(SPOT.ph) The community quarantine imposed in Metro Manila starting on March 15 didn't only affect daily-wage earners and contractors, but also freelance and project-based performance artists. Plays and musicals scheduled from March to June were either canceled or postponed, which means the performers’ source of income has been compromised. Unfortunately, workers in the creative industry are often overlooked by the government's relief efforts. Hoping to alleviate the financial struggle being experienced by our performing arts community, various artist collectives came together to launch an online fundraising project called Open House!
This platform features free online classes, shows, and workshops facilitated by some of the biggest names in our performing arts industry, including a ballet barre class by Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja, a song interpretation class by actor Audie Gemora, an online cabaret concert by Sa Wakas star Vic Robinson and Ang Huling El Bimbo cast members Reb Atadero and Tanya Manalang, and more. It is the fundraising's mission to provide P2,000 cash assistance for qualified beneficiaries, with the first tranche distributed to 20 artists on April 2.
If you're a freelance worker in the performing arts who need assistance, you can sign up through bitl.ly/ApplyOpenHouse. Qualified beneficiaries are, but not limited to, directors, choreographers, propsmen, set carpenters, and ushers, among others. You should be under contract to work between March 12 to April 12 with the cumulative amount of contracts not exceeding P15,000, not covered by an active contract from a company or coporation, and have completed work on at least two performing arts projects within the last six months.
Open House! is made possible by Artists Welfare Project, Inc. together with Philstage, Theater Actor’s Guild, SPIT and Third World Improv. To donate, you can log on to Ticket2Me, which has waived its service fees for online transactions. Third-party payment service fees, however, still apply.
For more information, follow Open House on Facebook.
Main photo of the Maybank Performing Arts Theater by Vincent Coscolluela, SPOT.ph Archives; for illustrative purposes only
