THE Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) has allocated P1 million to aid local artists who suffered loss of income due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

Through a program called Metrobank Art & Design Excellence-Community Aid and Relief for Emergency Situations or MADE CARES, MBFI aims to support 200 visual artists by giving them  P5,000 each. MADE CARES is part of MBFI’s initiatives to reach out to its stakeholders during this health crisis.

Beneficiaries who are qualified for the cash assistance include past awardees of the annual MADE Painting and Sculpture recognition programs, as well as non-awardees who are Filipino painters and sculptors aged 18 years old and above. MBFI will also prioritize practicing visual artists whose income-generating art projects or livelihoods were affected by the pandemic.

Not eligible for the grant are painters and sculptors who receive a regular salary from a public or private institution, are recipients of pensions and other cash assistance from art and cultural institutions, or are currently involved in any income-generating projects.

A total of P115,000 was given on Aug. 6 to the first batch of beneficiaries, composed of 23 members of the MADE-Network of Winners, the alumni organization of past MADE awardees.

The grant application for the remaining 177 slots is now open for both awardees and non-awardees of MADE. To register, applicants must fill-out the application form which can be accessed through bit.ly/MADECARES_application. The deadline for submission of application is on Aug. 23.

For further details, interested parties may contact Badet Macaraig through bsm.mbfi@gmail.com; or visit MADE Facebook page @MADECompetition.

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