The Cebu Art Association

As the oldest art organization in Cebu, the Cebu Art Association has influenced the development of the city’s art movement and has inspired a number of artists to follow their artistic pursuits. It was founded on August 22, 1937, under a mango tree in Fuente Osmeña, the same spot where the Rizal Public Library and Museum now stands.

There were originally seven members: Oscar Figuracion, Ricardo Avila, Fidel Araneta, Silvestre Orfelia, Emilio Olmos, Jose Trinidad Alcoseba and Julian Jumalon. Th group first called itself as the Independent Artists Guild. Cebu had its very first painting exhibit in 1938 at the carnival grounds behind Fort San Pedro. Membership grew to 12 at the start of the war, with the addition of Maria Avila (first female member), Alejandro Dacoycoy, Pedring Roble (then Cebu’s famed photographer), Jose Ignacio and Martino Abellana. In 1951, Mel Tamayo and Virgilio Daclan came in and by 1952, they had their first art contest during the opening of the University of Southern Philippines Museum.

The Cebu Art Organization, for all its 62 years of existence in 1999, is still very much alive today, continually putting art the distinction it deserves in the society.

Extracted from an article by April Mary Tudtud