Art Community Development Programs

ADE Program, Art + Design = Empowerment

Inspired by the works of applied arts by Juvenal Sanso, particularly how his textile designs sustained Sanso as an emerging artist, while also generating the livelihood for producers and retailers, and serendipitously in response to the government’s assertion that Art is non-essential during the lockdown, Fundacion Sanso created the Art + Design = Empowerment or ADE Exhibition Program in 2021 using the museum shop as the platform. “ADE” (a deliberate homonym of ‘aid’), focused on artists and designers using their creative skills to empower their chosen communities.

Part of the proceeds from both art and product sales go to the beneficiary group that the guest artist supports, usually the community of artisans who created the products or materials. While all artists also generously donated what they were comfortable with to Fundacion Sanso to help support the museum during the lockdown.

BidiBidi as the first guest artist for the the ADE Program

I CArE (Initiative for the Continuation of Artists’ Estate) Program

The I CArE Program was pioneered as a 3-year agreement with the family of visual artist Inday Cadapan, who like Sansó, used her artmaking to heal herself. Through the I CArE program, Fundacion Sansó seeks to assist the family of Artists through sustainable efforts such as the creation of merchandise while managing image rights and establishing legacy-enhancing projects such as the transformation of Cadapan’s house into a museum.

In 2023, the family of National Artist Dr. Abdulmari Imao also signed on with a 3-year agreement with similar aims. Through skills and technology transfer, dialogue and goal setting, the I CArE program aspires to empower Artists’ estates to preserve and further the legacy entrusted to them.

Magel Cadapan representing her mother, the artist Inday Cadapan, for I CArE

Flowers for the Children

In 2021, Fundacion Sanso did a fundraiser and gave an operations grant to Museo Pambata, the country’s first interactive children’s museum which was almost closed down because of the prolonged lockdown brought about by COVID-19. Aside from enabling Museo Pambata to continue operations for a few months, the grant inspired other grants by individuals and other institutions which allowed the 25 year old museum to survive and continue operations.