CCP announces closure until 2025 for renovations, retrofitting
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) has announced that it will be temporarily closing its doors until 2025 to make way for major renovations.
"I’d like to announce that the CCP is closing its door on January 2023, for structurally retrofitting,” concurrent CCP President Margie Moran-Floirendo said during a Senate cultural committee on Thursday, Sept. 1.
She added that they are expected to finish the renovations by 2025.
The decision comes after a leak was found on the roof of the theatre. CCP Chairperson Jaime Laya added that they will start moving out this November, while construction will begin in January.
He added that P400M coming from funds accumulated during its closure from the pandemic will be used to lease the facilities of the complex. They also made mention during the hearing that the temporary closure will give CCP the chance to reach out to other independent art initiatives all over the country.
"Since we won’t have the building for two years, we have to perform outdoors and outreaches in these theatres in Manila," said Moran-Floirendo.
In a media release issued on Sept. 2, CCP said that three-year rehabilitation plan to the Tanghalang Pambansa (CCP Main Building) comes after 50 years.
“We will not keep any stone left unturned. The CCP rehabilitation plan emanates from the building audit done from 2018 to 2019. We initially planned to start reconditioning the Main Building right after the 50th anniversary, but the pandemic happened and we had to make do with what we can, with the budget we have,” said Moran-Floirendo.
CCP began opening its doors for visitors amid the pandemic in 2021 with open-air shows, dance performances, and other theatre initiatives such as the comeback of the Virgin Labfest.
They recently welcomed guests at the center gain during the 2022 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival which ran from Aug. 5 to 14, 2022.
According to CCP, during the period when theis galleries are shut down, their 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 October 13.
Part of the collection will also be on loan at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, and at the National Museum.
