NATIONAL ARTIST GUIDELINES

The National Artist Award (Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts; namely, Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, and Architecture and Allied Arts. The award is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and conferred by the Government of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions.

The National Artist Award is a symbol of honor that embodies the nation’s highest ideals in humanism and aesthetic expression through the distinct achievements of individual citizens. While the country through its government bestows due recognition to these singular achievements, it in turn honors its own cultural heritage, whose enrichment these achievements have significantly effected, enhanced, and given direction.

These achievements are measured in terms of their vision, unusual insight, creativity and imagination, technical proficiency of the highest order in expressing Filipino culture and traditions, history, way of life, and aspirations.

1. BACKGROUND

1.1. The National artist Award was established under Proclamation No. 1001 dated April 27, 1972 to give appropriate honors to Filipinos who have distinguished themselves and made outstanding contributions to Philippine arts and letters. The first award was conferred posthumously later that year to Fernando Amorsolo.

1.2. Proclamation No. 1144 dated May 15, 1973 named the CCP Board of Trustees as the National Artist Awards Committee and Presidential Decree No. 208 issued on June 7, 1973 reiterated the mandate of CCP to administer the National Artist Awards as well as the privileges and honors to National Artists.

1.3. The NCCA was organized under Republic Act No. 7356 dated April 2, 1992 and given broad responsibilities over the development and promotion of the Filipino national culture and the arts, including awards to persons who have significantly contributed to the development and promotion of Philippine culture and the arts.

2. OBJECTIVES

The National Artist Award was established with the following aims:

2.1. To give appropriate honor to Filipino artists who have made significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the country.

2.2. To recognize Filipino artistic accomplishment at its highest level and to promote creative expression as significant to the development of a national cultural identity

2.3. To recognize Filipino artists who have dedicated their lives to their works to forge new paths and directions for future generations of Filipino artists.

3. HONORS AND PRIVILEGES

The following honors and privileges are provided the National Artists:

3.1. A National Artist medallion and citation.

3.2. Lifetime emolument and material and physical benefits comparable in value to those received by the highest officers of the land, such as:

3.2.1. a one time cash award of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00), net of taxes for living awardees;

3.2.2. a cash award of Seventy Five Thousand Pesos (P75,000.00), net of taxes for posthumous awardees, payable to legal heir/s;

3.2.3. a monthly life pension (from P10,000 to P24,000) to living national artists, medical and hospitalization benefits (not to exceed P750,000 per person per year);

3.2.4. life insurance coverage for awardees who are still insurable;

3.2.5. a place of honor at state functions, national commemoration ceremonies and other cultural events;

3.2.6. arrangements and expenses for a state funeral.

4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE AWARD

4.1. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) shall plan, organize, and implement the National Artist Award in coordination with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

4.2. It shall enlist the support and cooperation of private sector experts from the various fields of art to ensure that the awards are implemented in a successful and impartial manner.

4.3. The NCCA and CCP shall create an Award Secretariat which shall undertake the planning and implementation of the awards, dissemination of information, receive, screen and process nominations and search for other qualified nominees. The NCCA Executive Director shall head the Award Secretariat with three representatives each from NCCA and CCP as members.

4.4. The Award Secretariat shall commission art experts to form a Special Research Group who shall verify information submitted on nominees, suggest additional nominees, and provide essential data. They shall be selected for their specialization and familiarity with the works and accomplishments of nominated artists.

4.5. The Special Research Group shall be composed of members who have expertise in one or more fields or disciplines grouped as follows: (1) Literature, Film, Theater, and Broadcast Arts; (2) Visual Arts and Architecture and Allied Arts; (3) Music and Dance.

4.6. The National Artist Award Council of Peers shall be created before or during the nomination period. It is tasked to screen nominees and recommend to the NCCA and CCP Boards the candidates for the National Artist Award. It shall be composed of highly regarded peers, scholars, (including cultural philosophers and historians), academicians, researchers, art critics, other knowledgeable individuals, and the National Artists as permanent members.

4.7. The composition for each category or discipline of the National Artist Award Council of Peers should be balanced with members coming not only from the NCR but from the regions as well. Different sectors for each category or discipline must also be equally represented.

4.7.1. The selection of the members of the National Artist Award Council of Peers shall be based on the following criteria:

(a) should have achieved authority, credibility and track record in his field/s of expertise;

(b) should have extensive knowledge in his field/s and his views on Philippine art and culture must be national in perspective;

(c) should be recognized authority in the study or research of Philippine art and culture;

(d) must be fit to undertake the work required as member of the Council;

(e) must be willing to devote sufficient time and effort to the work of the Council;

(f) must be willing to sign a non-disclosure statement in order to safeguard the confidentiality of the deliberations;

(g) must not have been convicted with finality of any crime by a court of justice or dismissed for cause by any organization, whether public or private.

4.8. The NAAW Council of Peers in each category or discipline shall be selected from the list of nominees by the Award Secretariat and approved by the NCCA Board based on the criteria cited in 4.7. The NAAW Council of Peers shall be composed of a maximum of 12 but not less than seven members per category. The living National Artists will automatically be members in their categories in addition to the selected 12 members of the council of Peers. These members will constitute the first deliberation panel and will be invited to evaluate the nominations and materials submitted by the Special Research Group so they can give suggestions to the Secretariat before the first deliberation.

4.9. The members of the first deliberation panel in each category shall choose by secret ballot three members from among themselves to compose the second deliberation panel.

4.10. Any member who is nominated or related to a nominee up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity shall inhibit himself from the deliberation process. Likewise, any member may decline to participate in the deliberation for any reason or may be removed for just cause upon recommendation to the NCCA Board by at least two thirds (2/3) of the members in the category; in which case, the Award Secretariat shall again select the replacement for those who decline or resigned until the first deliberation panel is completed.

4.11. The list of nominated members of the NAAW Council of Peers shall be reviewed by the Award Secretariat as needed for purposes of adding new members or replacements. The additional members shall be nominated by the Award Secretariat and approved by the NCCA Board of Commissioners based on the criteria cited in 4.7.

4.12. The members of the NAAW Council of Peers shall serve for a term of two (2) years and may be re-appointed for another term of two (2) years.

5. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

The National Artist Award shall be given to:

5.1 Living artists who have been Filipino citizens for the last ten (10) years prior to nomination as well as those who died after the establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of their death.

5.2 Artists who have helped build a Filipino sense of nationhood through the content and form of their works.

5.3 Artists who have distinguished themselves by pioneering in a mode of creative expression or style, thus making an impact on succeeding generations of artists.

5.4 Artists who have created a substantial and significant body of works and/or consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art form thus enriching artistic expression or style.

5.5 Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through:

5.5.1 prestigious national and/or international recognition;

5.5.2 awards in prestigious national and/or international events

5.5.3 critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works;

5.5.4 respect and esteem from peers within a recognition artistic discipline.

6 NOMINATION PROCEDURE

6.1. Candidates may be nominated under one or more of the following categories:

6.1.1. Dance – choreography, direction and/or performance;

6.1.2. Music – composition, direction, and/or performance;

6.1.3. Theater – direction, performance and/or production design;

6.1.4. Visual Arts – painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, installation art, mixed media works, illustration, graphic arts, performance art and/or imaging;

6.1.5. Literature – poetry, fiction, essay, playwriting, journalism and/or literary criticism;

6.1.6. Film – direction, writing, production design, cinematography, editing, and/or performance;

6.1.7. Broadcast Arts – direction, writing, production design, camera work, editing, and/or performance;

6.1.8. Architecture and Allied Arts – architecture design, interior design, industrial arts design, and landscape architecture;

6.2. Nominations for National Artist may be submitted by government and non-government cultural organizations and educational institutions, as well as private foundations and councils.

6.2.1. Members of the Special Research Group and the Council of Peers shall not submit nominations.

6.3. NCCA and CCP Board members and consultants and NCCA and CCP officers and staff are automatically disqualified from nomination.

6.4. Nominations shall be accepted only when these are submitted in writing and with proper supporting documentation, including:

6.4.1. A cover letter signed by the head or designated representative of the nominating organization.

The cover letter shall be accompanied by a Board Resolution approving the nominee concerned with the said resolution signed by the organization President and duly certified by the Board Secretary.

6.4.2. A duly accomplished nomination form;

6.4.3. A detailed curriculum vitae of the nominee;

6.4.4. A list of the nominee’s significant works categorized according to the criteria under 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4;

6.4.5. The latest photograph (color or black and white) of the nominee, not smaller than 5” x 7”;

6.4.6. Color transparencies (for visual arts) and/or video video/audio recordings of the nominee’s works, and other pertinent information materials which can help in the selection process;

6.4.7. Copies of published reviews.

6.5. Nominations received beyond the announced deadline for the submission of nominations shall not be considered.

6.6. The Award Secretariat shall announce the opening of nominations through media releases.

6.7. All inquiries and nominations shall be submitted to:

THE NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD SECRETARIAT
Office of the Artistic Director
Cultural Center of the Philippines
CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd.
Pasay City

Or

THE NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD SECRETARIAT
Office of the Deputy Executive Director
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila

7. SCREENING AND SELECTION PROCESS

7.1. The Award Secretariat shall pre-screen the nominees based on technical guideline items 5.1, 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4. The pre-screening shall not be based on the accomplishments and merits of the nominee.

7.2. The Special Research Group shall accomplish its task within two months. The main objective is to verify the validity of the data and evaluate the quality, true value and significance of works according to criteria.

7.3. The findings of the Special Research Group shall be presented to the Council of Peers for deliberation.

7.4. The first deliberation shall be intra-disciplinary. In accordance with 4.8, the panelists shall be grouped according to their respective fields of expertise or disciplines. After selecting initial nominees in their disciplines or categories, the first deliberation panel shall convene a plenary session to present all initial nominees for the shortlist to be presented to the second deliberation panel. Each group shall choose its presentor to the plenary. All decisions and recommendations shall be in writing.

7.5. The second deliberation panel shall convene a plenary session to deliberate on the shortlisted nominees submitted by the first deliberation panel. Each group constituted in accordance with 4.9 shall choose its presentor to the plenary.

7.5.1. The NCCA Board of Commissioners and the CCP Board of Trustees shall be invited to attend the closed-door plenary session as observers to provide them the opportunity to be fully informed on the deliberation.

7.6. The second deliberation panel shall recommend the number of deserving awardees and may also recommend not to give awards if no nominee is found deserving. The number of awardees shall also depend on the availability of funds. All decisions and recommendations shall be in writing.

7.7. The recommendations from the Second Deliberation Panel of the NAAW Council of Peers shall then be presented to the joint Boards of NCCA and CCP for final selection. The list of awardees shall be submitted to the President of the Republic of the Philippines for confirmation and proclamation.

8. PRESENTATION OF THE AWARDS

8.1. The national Artist Award shall not be conferred sooner than every two years.

8.2. The National Artist Award shall be conferred by the President of the Republic of the Philippine on June 11 or any appropriate date in fitting ceremonies to be organized by the NAAW Secretariat.

8.3. The National Artist medallion and citation shall be given to the awardee during the conferment ceremony. The cash award of P100,000.00 in cheque shall be given immediately after the ceremony or at another time and place as requested by the awardee.

8.4. A posthumous award consisting of the medallion and citation shall be given to the family of the awardee during the conferment of the award. The cash award of P75,000.00 in cheque shall be given to the awardee’s legal heir/s or a representative designated by the family immediately after the ceremony or at another time and place as requested by the family.

Source: http://www.ncca.gov.ph/