiting artists. 
 
In Batan, Akla, Elmo's House Artist Residency was opened to local and international artists to 
promote contemporary art practices. It was set in a unique location, where artists resided in the 
center of Batan with mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. The residency sought to 
act as a conduit between Batan and participating artists whilst initiating conversations about 
contemporary art and critical thinking.3 
 
In the municipality of Lucban, Quezon, an artist-initiated residency called Project Space Pilipinas 
was set up to provide space, assistance and support for artists. It served as a springboard to help 
further artistic endeavors, seeking to establish effective networks in creating opportunities for local 
and international collaborations.4 
 
In 2013, the Bella Artes Projects residency was established in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in 
Bagac, Bataan. It centered on supporting the artistic production of contemporary artists, providing 
a space for experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration with Filipino heritage. Bella Artes 
Projects also collaborates regularly with the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD).5 
 
But even with the challenges brought about by the pandemic, arts residencies flourished. 
 
For instance, Art Fair Philippines in 2021 put a spotlight on and even partnered with the private 
sector to sponsor five residencies in different regions of the country. 
 
In the province of Cavite, the Linangan Art Residency program provided opportunities for outdoor 
activities and educational art workshops for both visiting artists and participating locals. 
 
In the province of La Union, the Emerging Islands residency opened its program not only to visual 
artists, but to artists in the fields of literature, music, photography, and even philosophy, to name 
a few. It featured a communal space for residents to work with other artists, with opportunities for 
culminating exhibitions. 
 
In Bacolod City, the Orange Project Art Residency was hosted by the Orange Project, which is a 
multi-building complex located at the heart of the city. 
 
                                               
2 https://wendy.network/artist-
residencies/#:~:text=They%20enable%20residents%20to%20have,her%20practice%20within%20another%20enviro
nment. 
3 https://theartling.com/en/sell/learn/art-residencies-southeast-asia/ 
4 https://theartling.com/en/sell/learn/art-residencies-southeast-asia/ 
5 https://theartling.com/en/sell/learn/art-residencies-southeast-asia/ 


In Butanding Barrio, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, the residency features the scenic diving spots and 
snorkeling sites as the center of an environmentally-oriented setting for producing art. 
Finally, even at the heart of Metro Manila in Quezon City, the Manila Observatory has offered a 
residency to bridge science and art. This program emphasized climate change awareness and pre-
disaster science, and the roles these play in poverty reduction and sustainable development. 
Common to the foregoing residencies are that they are all funded and initiated by the private sector. 
Nonetheless, for the first time, in the Fourth District of Pangasinan, the Anakbanwa Arts Residency 
was launched in late 2021. The Anakbanwa Arts Residency is the first of its kind as it was initiated 
and managed by the office of a sitting member of the House of Representatives.  
It is now time to bring the concept of Arts Residencies into the higher consciousness of government 
programming in order to reap its benefits for the benefit of our local communities and visiting 
artists. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is urgently sought. 
HON. CHRISTOPHER V.P. DE VENECIA 
Fourth District, Pangasinan 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Hon. Christopher V.P. de Venecia 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING THE ARTS RESIDENCY PROGRAM OF THE PHILIPPINES AND 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 ‘Arts Residency Program of the 
Philippines Act.’ 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the role of arts, culture, and 
creativity as a means to instill nationalism and pride of place to its citizens, to accelerate socio-
economic progress at both national and local levels, and to promote total human liberation and 
development among its people, which can be achieved through meaningful exchanges and 
interactions between artists and communities. Hence, it is hereby established as a policy of the 
State to support and promote cultural and artistic exchanges and collaborations between and among 
artists and local communities. 
Section 3. Arts Residency Program of the Philippines. – There is hereby created an Arts 
Residency Program of the Philippines, otherwise referred to as the Residency, to be administered 
by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in collaboration with the Local 
Government Units (LGU) where the Residency will be situated, herein referred to as the Host 
LGUs, as well as with other relevant government agencies that can contribute to the enrichment of 
the Residency. 
The Arts Residency Program is a time- and space-bound government program designed to 
provide temporary locations where artists and creatives, otherwise referred to as Visiting Artists, 
can go to and reside in to hone and showcase their craft in a local community setting. The 
Residency shall provide such artists and creatives the avenues where they can explore and interact 
with the local community, including its local artists, artisans, small businesses, communities, and 
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organizations, with the endview of inspiring them to create new art and to showcase them in the 
community. 
 
Under the Program, the NCCA shall: 
 
a. Provide technical assistance to Host LGUs who shall implement the Residency within 
their respective political subdivisions; 
b. Provide networking opportunities for Host LGUs and local communities to be able to 
meet and confer with artists and creatives who have had experience in organizing or 
joining arts residencies; 
c. Provide avenues where Host LGUs can connect with potential benefactors and sponsors 
for their respective Residencies; 
d. Assist LGUs in their call-for-applicants such as in crafting guidelines and criteria, 
promoting the call in artists’ networks, among others; 
e. Promote arts residencies to LGUs and provide them with technical and practical 
knowhow to encourage them to conduct Residencies in their own localities; 
f. Issue guidelines on the best practices of conducting Residencies which Host LGUs may 
refer to; 
g. Document, publicize, and archive all events relating to the Residencies; 
h. Ensure the conduct a minimum of one (1) residency in each of the eighty-one (81) 
provinces annually, securing regional representation as far as practicable; and 
i. Provide financial support for Residencies, subject to the availability of its funds. 
 
Under the Program, the LGU shall: 
 
a. Craft a title name for the Residency that will highlight the uniqueness of the local 
community and set it apart from Residencies in other LGUs, in partnership with the 
Local Culture and Arts Council (LCAC), and where possible, use a cultural map as 
basis; 
b. Come up with Residency themes related to the local community’s unique offerings and 
landscape; 
c. Assign dedicated personnel to oversee the Residency and hire the necessary consultants 
to manage and assist in the conduct of their Residency; 
d. Conduct a Call for Artists, portfolio, setting additional requirements if necessary; 
e. Coordinate with potential benefactors and sponsors from the private sector to gather 
financial, material, and other forms of support for the Residency; 
f. Provide the stipends and expenses for food, accommodation, art materials, and other 
necessary logistics for the Visiting Artists; 
g. Provide physical venues within the LGU where the Visiting Artists can exhibit their 
works, explore the community, and interact with local stakeholders; 
h. Conduct activities that can serve as platforms where the Visiting Artists can interact 
with various sectors, communities, organizations, and cultural stakeholders within the 
local community; 
i. Ensure the health, safety, and security of the Visiting Artists throughout the duration 
of the Residency; 


j. Document the Residency through images, publications, press releases, to contribute to 
the archive of the NCCA; 
k. Manage all aspects of the Residency, whether by themselves or with the help of hired 
creative directors or consultants; and 
l. Collaborate with the Visiting Artists in managing all creative aspects of the Residency. 
 
By agreement of the NCCA, the Host LGU, and other parties that may be involved in 
conducting the Residency, other duties and responsibilities may be added to the aforementioned 
list, provided that the agreement will be consistent with the objectives of this Act. 
 
Section 4. General Program Objectives. – The Residency shall aim to create multiple 
avenues where artists and local communities can mutually benefit, such that Visiting Artists can 
hone and showcase their craft, and local communities can learn from the expertise brought in by 
the Visiting Artists.  
 
The Residency shall also provide additional income streams for the Visiting Artists, as well 
as give them and their works additional exposure by engaging in the Residency. The Residency 
shall allow them to network and connect with their fellow artists, creatives, communities, and 
organizations outside of their usual residence. 
 
The Residency shall provide benefits for the Host LGUs and the local communities, whose 
learners can have access to different forms of art that can inspire them to pursue careers in the 
creative industries. Residencies may also provide additional jobs and tourism opportunities for 
local communities in the short- or long-run. Residencies also raise the public’s awareness of the 
culture and heritage of the local communities where they will be situated. 
 
Section 5. Definition of Terms. – For the purpose of this Act: 
 
a. Visiting Artists refer to artists and creatives who qualify for the Residency in accordance 
with this Act. As minimum requirements, they shall be Filipino citizens, over 25 years of 
age, have had at least 5 years experience of practice in the creative industries, and must 
have the ability to exhibit and showcase their work to the community, as evidenced by a 
portfolio of their past works, which shall be a necessary requirement for all Residencies. 
The NCCA and the Host LGU may impose additional qualifications as they deem fit for 
the respective Residencies. 
 
b. Host LGUs refer to municipalities, cities, or provinces that intend to conduct Residencies 
situated in their respective political subdivisions. 
 
c. Creative industries refer to trades involving persons, whether natural or juridical, that 
produce cultural, artistic, and innovative goods, products, and services, where such goods 
and services originate in individual creativity, skill, and talent and have a potential to create 
wealth and livelihood through the generation and utilization of intellectual property. 
 
Creative industries include those directly or indirectly involved in the creation, production 
and manufacturing, performance, broadcasting, communication and exhibition, or 


distribution and sale of works and other subject matter, in accordance with existing laws, 
rules and regulations on intellectual property rights protection. 
 
It includes a wide array of domains including audiovisual media, digital interactive media, 
creatives services, design, publishing and print media, performing arts, visual arts, 
traditional cultural expressions, cultural sites, and other emerging creative industries. 
 
Section 6. Administration. – The Arts Residency Program shall be supervised and 
monitored by the NCCA. Local Government Units shall administer the Residency within their 
respective localities, but they can also partner with other LGUs to conduct Residencies that may 
cut across contiguous political subdivisions. The NCCA and the relevant LGUs shall coordinate 
their activities with other departments, agencies and bureaus, including government-owned and/or 
controlled corporations, to effectively carry out the provisions of this Act. 
 
Section 7. Flexible Funding. – Funding for the Residencies may be obtained from National 
Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA), the General Appropriations Act, funds of 
the Host LGU, private sourcing, or other sources of financing that the NCCA and the LGU may 
be able to obtain or may agree upon, or a combination of any of the foregoing; Provided, That in 
no case shall the Visiting Artists be required to pay any fee as a source of the Residency’s funding 
or as a requirement to qualify for the Residency. 
 
Section 8. Integration of Residencies in the Seal of Good Local Governance. – The conduct 
of Residencies within their respective local communities shall be one of the indicators of Local 
Government Units’ compliance with the Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture, and Arts 
criteria of the Seal of Good Local Governance, pursuant to Section 3 (i) of Republic Act No. 
11292. LGUs shall receive additional points or commendations when they conduct Residencies in 
accordance with this Act. 
 
Section 9. Monitoring and Reporting. – To ensure that the objectives of the Residencies 
are properly met, and to encourage other artists and creatives to apply for future Residencies, the 
NCCA shall require the Artists in Residence to submit their respective accomplishment reports 
after undergoing their respective Residencies. 
 
Likewise, the NCCA shall submit an Annual Summary Report of the Residency to the 
Committee on Creative Industries in the House of Representatives and the Committee on Basic 
Education, Arts, and Culture in the Senate with an accurate amount of the expenditures and 
activities of the Residencies conducted during that Fiscal Year, as well as audio, visual, and written 
documentations of the Residencies. 
 
Section 10. Appropriations. – The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act 
shall be included in the annual budget of the NCCA in accordance with the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
 
Section 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the NCCA, in consultation with the DILG, LGUs, and other concerned 


agencies and relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the 
effective implementation of this Act. 
 
Section 12. Separability Clause. – Should any provision herein be declared 
unconstitutional the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act. 
 
Section 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other 
issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
Section 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
 
Approved,