As part of the celebration of the National Arts Month in Dagupan City, coffee shops have embraced a new role โ not just as a social place for coffee lovers but also as a micro-gallery showcasing works of local artists in Pangasinan.
The Cups and Berry, a local coffee shop in Dagupan City, launched an exhibit on Tuesday dubbed โWanderer,โ offering artists a space to display and sell their works.
The initiative, spearheaded by Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher De Venecia, is part of the Galila Arts project that aims to bring creative arts closer to the community.
โGalila,โ meaning โcome and visitโ in the local dialect, perfectly captures the projectโs welcoming spirit.
In the Galila Arts project, arts is integrated into everyday spaces, ensuring that creativity remains accessible to all while supporting local creative artists.
โWe organized the first Galida Arts Festival two years ago as a multi-arts festival. Since we donโt have a gallery and a cultural center here, we partnered with coffee shops to create exhibit spaces for visual artists,โ De Venecia shared.
He said most of the participating coffee shops embraced the concept of being a micro-gallery to help local artists and allow them to display and sell their works.
According to De Venecia, this effort aligns with the ongoing preparation for the opening of the Edades and Bernal Museum and Cultural Center, which breaks ground in November 2024.
The center will honor National Artists Victorio Edades, the โFather of Modern Philippine Painting,โ and Salvador Bernal, the โFather of Theater Design,โ both Dagupan natives.
The facility, which is targeted to be completed in three years, will house formal galleries to further support the creative talents in the provinces, especially artists from the fourth district of Pangasinan.
โWhile we wait for the cultural centerโs completion, we need to start building capacity for our artists so that they can create more original works. And when the center is built, we will have a gallery where our visual artists can display their works more formally,โ he said.
De Venecia said the idea of turning coffee shops into micro-galleries was conceptualized from their role as community hubs.
โCoffee and art have a natural connection. At the end of the day, coffee is culture. These spaces bring people together, whether for a cup of coffee or to appreciate local artistry,โ he added.
Other than coffee shops, De Venecia disclosed that other establishments such as restaurants, schools, and government facilities are joining the movement and have hosted exhibits in their spaces.
โThis is about breaking the traditional notion that art should only be displayed in museums. These micro-galleries not only promote local artists but also support tourism and fuel economic growth as they bring in visitors from different parts of Luzon and sell art-inspired merchandise,โ he said.
Jonalyn Zarate, a coffee and art lover, expressed her appreciation for the micro-gallery coffee shops.
โAs a coffee and art lover, I think this is a great initiative by coffee shops in Pangasinan. Finding a venue to display art can be challenging, so this partnership between coffee shops and artists is a big help. Seeing these exhibits also feels like having a free art gallery while enjoying coffee,โ she said.
As Pangasinan continues to nurture its creative industries, De Venecia expressed optimism in creating a powerful force that fuels creativity and economic growth.
โBy supporting local artists and providing them platforms, we are not just preserving culture โ we are also creating new opportunities for the next generations,โ he added.
With the growing number of establishments transforming into galleries, it is evident that art can find a home in the most unexpected places โ one cup at a time. (AMB/EMSA, PIA Pangasinan) | By Elsha Marie S. Arguel
