A LOCAL artist said the Davao City government should at least compensate the local artists for their work after the Davao Culture and Arts Council called for a free sketch proposal of Datu Bago.
“We need to educate the people in the government that art is not free. Comfort Room gani sa terminal naay bayad, designing pa kaha? (Even comfort rooms in bus terminals are not free, how much more in designing?),” Perry Liquigan, an artist for 25 years and founder of the Davao Artist Club, said Friday, November 16.
“Sometimes maka-isip ta na dapat ang ibutang sa position sa government kanang fit kung unsa position nila. Example sa health, dapat medical practitioner, kung sa art, dapat Artists pud. For me, dapat compensated ang mag-design ana (Sometimes we can ponder that it is really best that only those who are fit be put in government positions like medical practitioners in health, and artists for art),” he added.
During the I-Speak media forum last Thursday, November 15, the head of Museo Dabawenyo, Winnie Rose Bulig, said that the city, through the Davao Culture and Arts Council, invites all local artists to submit a sketch proposal of a Datu Bago monument.
She said that one of the things tackled in the Council was inviting all local artists to submit their own sketch of Datu Bago’s monument. This, however, will be founded with thorough research.
“Kini siya wala ni bayad but we encouraged them na para makita or ma-present sa council (The work is free, it will not be compensated but it will be presented to the City Council),” she added.
Liquigan said that while the invitation is a way to build the local artist’s name and showcase his skills and talents, but compensating the artists is one way for government to show its support to local artists.
“Murag second choice ang local artists if walay budget. If naay budget mag-hire dayon ug sikat na mga artists (It seems like local artists are second option, but if there’s budget, they will immediately hire famous artists),” Liquigan said.