SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon (PIA) -- In observance of the National Arts Month this February, the Museo Sorsogon has opened to the public a free Visual Art Exhibit recently.

Jerome D. Dio, museum curator, said the Museo Sorsogon joins the entire nation in celebrating National Arts Month with the national theme “Sining ng Pag-asa”, harnessing local artists’ creative energies.

This year, with the initiative of the provincial government of Sorsogon, the Museo Sorsogon was chosen as the venue for showcasing the artistic creations of Sorsoganons.

Organized by the Artists Guild of Sorsogon (AGOS), in close partnership with the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Culture and Arts Office (SPTCAO) and Museo Sorsogon, the exhibit will run from February 7 to 18, 2022 (Monday to Friday), 8:30 am – 11:30 am and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

It highlights artistic creations of local artists in the province with the goal of promoting and popularizing Sorsoganon’s artistic crafts, integrate the arts in the community life and harness the arts as catalysts for values education.

“Sining ng Pag-asa Visual Arts Exhibit features artworks in different forms like painting, sculpture and mixed media from our very own professional and amateur artists, coming from the different parts of Sorsogon,” said Dio.

Aside from the exhibit, the observance of the arts month will also feature art webinars, concert and cultural presentation.

Joey Hugo, founder of AGOS, said in his message during the simple opening ceremony that this year’s theme depicts the people’s experiences during this time of pandemic.

He also said that the National Arts Month celebration has an associated appeal to visual artists and cultural workers to carry out and put into practice the value of arts as the medium and fulfillment of hope that will provide relief to the scar brought by this pandemic.

“As visual artists, we have our own way of addressing various challenges because we are transformers of the things around us. Let us not cease to create and promote to a higher level the visual arts in Sorsogon,” Hugo stressed out.

Senior Tourism Operations Officer of Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Culture and Arts Office Cris Racelis thanked the participating artists and assured them of the continuous support of the provincial government in harnessing local crafts and talents.

“The establishment of Museo Sorsogon and the soon to finish cultural center of the province that would house about 2,500 people showed strong support of the government to the Sorsoganon artists,” she added.

Meanwhile, interested patrons may purchase artworks in the exhibit that are for sale, while there are artworks that are purely intended for display purposes only.

Anticipating for the flock of viewers, Museo management advises the public to strictly adhere to the minimum health protocols set by the health authorities.

The National Arts Month, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 683 s 1991, is celebrated annually in the month of February. (BAR/PIA5/Sorsogon)