DTI: Funding, support await creative biz players

A Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) executive, who is also a member of the Creative Cebu Council, is calling on entrepreneurs to engage in creative business  enterprises using  traditional to modern media including the web to make themselves more “visible” to the government and the market.

Nelia Navarro, DTI provincial director, said  the Creative Council needs the cooperation of artists and designers to  further develop the creative industry in Cebu.

Navarro spoke  during the  the Entrepreneurship Summit for the Youth held at the J Center Mall in Mandaue City.

“Oftentimes they say the government lacks support. Well, have been giving our support but we are limited to those who  reach out to us because we cannot find all of them,” said Navarro.

In Thursday last week, a new group launched an interactive digital wall in Ayala Center Cebu called the Grid Wall which is the first of its kind to be set up in Cebu.

According to Joseph Mayor, creative and technology director of Surface Arts, Design and Technology, the government doesn’t give enough  support to the sector.

He said this was one reason local talents were not motivated to do more creative and innovative works that would make Cebu known globally.

Navarro, who said she has not met with the group yet, said  DTI has been supporting young artist-entrepreners  like Jumbo Climaco of Fushu Shoes who recently went to Singapore to attend the Digital Conference.

“Jumbo and other young artists were sent to Singapore with all expenses paid for by DTI. That is one way we are supporting them but then again we can only support those we know,” said Navarro.

Navarro also cited the a DTI proposal submitted to SB Corp. and Creative Cebu Council to provide a credit facility to the creative sector  whose players are mostly operating micro, and small enterprises.

To avail of the funds, though, Navarro said  interested parties should be a member of the Creative Council or a registered organization.

“Once the proposal is granted, there will be more creative players in Cebu that will be able to avail of the financial assistance. They have to become members of an organization like the Creative Cebu Council that is why we urge them to come to us,” said Navarro.

She said the Creative Cebu Council was also studying a successful vouchering system  used in the United Kingdom.

“A creative person can work with various entities and companies like an exporter designing a furniture through an issued voucher. That way they are not limited to one company alone hired as a full time designer, an employee but function like an entrepreneur offering his creativity as a service,” said Navarro.

The council  classified nine sectors:   multi-media arts; advertising and design; visual arts; film and photography; animation; theater and performing arts; architecture and landscape;  literature and publishing; and music.

The council is making a  directory of   visual artists in Cebu and plans to do the same for other  sectors.

According to a recent survey by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the Philippine creative sector  contributed US$592 million with 5.2 percent contribution to gross domestic product.

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.