Art BGC One Festival

An explosion of colors and sounds of live music are ready to fill the landscapes of the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) as it celebrates the country’s first-ever mural-centric arts festival, the Art BGC ONE Festival. Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. (BAFI) and the country’s No. 1 mobile brand Globe Telecom are teaming up with LeBasse Projects to bring the first arts and culture initiative of this size and scope in BGC. 

A week-long event that brings internationally-acclaimed artists together with the Filipino artistic community to paint murals across BGC’s cityscape, the Art BGC One Festival hopes to create both a unique sense of place and build an experiential atmosphere for both local residents and foreign visitors to BGC. The aim is to showcase the inclusive nature of public art by creating murals that can be enjoyed by the entire city of Manila as well as an international audience. 

Slated from May 22 to May 30, the first ever arts festival of its kind is done in collaboration with an L.A.-based art consultancy, LeBasse Projects who is most known for their projects in USA and Asia. They are bringing in multidisciplinary artists, namely FAILE, Nate Frizzell, CYRCLE, Drew Merritt, AKA Corleone, and Kristin Farr, who, together with the likes of Filipino artsts Egg Fiasco and Anjo Bolarda, will transform iconic BGC walls into artistic spaces filled with new murals together. The festival was developed by LeBasse Projects and BAFI as more than just a set of murals adorning the city, but also as an educational platform to enhance the arts and culture awareness of the community. 

Their creations will come to life on the building walls of One Global Place, Bonifacio Technology Center, Icon Plaza, C1 Building Bonifacio High Street Central, The Palace Pool Club, all the way to the smaller facades of Bonifacio High Street. 

“Globe is very excited to be part of this endeavor as part of our continuing The NextACT campaign. It is very fitting to collaborate with LeBasse Projects and BAFI as it breathes life to what ACT is all about – Art, Community and Technology. These three (3) elements are the anchor of the country’s first-ever mural-centric arts festival which brings together a community of artists and art communities here and abroad, and through technology and social media, we expect this Festival to reach the rest of the world and mark another milestone in art history,” said Joe Caliro, Head of Retail Transformation and Management at Globe. 

Also making the event possible are great brands like Davies Paints Philippines, Inc., Nyogi Coconut Water, Vans, & illest. These brands have put together a “tropical survival kit” to equip these artists from around the globe with the necessities to survive in the tropical summer of Manila.

Public festivities will begin on Saturday afternoon, May 23, with a Watching Session at the open lot on the corner of 26th Street and 5th Avenue. Projections of the mural design will illuminate the area as the artists prepare to paint to the backdrop of soulful beats. 

On May 27, more art and musical experience await visitors and participants at open lot on 7th Ave. cor. 25th St. Guests can also drop by any of the mural locations any time from May 24 to 30 to watch these mural artists paint non-stop and let their creativity flow out into their given spaces.

And as the event comes to a close on the afternoon of May 30, a closing party directed by Paolo Valenciano will be held at Bonifacio High Street Central Amphitheater complete with food, music, and fun. The art-centric event will showcase live painting from 16 local artists accompanied by acts from DJs and bands like Severo, BP Valenzuela, She’s Only Sixteen, Techy Romantics, Taken By Cars and Pupil. 

The festival, which is open to the public, will also feature pop-up restaurants and interesting art activities, including freedom wall painting, photography contests, tours, and a public film fest. 

For details and updates, visit artbgc.com/one or follow BGC on www.facebook.com/bonifacioglobalcityph, twitter.com/@ExploreBGC and @bonifacioglobalcity on Instagram.