We are pleased to announce that all the 40 winners of the four regional competitions have been declared through their respective awarding ceremonies and exhibition openings. Each of the winners received their cash prize of Php 40,000 and trophy during the ceremonies.

Starting with the Mindanao Art Awards, the event was held on November 27 and was hosted by the Province of Misamis Oriental with the provincial capitol serving as awarding and exhibition venue thru the auspices of the Governor, the Honorable Oscar Moreno. This was followed by the joint awarding of the Luzon and Metro Manila Art Awards which was held on December 7 at the National Museum. A few days thereafter, on December 11, the Visayas Art Awards was held in Museo Sugbo hosted by this time by the Province of Cebu through the Honorable Governor Gwen Garcia.

Respective exhibitions will have month-long runs and will be open to the public. The Mindanao Art Awards Exhibition will be on view at the 3rd floor of the Provincial Capitol of Misamis Oriental until the end of the year. The Luzon and Metro Manila Art Awards Exhibition is at the 4th Floor North Wing Gallery of the Museum of the Filipino People and will be open until January 10, 2010. The Visayas Art Awards, now on view at the Changing Gallery of Museo Sugbo, the Cebu Provincial Museum will also be open until the Sinulog Festival. Schedules may change without prior notice and viewing of exhibits subject to venue hours and/or entrance fees wherever applicable.

Once the exhibitions are concluded, all the 40 regional winners will brought together for the Philippine Art Awards 2010 national competition. At stake will be eight top prizes as follows: 2 Jurors’ Choice Award of Merit to receive Php 80,000 plus trophy; 5 Jurors’ Choice Award of Excellence to receive Php 120,000 plus trophy; and one Grand Prize Winner to receive Php 350,000 plus trophy. All the eight winners will also get an all-expenses paid trip to Shanghai, China as part of their prize to give them the exposure opportunity to art outside the Philippines.

The PAA is happy to note that despite the natural calamities which beset the country, the artistic community remains optimistic as indicated by the consistent participation of artists to the competitions.