By Artists, For Artists: Haul-Up! and Centering Creatives in Art Markets
By Artists, For Artists: Haul-Up! and Centering Creatives in Art Markets
The digital banner for Haul Up! #3
A sticker of your favorite character, a keychain of your favorite food, a painting of an abstract pattern, these are some of the merchandise you can find in art markets. One thing in common, they did not come out of thin air. They were crafted by talented people who took the time to learn skills and make their ideas a reality. May it be a boba tea charm or a button pin with a funny quote, these pieces are the reasons people flock to these shops. You'd think the ones who created them will take the spotlight. Instead, artists are pushed behind to wait in the wings as organizers prioritize profits. Tired of the frequent exploitation, a group of artist friends decide to change things up.
Brgy. Duckpond's table that showcases the art of Donn, Wizzy, and Katie
Artists Donn, Wizzy, and Katie are no stranger to the struggles of exhibiting and selling artworks. They have joined numerous artist alleys in Negros Occidental since their student days before heading out to different regions in the country. When the Covid-19 lockdown ended, there was a nationwide boom in conventions and art markets. But the practices were getting more predatory as organizers stuffed their pockets without caring for their creatives.
“As table prices kept being driven higher and higher, it became harder and harder for artists to break even,” the trio said in an interview. “In response to this, we decided to try our hand at providing small artists a more accessible avenue to showcase their artworks, build a community, and experience the joy of participating in art markets without worrying too much about factoring tabling fees into their finances.”
That's how the idea of Haul Up! was born. It was an attempt by the trio to push more efforts in lessening the burden of artists. It was a way to bring more attention to artists’ voices.
“We are insanely lucky to have a community that came together and helped us make this possible, from venues who happily provided us with affordable spaces, to the merchants and artists themselves who put their trust in us,” they shared.
Haul Up! had its first run in 2023 at a cozy little cafè called Wolfspider located in Marketplace near Bacolod's New Government Center. The success of the event led to a second run in 2024 at The Shophouse Heritage, a Chinatown-inspired district. That was supposed to be the last since the team had hoped that future art markets would listen to their artists more. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
With more issues popping up including pricey registrations, Haul Up! once again opened their doors. They had their third run earlier this May 30 to May 31 at Fo Guang Shan Yuan Thong Temple, Burgos Avenue. Table fees were only 700 pesos each, quite budget-friendly compared to other markets that charge thousands of pesos for a table. The low cost to set up shop in the chosen venue is much appreciated by the artists.
Cuki's table displaying her stickers, pins, and prints
Cuki, an artist who creates colorful illustrations for stickers and pins, emphasized the importance of affordable tables, having experienced boothing for art markets, big and small. For her, it is a good sign if “booth prices [are] very reasonable compared to putting an expensive event mixed [with] merchants.”
During the event itself, the team was hands-on in tending to the participating artists. They would approach the tables and ask for any suggestions they could implement. They were honest about any lapses the venue was having and quickly distributed compensations afterwards.
Haul Up! also attracted newbies to the art market scene such as Pinecotta, an artist who draws anime fanart and belongs in the collective known as Milpico. He commended the accommodations including the two-day dinner. He described the event as “good for small artists who wanna make a debut” due to its accessible nature.
The organizers wanted to “mark a shift in alternate spaces” by introducing more people to relatively obscure cultural areas in their locale. Malls in Bacolod City tend to be the venues of big art markets.This often led to more expensive table prices as well as a repetitive atmosphere. Haul Up! offered a change of pace with their most recent location being a Buddhist temple.
The sculpture of a little Buddha for the temple's bazaar
“There was already some buzz online about our event, but people also had a preconceived notion that Buddhist temples were closed off and restricted, which was the exact notion that the head monk of the temple wanted to change by having us help out in the first place,” the team said.
More than a place to sell artworks, Haul Up! became an avenue for sharing interests and exchanging ideas. A representative from the Buddhist temples discussed the tenets of Buddhism. Then there was an open mic session with subjects ranging from discussing how “AI slop” is “modern-day black plague,” to yumeshipping culture in which one imagines themselves being in a relationship with a fictional character. The various topics found themselves connecting as people realized the intersectionality of art, imagination, and spirituality.
While the event went well most of the time, they did run into some hiccups. A common concern among the participating artists was that the event needed more promotion to engage attendees. Indeed, the artists’ income depends on the traffic generated by the market.
Claydi’s table showing off their designs
“I think promotion is also [a] big [factor]. I’m an advertising graduate so I know how important it is to be marketed,” said Kyla, the artist behind Claydi’s custom neckties and designs. But Kyla also believes that even niche events like this could have a good reach. “With the proper art patrons, we really don’t mind seeking very niche venues that aren’t really accessible as much as malls. If people trust the art organizers enough, they’ll seek out that event.”
This is something the Haul Up! team acknowledged.
“Ultimately, the challenge of promoting niche events like this lies with finding a way to get the word outside of just the art community and into other circles that might not be as in tune with what kind of events are currently happening,” they said.
“This is understandably difficult, but ultimately necessary as creating a community receptive to more niche events is half the equation when it comes to successful event organizing in general. Each event we've held [has] been learning experiences, with each venue presenting its own unique challenges, and we hope to keep refining our formula for future events.”
Organizers Donn and Katie at the admin table
With more and more artists wanting to organize their own art markets, the team imparted some advice.
“There is no shame in being a small event. Having a vision to direct your efforts toward is important to your event having its own identity, but it's more important that you don't overpromise. Trying to aggressively go bigger and bigger every time when you don't have the capacity is just going to cause stress for your merchants, your customers, and you as the organizer/s.”
The numerous issues arising from art markets are only a symptom of a larger issue. Artists still lack respect and support in the industry. But even small initiatives in the community can make a difference. Art markets should be a stage where artists and creativity can shine and be the stars of the show. It's all possible once organizers understand the importance of communication, transparency, and taking accountability.
