Here’s an Art Bargain You Can’t Turn Down

Here’s something to inspire you. Following the success of last year’s Inspire Every Day! event, Ayala Museum is back to prove that kindness never goes out of style.

Tomorrow, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., everyone can avail of free admission at the Ayala Museum, at one priceless cost: Be kind. Upon arrival at the museum, guests are requested to sign up for volunteer opportunities through Ayala Foundation Inc. with programs ranging from volunteer storytelling for public school children, to documenting community events.

In exchange, guests can enjoy an entire day of activities, which include an hourly screening premiere of videographer Jason Magbanua’s newest short film, a silkscreen station by Team Manila, hourly musical performances by the Manila Symphony Orchestra and musicians from Tago Jazz Café, and more.

But perhaps the biggest highlights of the day are the so-called Special Inspire Stations, which will require “kindness currencies.” Participants include visual artist Valerie Chua, who will be hosting a program entitled Postcards of Creativity and Kindness, sculptor Leeroy New, who will be putting up some of his wearable sculptures to try for size, and Armi Millare, who will  hold a talk on the role of kindness as a necessary component in creativity through consciousness and empathy. Leeroy’s interactive exhibit coincides with the theme of the whole day about making museums more dynamic. “It’s important that everyone involved realize that art institutions, more than just being structures that house works of art, can become effective platforms for creative exchange, innovation, and development,” he says.

Meanwhile, the seasoned frontwoman of Up Dharma Down and Inspire Every Day! partner will discuss what it means to be a creative person in this day and age in the Philippines. “Through this activity, people will get to discover that other creative fields are onto the same thing as wellgiving back to the audience and imbibing a system of paying it forward,” Armi tells Preen. “It’s the first time this is ever being done and we’re very proud to have been tapped by the people at Ayala Museum,” she continues. “We hope that this inspires small seeds of change that will benefit every Filipino no matter how far the degrees of separation seem to be, and see creativity and kindness work together while making it fun for everyone.”

Ayala Museum. Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City 1224. For inquiries call, (02) 757 3000