MANILA, Philippines – Art markets have been a big part of the local art scene over the years, often happening multiple times each month. They’re a fun way for artists to showcase their creations to the public, so these events are usually anticipated by both creatives and art enthusiasts alike. There’s a new one happening in January 2025, and let’s just say that it’s not your ordinary art market, as it shifts the focus from mere buy-and-sell to community-building. It’s none other than Kittybug & Friends Pop Up + Art Market, a community-based event that, through a series of programs, aims to push Filipino female and LGBTQ+ artists to try independent publishing, zinemaking, and new creative mediums like risograph (riso). It also hopes to make riso more accessible through free workshops, tutorials, and risograph printing, and the implementation of sliding-scale prices.
“As organizers and fellow creatives, we have gotten feedback from both younger and older artists in Manila that they are looking for more community-focused events and education talks on newer mediums like Riso. Riso is still a growing craft in the Philippines that requires more financial investment than other printmaking mediums,” Kittybug Press shared.
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The event will be run by Manila Comics Fair and Kittybug Press — a New York City-based independent micropress and artist collective run by Anna Marcelo and Rice Gallardo — whose goal is to champion Filipino female and/or LGBTQ+ artists in the Philippines or in the diaspora.
Kittybug & Friends Pop Up + Art Market has a loaded lineup of activities in store for attendees. Here’s what you can expect!
Schedule, venue, fees
The event will be held on January 11, 2025 at Imperial Mow’s, located inside Kowloon House along Matalino Street in Quezon City.
Entry into the venue will be on a pay-what-you-want basis, following a suggested donation ranging from P100 to P300, which will be collected at the door.
“Kittybug Press believes in financial accessibility for the creative community so both the products in our booth and our organized events have sliding scale prices or entry fees,” Kittybug Press told Rappler.
Note that from 2 to 5 pm, masked hours will be implemented to ensure everyone’s safety. Masks will be available at the event.
Jam-packed program
The first tranche of the whole program will happen from 2 to 7 pm, with a wide array of activities happening back-to-back and alongside each other.
Artists market
Of course, it’s not an art event without an artist market, so you can expect to be able to purchase merch from a curated pool of Filipino female and/or LGBTQ+ artists from both New York and Manila! The artist market will run from 2 to 7 pm, all throughout the main event.
See the full lineup here:
New York
Kittybug Press
Rice Gallardo
Anna Marcelo
Ren Poblete
Manila
Corny Babe
Buti