mikocanares Asia, Business Planning, Capacity Building, Consulting Services, core expertise, Core services, cultural programming, feasibility studies, Local economic development, Local Government Units, project development

Step Up Completes Regional Cultural Hub Feasibility Study

Step Up Consulting recently completed the feasibility study of establishing a regional cultural hub for the Visayas. The research seeks to determine the viability and sustainability of a permanent center and venue of productions and creative enterprises in the Central Visayas region.

The feasibility study focused on the five key aspects – market, technical, organizational, financial and socio-economic feasibility. Conducted in 2019, it involved different approaches: a combination of survey, focus group discussion or key informant interview, ocular inspection and site visits, and evaluation of documentary evidence.

The research team of Step Up is composed of Michael Canares, Jean Celeste Paredes and Mary Therese Pepito with the support of Marilou Sale. It was funded through a grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts managed by the Bohol Integrated Development Foundation.

mikocanares cultural programming, feasibility studies, workshop design, workshops

Cultural Programming Design Workshop for Region VII

70226646_10158288536284041_3947478212388323328_oStep Up Consulting Services facilitated a cultural programming design workshop for the Regional Cultural Hub of Central Visayas at the Metro Centre Hotel on 16-17 September 2019.  The workshop was organized by the Bohol Integrated Development Foundation in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Bohol.

The workshop was attended by Silliman University Vice President for Academics and historian Dr. Earl Jude Cleope, UP Visayas Arts Studies specialist Jay Jore, Boholano artists and cultural leaders Architect Nino Guidaben, Architect Franz Labad, theater artist Engr. Jerrey Aguilar, Holy Name University history professors Cenon Agbayani and Agnes Bustrillos,  Artist Rama Marcaida, and Natatanging Gawad Buhay awardee Gardy Labad.  Bingbing Casenas of the Provincial Planning and Development Office of the Provincial Goverment of Bohol also attended. The workshop was supported by the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage team composed of Jose Nazareno and Charo Mae Apipe.  

The objectives of the workshop were to:

  1. Present the vision of the cultural hub/regional cultural complex and how it desires to promote cultural, social, and economic development of the region
  2. Present initial findings from the cultural inventories of the provinces in the Central Visayas region
  3. Discuss the importance of cultural inventories in the preparation of cultural programming for the regional cultural hub/regional cultural complex
  4. Draft a cultural program for the regional cultural hub/regional cultural complex for at least 3 year