If you’re part of the creative community, chances are you’ve come across the trending buzzphrase ‘Creative Hub’, and the sporadic openings of a couple of them in your local area. But what exactly are creative hubs and why is everyone so keen on creating one?
As defined in the Creative HubKit commissioned by the British Council, “a creative hub is a place, either physical or virtual, which brings creative people together. It is a convener, providing space and support for networking, business development and community engagement within the creative, cultural and tech sectors.” These hubs come in different forms and can be described in different ways — collectives, labs, co-operatives, studios, to name a few.
The emergence of these spaces play a huge role in developing the country’s creative economy, with these spaces supporting various individuals, communities, organizations, businesses and projects.
Hosted by the British Council Philippines and DTI – Design Center of the Philippines, in partnership with Thames International College and Apl.de.ap Foundation, the team gathered community leaders, creative entrepreneurs, researchers, managers, practitioners and supporters from the arts and culture sector for an event last August 9 -11 dubbed as the Creative Communities Unite: An Intercity Gathering at Arete Ateneo — a weekend of a celebration and camaraderie of the local and international creative hubs.
Conversations on Creative Hubs and Fostering Communities
It’s important to note that building up creative hubs is tough work, and that maintaining them is even tougher. The journey towards a successful creative hub is not without its stories of struggle, humor and inspiration. So why do they do it? Building hubs means building up the community, creating and leaving an impact as well as contributing to the entire creative economy.
The first day of Creative Communities Unite started off with MadLab’s CEO and Founder Rachel Turner on how they founded MadLab and continue to do what they do. MadLab aimed to gather a group of individuals that don’t usually participate in community gatherings, and created a space for them to be able to learn new skills that can help and develop their lives.
Other creative hub leaders and members also spoke in front of the audience: Chino Carlo Aricaya of Designer, Creative Entrepreneur and Hub Member from Pineapple Lab, Don Senoc, Film Producers Society President and Maria Bianca Paula Holganza, HUB Makelab Community Engagement Officer.
One of the highlights during the conference was a panel discussion that featured Gino Carino of Makerspace Manila, Rachael Turner of MadLab, Robert and Lorraine Sylianteng of First United Building, Marielle Reyes or CraftMNL Founder & CIP Fellow and Ee Soon Wei of Art Printing Works, Malaysia.
“There’s so many people who have such good memories of Escolta, we (thought) we should do something about Escolta”, shares Lorraine Sylianteng, one of the owners of First United Building – home to The Den Coffee and Contemporary Culture, 98B COLLABoratory and HUB: Make Lab.
From discussing the rebirth of Escolta to turning the business around into a creative hub, the speakers shared their insights and stories of what it really means to have a creative hub and how it can impact a community of people, through workshops and activities. “We’re learning a hub is really, everyone in this room. It can start with one person, and reach out to another,” says Robert Sylianteng.
The morning session of the second day was filled with Pecha Kucha sessions that gave more insight on various creative hub models and how to sustain it and create a lasting impact on each hubs target community. In the afternoon, the sessions were divided into with two breakout sessions: Monitoring and Evaluating Your Hub by the British Council and Makerspaces: Between Craft and Zeros Workshops.
Oftentimes, hubs and spaces as well as the people who manage these have the opportunity to change people’s lives; however it’s the community they help that really touch the volunteer’s lives and leave a lasting impression, reminding them why they do what they do.
Though not part of the breakout session, Kat Roma Greer of Micro Galleries shared a story from one of their projects that left quite an impact on them. They had met a little Balinese boy while doing a project in Depansar, Bali that left a lasting impression on them. He was a little urchin who then started to actively participate in there program, even helping them tour the locals and painting the walls of the Badung Traditional Market. It was such a unique and memorable experience: the boy’s life had changed, but they didn’t realize while helping him, they were left with an lasting impact as well. A reminder that creative hubs and spaces have the power to influence and change people’s lives, including their own.
During the conference, British Council also launched the Creative Hubs Anonymous Network, which invited creative hub founders and managers to be part of the database to archive and collect information on creative hubs around the Philippines.
Field Notes: UK Study Tour Reflections
The Creative Innovators Programme is a one year fellowship for creative hub managers and leaders that builds the next generation of creative community leaders in the Philippines. Fifteen creative hub leaders from all over the Philippines were selected last year by the British Council to represent the Philippines.
As part of the end of the program, the Creative Innovators Fellows were also invited to participate in the Creative Communities Unite. The fellows shared their experiences in the UK, visiting various creative hubs as well as developing new skills, forming friendships and sharing valuable information among themselves and those around them on each of their own practices in their hubs.
Here’s a list of this year’s Creative Innovators Fellows:
- Cherame Lopez – Former Creative Operations Officer / Designer, ANTHILL Fabric Gallery Cebu City
- Don Senoc – President, Film Producers Society | Mandaluyong City
- Emi Englis – Project Leader, Artisanal Heritage Studies and Creative Enterprise Center (Philippine Women’s College) Davao City
- Gino Cariño – Co-Founder, Makerspace Manila | Sta. Rosa, Laguna
- Ian Tamara – Instructor, Toon City Academy | Mandaluyong City
- Jodinand Aguillon – Executive Director, Pineapple Lab | Poblacion, Makati City
- Karla Maria Ana Batiquin – Manager, Holistic Coalition of the Willing (HoliCOW)
- Kenneth Biunas – Project Officer, Design Center of the Philippines Manila / Nationwide
- Ma. Roma Agsalud-Agsunod – Co-Founder, Common Room | Metro Manila (Quezon City, Makati, Alabang)
- Maria Bianca Paula Holganza – Community Engagement Officer, HUB:MakeLab Escolta, Manila
- Maria Diana Ofrasio – Workshop Manager, Craft MNL | Makati City
- Maria Unicka Sta. Ana – Co-Founder, Zapateria | Marikina City
- Patricia Kyle Mendoza – Project Officer, Materials Innovation Centre (MATIC) Cebu City
- Paul Andrew Orpiada – Founder, Karaw Craftventures Naga City, Camarines Sur
- Regil Kent Cadavos – Community Engagement Lead, ASPACE Cebu City
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