The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) gives way to the long-overdue rehabilitation of its main building, closing its theaters and indoor venues starting January 2023 until December 2024.
After more than 50 years, the Tanghalang Pambansa (CCP Main Building) undergoes a major facelift through a three-year rehabilitation plan.
Renovation works have started at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) this year, as well as the Silangan Hall, the fourth floor, and the former Design Center Building where the offices will transfer in the coming months.
Executive offices and conference rooms will move to the Ramon Magsaysay Center in Malate, Manila.
While the renovation proceeds as planned, the programs and projects of the premier art institution continue. In the next two years, the CCP will mount performances, concerts, and other events inside and outside the CCP Complex, fully utilizing its outdoor venues.
The inauguration of the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez is a welcome development for the Center. The new Black Box Theater has 320 seating capacity with flexible theater expanse, adjustable to the artistic and technical needs of any productions.
Named after the generous businessman who wants to give back, the experimental theater will be inaugurated on Sept. 8, with performances highlighting its limitless possibilities as well as its inaugural artistic season offerings, including Tanghalang Pilipino’s Anak Datu and Repertory Philippines’ Carousel.
The cultural complex also has several outdoor venues that can be utilized as performance areas.
The CCP main building might be closed, but we promise that we remain true on our mandate to promote artistic excellence, nurture our artists, create artistic and educational contents, and engage the broadest audiences in art making and cultural experiences.
Maximizing its strong cultural network, the CCP intends to expand its reach to the regions with its outreach programs and art education projects. The Cultural Exchange Department and the Art Education Department have ongoing programs in various parts of the country.
Later this year, the CCP artistic season goes full blast, starting with the CCP anniversary gala. Celebrating the 53rd founding anniversary, the CCP presents Musikal II on Sept. 10, featuring excerpts from original Filipino musicals staged from 2015 to 2021.
The Bulwagang Juan Luna (CCP Main Gallery) will have its last exhibit before the venue closes down. On display until Dec. 4, “Imelda Cajipe-Endaya: Pagtutol at Pag-asa” exhibits over 200 artworks and archival materials surveying the artist’s intensive practice in printmaking, painting, collage, and installation from the 1960s to the present. This is the first retrospective exhibit on the life and works of Cajipe-Endaya.
While the CCP galleries are shut down, the CCP art collection will be on traveling exhibitions, starting with a print exhibit at Arthaland Century Pacific Tower on 5th Avenue and 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, opening on Oct. 13.
Part of the collection will be on loan at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, and at the National Museum.
This year, CCP Met Opera in HD returns with a screening on Sept. 27 at Greenbelt Cinema, featuring until March 2023 classic opera masterpieces such as Carmen, La Traviata, Aida, La Fille du Régiment, Dialogue des Carmelites, and Samson et Dalila. Giacomo Puccini’s well-loved opera Turandot is coming to the CCP main theater on Dec. 9, 8 p.m., and Dec, 11, 2 p.m.
The CCP performance season ends with Handel’s The Messiah on Dec. 16. Not to be missed are the annual holiday events at the CCP, including dawn masses and facade lighting.
“The CCP main building might be closed, but we promise that we remain true on our mandate to promote artistic excellence, nurture our artists, create artistic and educational contents, and engage the broadest audiences in art making and cultural experiences,” says CCP president Margie Moran-Floirendo.