A CALL for participation has been extended for the Ibagiw festival.
Ibagiw festival contest applications have been extended to accommodate inquiries and submissions coming from different parts of the Cordillera region.
Competitions in “Crafts and Folk Art: Backstrap Weaving, Basketry, Carving” will be accepting submission until October 25, as well as the “Re-imagining Baguio”, a call for artists to express their impressions and aspirations for the city through an exhibit featuring installation art pieces, murals, and a short film competition.
Deadline for submission of proposals for the short film competition will be accepted until November 8.
The prizes in each category are: P50,000 for the winner; P30,000 for the first runner-up; and P20,000 for the second runner-up.
Led by HABI: The Philippine Textile Council, the weaving competition will have contestants create tapestries using traditional back-strap looms.
In the metal craft category, local smiths will be creating wearable jewelry using metals of their choice.
For the woodcarving and basketry categories, the participants will be required to use bamboo as the main raw material, an effort of the festival to advocate the use of more sustainable and environment-friendly materials in the production of crafts.
The Ibagiw is now spearheaded by the Baguio Arts and Creative Council (BACCI) and festival creative director Karlo Altomonte in its quest to partner with artists from November 16 to 24.
It now hosts competitions in crafts and folk art that highlight this year’s staging of the Baguio Creative City Festival in its aim to encourage innovations and inspire a new breed of designers and artisans in four categories: Back-strap Weaving, Basketry, Wood-carving, and Metalcraft.
For back-strap textile weaving, the required dimensions of the tapestry should be at least 14 inches in width and three yards in length.
Introducing other materials to enhance the entries is allowed as enhancements, but the weave shall remain the dominant component of the tapestry.
For basketry, a bag or storage basket inspired by any of the traditional Cordilleran designs, such as the pasiking, sangi, inabnutan, kayabang, etc., should have dimensions of at least eight inches in width and in height, 3 inches in thickness.
Circular-designed baskets should have a diameter of at least eight inches and a height of at least eight inches. Introducing other materials to enhance the entries is allowed, but the main raw material, bamboo, must be dominant in the finished product.
For wood-carving, a decorative piece must be at least 24 inches in height. Introducing other materials to enhance the entries is allowed in this category, but the main material, bamboo, must remain dominant in the final entry.
For metalcraft, entries must be a set consisting of any three of the following pieces: Neckwear (i.e., necklaces), Wrist-wear (i.e., bracelets), Headwear (i.e., tiaras), rings, earrings, and nose rings.
Introducing other materials to enhance the entries is allowed, such as precious stones, gems, and the like. But metal should be the most dominant material.
The competitions are open to artists and designers of Baguio and the rest of the Cordilleras.
Participants may enter as an individual or as a collaborative effort of two or more individuals.
For auditions, interested participants are required to submit a concept paper for their proposed entry that includes a description and sketch of their proposed design.
They can send it via email at ibagiw.festival @gmail.com or in person at the Festival Secretariat, 2nd Floor, Cordillera Crafts & Productivity Center, Upper Session Road, Baguio City.
A total of eight entries shall be chosen as finalists for each of the categories.
Each of the finalists in the different categories shall be awarded an honorarium of P5,000, except for those in the metalcraft category who will be receiving P8,000.
The eight finalists will be provided back-strap looms, assorted threads for textile weaving, a knife, a metal-skinning plate, and the primary raw material (bamboo) for basketry, six assorted chisels, one rubber mallet, and one small ax for woodcarving.
But for metalcraft participants, they should provide their own respective materials and tools.
Participants shall be given seven days, from November 11 to 17, to complete their entries on-site and under supervision of the competitions committee-designated supervisor.
Participants are not allowed to take their respective pieces outside of the competition site.
Details of mechanics and guidelines for both the competitions and Re-imagining Baguio is available at www.ibagiw.com.