MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines announces the nomination period for the Order of the National Artist. The deadline for nominations is June 30, 2024.
By virtue of Proclamation No. 1001 dated April 27, 1972, the Order of National Artist (ONA), or Orden ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, was established to bestow appropriate recognition and prestige on Filipinos who have distinguished themselves and made outstanding contributions to Philippine arts and letters. According to the Republic Act 7356, the NCAA is given broad responsibilities over the development and promotion of the Filipino national culture and the arts, including awards to persons who have significantly contributed to the development and promotion of Philippine culture and the arts.
Jointly administered by the NCCA and CCP and conferred by the President of the Philippines the ONA is the highest national recognition given to filipino individuals that aim to acknowledge colon artists who have made significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the country; artistic accomplishment at its highest level and to promote creative expression as significant to the development of a national cultural identity and artists who have dedicated their lives to works that forge new paths and directions for future generations of Filipino artists.
The candidates may be nominated under one category where the artist made his or her most notable contribution, but his or her other merits will be added to the citation. The following categories are Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film and Broadcast Arts, Architecture and Allied Arts, and Design as of writing there are 81 proclaimed national artists and the last conferment happened in 2022 the selection and conferment of the national artist shall take place every three years.
The ONA shall be given to artists who have met the following criteria living artist for Filipino citizens at the time of nomination and at the awarding, as well as those who died after the establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of their death; artists who go through the content and form of their works have contributed in building a Filipino sense of nationhood; artists who have pioneered in a mode of creative expression or style, thus, earning distinction and making an impact on succeeding generations of artists; artists who have created substantial and significant body of works and/or consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their artform, thus, enriching artistic expression or style; and artists who enjoy broad acceptance through: prestigious national and/or international recognition such as such as the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining, CCP Thirteen Artists Award and the NCCA Haraya Awards (Alab and Dangal), critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works and respect and esteem from peers.
Various honors and privileges are entitled to those conferred with the ONA the rank and the title of national artist as proclaimed by the President of the Philippines and the national artist gold plated medallion minted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and citation; a lifetime emolument and materials; and physical benefits such as cash awards, lifetime monthly stipends, medical and hospitalization benefits, and coverage by a life insurance policy by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and/or private insurance companies.
Nominations for the Order of the National Artist may be submitted by government and non-government cultural organizations and educational institutions, as well as private foundations and councils.
All inquiries and nominations shall be submitted to:
The Order of National Artist
onaa@ncca.gov.ph
8-5272192 local 507
Office of the Executive Director
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
NCCA Building, 633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, 1002 Manila
Click here to read more about the criteria and selection process. For inquiries, please contact Sharon Beltran, Project Coordinator, Awards and Recognition Office, through the email address onaa@ncca.gov.ph or visit the NCCA website.
