Design school to spur creative industry growth

The opening of the first media and design school by the University of Visayas will help fuel the growth of the creative industry in Cebu, said an offical yesterday.

“I congratulate UV for opening a school offering creative courses that will hone and enhance the talents of Cebuanos,” said Department of Trade and Industry  Cebu provincial director Nelia Navarro.

She said DTI supports this initiative and will do its part to develop entrepreneurs from the graduates.

“(We’ll be) ensuring ‘interface’ between them and the other industry sectors that need their services whether local or foreign,” she said.

She said the opening of the school was in line with the strategy of the Creative Cebu Council to professionlize the industry.

The University of the Visayas New School (UVNS) is the first school in Cebu to offer courses in creative design and new media in partnership with the Empire Creative Group.

The school aims to provide an environment for creative individuals to stimulate their creative skills as a tool for entrepreneurship.

“We  will initially offer  three-month courses in  photography, digital illustration, and virtual design, which are prerequisite courses for the more advanced courses that we will soon be offering,”said Genesis Raña, Empire Creative Group and UVNS school director.

The school plans to offer a one-year diploma course like 3D and 4D animation visual effects, motion graphics, video or film production, product design and more specialized short courses by next year.

For the three-month courses, the rate is P60,000 while the diploma courses in animation and video production will cost P150,000.

The school is located at the UV Gullas Medical Center campus in Banilad, Cebu City.

Raña said they’re also working on  accreditation from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

According to Navarro, the creative industry is a growing industry and that  Cebuanos are naturally artistic as seen in  paintings, furniture design and other art forms that have won recognition globally.

In 2000, the creative economy was estimated to be worth US$2.2 trillion worldwide and is projected to  grow at an average of five percent annually.

“Global exports of creative goods and services like arts and crafts, design work, movies and films, performing arts, audiovisuals, books, music and creative services registered more than double growth between 2002 and 2008 with total value reaching US$592 billion in 2008 growing at 14 percent annually,” said Navarro.

With Cebu already recognized worldwide for its crafts, she said it would be wise to develop this potential.

Last year, Cebu was named one of the “Cities of Culture” by the Asean Ministries of Culture along with Manila and Vigan and also named the “Creative City” in the Philippines by the British Council which is a good exposure for Cebu’s creative industry according to Navarro.

Navarro  announced recently a DTI and Cebu Creative Council project to create a database of all  artists in Cebu. This will be  completed within the year.

“The visual artists in Cebu will be gathered and a directory will be officially made to strengthen the visual arts industry in Cebu, which is in preparation for the upcoming funding  from the Asean Funding Group with Cebu having been declared by the British Council as a Creative City,” said Navarro.

Through the database, Navarro said they can easily get the artists to come together and get more assistance in terms of funding from the national government.