ManilART 2021: The many ways to visit

On its 13th year, ManilART focuses on “Continuing Legacies.” These legacies cannot be taken out of their context being on the second year over the pandemic; continuing legacies necessitate evolution with the times, including setting new standards to ensure a safer and better normal.

In anticipation of a more open and robust economy going into the last quarter of the year, ManilART has moved its original dates, and is now slated for October 20-24 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City.

Ensuring the well-being of fairgoers

Safety is ManilART’s top priority – the fair implements guidelines for the welfare of exhibitors and fairgoers in cooperation with Ticketbooth and Safecity. Safe Hours will be implemented for select onsite activities, with available slots requiring the presentation of a vaccination card.

General Admission tickets shall be honored from October 21-24, while VIP Preview tickets are honored on October 20, Day 1. This is all in strict observance of online pre-registration, contactless entry and capacity-monitoring protocols. The fair is monitored and compliant with safety protocols approved by Safecity Taguig.

These measures, which had been successfully implemented last year, are here to stay. Moving forward, simultaneous onsite and online availability will be the norm as longer-term practices in terms of the art fair, art markets, and the relevant procedures for art and cultural exhibitions in general.

How to visit ManilART onsite

Physical visitors may obtain their tickets online through Ticketbooth. After successful purchase, just save and/or download your ticket with QR code. Enjoy contactless and wait-free entrance when you scan at the gate. Contactless temperature scans and SM Mall entry monitoring will be in effect as added precautions.

A limited number of Safe Hours slots will be available on the first schedule of each General Admission Fair Day. These slots require the presentation of a vaccination card in addition to the regular ticket QR. This ensures visitors are in the house only with other vaccinated persons during the designated hours.

Everyone in ManilART will need to comply with the following guidelines for everyone’s safety:

• Wear your face mask and face shield at all times
• Allow for contactless temperature scanning at the entrance
• Make use of the foot baths and alcohol stations
• Maintain social distancing of 1.5 meters per person
• Move along the indicated one-way paths
• Observe and follow the onsite marshals who are tasked to assist with foot traffic.

Sponsor Family Mart will be safely offering small snacks and beverages during VIP and Safe Hours on a Grab and Go basis.

ManilART online: From Tarlac to Taguig to Davao

ManilART’s online events and exhibitions can also be found through the ManilART portal at www.manilartfair.com, where anyone may access the fair’s 360 walkthrough synchronously with the fair opening on October 20. Individual views of the fair’s exhibitors will be made available – you can view all the onsite exhibitions with a single click, as if you were actually at the fair grounds at SMX. This year’s exhibitors include Galerie Raphael, Galleria Nicolas, Annual Sculpture Review, G9 Online, Art For Space, Nemiranda Arthouse, Ysobel Art Gallery, Galerie Du Soleil, A.Tolentino Art Gallery, Historia Arts, Galerie Artes, Village Art Gallery, 371 Art Space, Renaissance Art Gallery, Galerie Francesca, Artes Orientes, NQC, Artologist Gallery, Espacio Manila by CMG, Robles Museum, and Art Lounge Manila.

Apart from onsite galleries, full views of the satellite shows will also be made accessible.

ManilART’s much-anticipated regional sites include Balai Kalipay in Davao, Likhang Silangan in Rizal, Tarlac Art in Tarlac, and Ricardo’s in Cavite. This is a new development from the fair’s tireless efforts at showcasing regional artists in their own home; despite travel restrictions, these sites can now be visited from the comfort of yours.

These 360 visits allow you a self-guided, self-paced tour of the various exhibits similar to Google’s street view. You may even use virtual reality glasses or any phone or device with an accelerometer to best simulate a walk-through.

Beyond physical

ManilART2021 debuts its first phygital showcase which will give a glimpse of the possibilities of future art, bridging physical works with their digital multiples. These phygitals minted as Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) will join the world marketplace for art, as well as allow virtual exhibitions of entire collections anywhere in the globe in the near future. Experience art as Augmented Reality (AR) at this year’s fair. – Rappler.com

ManilART’s onsite fair will run from October 20-24 at the third level of the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City. For more details, visit www.manilart.com or follow ManilART’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram (@manilartfair).