University
of Applied Arts Vienna and Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines sign donation agreement for art projects
Artistic
exchange and personal contacts in the spirit of art, culture, history and society of the Republic of the Philippines at the
University of Applied Arts Vienna
24.08.2023
On behalf of the
University of Applied Arts Vienna, Rector Gerald Bast is very pleased about the partnership with the Embassy of the Republic
of the Philippines in Austria, which was sealed in a festive ceremony on Thursday, 24 August 2023. The Ambassador of the Republic
of the Philippines in Austria, Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas, is equally enthusiastic about the newly initiated cooperation
with the University of Applied Arts Vienna.
“This initiative not only enhances European understanding
on the arts and culture of the Philippines, but also kindles genuine interest in its diverse heritage and history, particularly
on our strong creative arts tradition. I am optimistic that this program will foster cross-cultural appreciation and meaningful
exchange.”, declares Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas. Angewandte-Rector Gerald Bast adds and explains the background
of this new cooperation: "International relations are indispensable elements of living universities. Cross-national interaction
enriches the thinking of the people involved from different realities of life and promotes the complexity of the content of
artistic and scientific work."
The donation agreement was made possible by a program initiated by Philippine Senator
Loren B. Legarda, who is a strong advocate and supporter of academic programs and projects in universities all over the world
that promote Philippine culture and heritage. The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines is donating the equivalent of
almost Euro 50,000 (Philippine Pesos PHP three million) to the University of Applied Arts Vienna for artistic projects at
the university. This includes programmes, projects and activities related to Philippine art, culture, history and society
on the one hand, and partnerships and collaborations with persons or organisations presenting Philippine art, culture, history
and society in Austria on the other hand, and furthermore activities and projects dedicated to these stated objectives.
At the Angewandte, the department Artistic Strategies under the lead of Univ.Prof. Bouchra Khalili
will be primarily concerned with the tasks associated with this donation. The Department is already heavily involved and engaged
in initiating the first projects. Other departments of the Angewandte will be invited to participate and help shape individual
projects.
With this donation, the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines would like to explicitly promote the
ambitions of the University of Applied Arts Vienna and thus encourage and support personal contacts and artistic exchange
in relation to the art, culture, history and society of the Philippines.
“I am honored to be part of the project
that celebrates and explores Philippine arts and culture, and I would also like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to
Angewandte for making this initiative a possibility in Vienna. I look forward to potentially working on similar projects in
the future, and wish Angewandte continued success.” concludes Kristine Camille Cruz, Cultural Officer and Attaché of the Embassy.
