About • Benilde Open • Best of Benilde • FAQs • Convenors • Selection Committee • Schedule • Press • Contact
about the next wave of design and art in the country?
Benilde Open runs May 23 to June 30, 2024.
in synergy with De La Salle University and the Embassy of Switzerland
of trailblazing higher education in the creative, digital and service industries
In celebration of its 35th year, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde launches Benilde Open Design + Art, an initiative that welcomes artists, actors, architects, technologists, engineers, industrial designers, craftsmen, illustrators, textile designers, animators, playwrights, composers, video game artist, poets, filmmakers, producers, cinematographers, lighting designers, web developers, editors, fashion designers, chefs, photographers, graphic designers, landscape architects, jewelry designers, orchestra conductors, choirmasters, DJs, stylists, multimedia designers, make-up artists, arts teachers, dancers, choreographers, authors, writers, puppeteers, art directors and all creative practitioners of Filipino citizenship – to heed the call to submit proposals to realize projects that have not seen the light of day.
Benilde Open Design + Art is dedicated to shaping art and design sensibilities by championing innovative and collaborative projects across diverse creative disciplines within and outside the school.
Benilde Open Category
An online index of photographs and text highlighting the accidental intersections of contemporary Philippine aesthetics and the everyday from the vantage point of the street. It is a portmanteau of the words “tropical” and the Tagalized Spanish “kalye”.
An observational documentary video of three Filipino nurses from East Sussex that shows their daily life, as well their horticultural activities as they learn to grow food in a community garden.
The game proposes discussions and conversations that take off from philosophical queries, such as: How do we design a new art world? How can we chart our journey? How can we be mobile in that path? What do we do when we collide with other worlds/communities – do we occupy and conquer or do we cooperate and collaborate?
The project aims to highlight how colonial infrastructures remove cultural artifacts from our indigenous communities; and in response to this removal, we aim to recreate, reimagine, and re—move our bodies to shine a light on this spectacle of indigenous exposition and exploitation.
Through research and experimentation on how to adapt traditional weaving and dying techniques, the designer proposes to bridge the gap between suppliers, dyers and weavers to bring about the renaissance of traditional Tausug textiles by working with weavers from Padirna Sanaani of Parang, Sulu and Ruhina Muhaimer of Maimbung, Sulu.
Through unscripted walks – a team of artists and explorers with experience in psychogeography, sound art, photography, performance, knitting, design, architecture, and poetry will guide the exploration.
The project lends itself to the fostering of collaborative work and collective care for artists and the public by creating a safe space within the intersections of art, community engagement, and cultural mapping through performance, photography, film and sculpture.
The project asks: How can the synergy of art and agriculture 4.0 technologies drive innovation towards positive outcomes rather than instilling fear? Inspired by the phrase, “as above, so below”, the artist aims to evoke the intricate relationship between the universe and earthly gardens, exploring it through the unique perspective of bees.
The project aims to introduce new puppetry arts to turn the country into a puppetry hub in Southeast Asia. Advanced mechanisms in puppetry are explored and local puppet makers trained to create complex puppet joints.
The project focuses on integrating FSL Literature within the landscape of Philippine literary arts through a pioneering creative signing workshop and an exhibition featuring works from five Deaf literary fellows.
The visual artist advocates for the rights of corn gleaners through functional public art. Must public art such as installations be situated in parks in urban areas? If indeed installations can be exhibited in remote areas such as corn farms, can it be made functional and livable for the Umayamnon? Can it be replicated among other communities of gleaners in Bukidnon?
The Benilde Open calls for unrealized projects from Benildean and non-Benildean creative practitioners. This thematically explores the curious mindset. Proposals should revolve around curiosities on movement and its relationship to sustainability; the shuttling of thinking across craft and technology; and the culturing of the virtual with the real. The call further seeks design and art projects marked by an appetite for investigation and experimentation, for tinkering that fuels renovation and innovation.
Submissions of proposals begin December 1, 2023 and are extended until February 12, 2024. All selected proposals will be announced by March 2024.
The entries will be reviewed and selected by a committee of local and international advocates representing the creative industries.
Ten projects will each be awarded a grant of up to Php 300,000 net of taxes to assist in bringing the projects to fruition. Benilde Open Design + Art will provide curatorial assistance for the install of each project in consultation with the project proponent.
Best of Benilde Category
The designer aims to allow the audience to explore their dark side and satisfy their curiosity by acting as the main character, Jonathan Harker. The staging of the exhibition is significant since Dracula still remains popular in contemporary times.
An open service directory that brings together emerging creative practitioners. It serves as a comprehensive catalog for quality service at fair rates through an accessible app platform.
An unrealized film about friendship set in Oriental Mindoro. Diane spends her annual summer breaks with her grandmother, and she learns that her friend Rosie had sacrificed to support her family by living far away to work as a domestic helper.
A non-invasive, non-pharmacological device that stimulates the vagus nerve through vibrations. Stimulating the vagus nerve helps regulate most of our bodily functions & bring our nervous system back to a zone of safety.
A platform for freelance physical laborers – such as an electrician, locksmith, carpenter, or welder – to connect with clients through a phone app for home and related services. The recruitment process would be done through TESDA.
A fully inclusive yoga and art center that focuses on bridging the gap between the desire to move, create, and dive deep into it. Movement through dance and theater combined with simple yoga sequences is introduced as play.
A game for therapy sessions of children who are visually impaired.
An AR exhibition about the system of consuming poverty porn contents made by content creators. This is to raise awareness and knowledge among young adult netizens.
A project that commits to address environmental and social challenges in the Philippine fashion industry as champions of sustainability through a curated collection of clothing that embodies this at every stage of its production process and narrative.
A primary virtual entity of innovation designed for hotel guests. It learns guests’ profiles, observes behavior, and remembers preferences for products and services that a hotel’s facilities are capable of providing.
A multimedia exhibition which aims to explore the intricacies of human gender, celebrate the art of drag, and promote gender equality.
A design project of a creative parking facility that promotes green mobility.
A website platform for up to date, verified, affordable housing options in the vicinity of Taft. It simplifies the search process by providing necessary details about amenities, nearby facilities, and pricing.
An interactive book that delves into the phenomenon of the inner child. Meant for young passionate creatives, this takes them on a step-by-step journey of self-development through AR feature illustrations, a website where the digital copy is embedded, and related multimedia collaterals.
This is a design of a pavilion to promote the economic and cultural industries of the Zamboanga Peninsula.
A photography exhibition on experimental, creative and surreal portraiture.
Benilde Open Design + Art also features the Best of Benilde, a juried degree exhibition of student works. An open call for proposals is extended to all students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde:
Students submitted school projects that speculate on the future of their industry – spanning sustainability and movement, the intersection of craft and technology, and the exploration of digital or virtual domains.
The Best of Benilde delves into these queries:
Is there such a world?
Can such a world be more than imagined?
Can we create foundational designs and proposals for such worlds to become more than just fanciful ideas?
What is it?
All creative practitioners are invited to heed the call to submit proposals: artists, actors, architects, technologists, engineers, industrial designers, craftsmen, illustrators, textile designers, animators, playwrights, composers, video game artist, poets, filmmakers, producers, cinematographers, lighting designers, web developers, editors, fashion designers, chefs, photographers, graphic designers, landscape architects, jewelry designers, orchestra conductors, stylists, multimedia designers, make-up artists, arts teachers, dancers, choreographers, authors, writers, puppeteers, art directors and all creative practitioners of Filipino citizenship.
We encourage proposals of unrealized projects that are multidisciplinary in nature and in line with the theme, Curious. Proposals should reflect interests and curiosities found across: sustainability and movement, craft and technology, and digital or virtual. As in the spirit of any Open we would like to affirm that it welcomes all proposals across disciplines and inspirations.
All projects proposed specifically for the Benilde Open, in line with the theme, CURIOUS are eligible for funding of up to ₱300,000.00 net of taxes, if it’s selected. Up to ten proposals will be selected by a committee of local and international advocates representing different sectors in the creative industries. The announcement of selected proposals is on March 2024.
Best of Benilde is a juried degree exhibition of student works. Proposals can be submitted by all students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde who are currently enrolled. Proposals from alumni from the academic years spanning 2020 to 2023 will be accepted, if it is endorsed by the dean of the school. There is no funding for these projects as they are part of a current or previous academic exercise. However, full support will be provided in staging and promoting the project in the best possible way so the public is fully engaged.
Visit the Benilde Open Design + Art website: open.benilde.edu.ph to access the application forms for both Benilde Open and Best of Benilde.
December 1, 2023 to February 12, 2024 (extended)
Submission of proposals
February 2024
Review and selection of proposals
March 2024
Announcement of selected proposals
May 23, 2024 to June 30, 2024
Benilde Open Design + Art exhibition dates
Yes, a zoom meeting can be arranged with a representative of the Benilde Open Design + Art team. Please send an email request to benildeopen@benilde.edu.ph. Also email in advance any questions or concerns that need to be addressed.
Yes, anybody can help you write the proposal except for individuals who are part of the Benilde Open Design + Art team.
The proposals are reviewed and selected by a committee of individuals who are local and international advocates representing various sectors within the creative industries. Current faculty, associates and consultants of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde are not part of the selection committee to encourage them to submit proposals.
All administrative, transport and related expenses are supported as long as they are reflected in the budget submitted in the proposal. The maximum amount that can be funded is ₱300,000.00 net of taxes. You should be able to realize your proposed project within this amount. The Benilde Open Design + Art team will also provide curatorial assistance for the staging of your project. There will be several meetings to discuss the ideas for staging the project.
By submitting an application to the Benilde Open, each Proponent confirms that they are the owner or the licensee of all applicable intellectual property (and moral rights) in the Project.
Benilde Open Design + Art is facilitated by a working team of convenors who are faculty, associates or consultants in service of the school together with Benilde President, Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC, a visual artist.
The convenors share, “It’s the kind of creative democracy that should be encouraged, one that cuts across geography, social status, privilege, gender, power, disciplines, and even education. The inquisitiveness of a curious mind could well be the impetus in the articulation of a multiplicity of creativities. In a similar way that knowledge is different, creativity is fleshed out through the most surprising of modes. As in the spirit of any Open we would like to affirm that it welcomes all proposals across disciplines and inspirations.”
Dindin Araneta
Arts Manager
Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC
Visual Artist
Joselina Cruz
Contemporary Art Curator
Industrial Designer
Ayi Magpayo
Producer
Rita Nazareno
Designer
December 1, 2023 to February 12, 2024 (extended)
Submission of Proposals
February 2024
Review and selection of proposals
May 8, 2024
Announcement of selected proposals
May 23, 2024 to June 30, 2024
Benilde Open Design + Art exhibition for Benilde Open and Best of Benilde
Benilde Open Design + Art
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
950 P. Ocampo Street
Malate, Manila
1004 Philippines
Email benildeopen@benilde.edu.ph.
benildeopen