Independent curator, Tokyo
Situated in the restored Enriquez Mansion in Bataan – a historic house dating to the Spanish colonial period, once home to the first art school in the country – Jam Acuzar’s Bellas Artes Projects (BAP) was devoted to the promotion of Filipino art and culture, both locally and internationally, from 2013 when it was founded until it closed this summer. In Bataan, BAP hosted talks, tours and residencies, encouraging collaborations between international artists – among them Korakrit Arunanondchai and Josh Kline – and local artisans whose workshops were based within the complex. The centre also ran a space in the Filipino capital Manila, which hosted a vivid programme of exhibitions, performances and other activities. Acuzar is now based in Tokyo; she is the guest curator for public programmes at the boutique art fair Art Collaboration Kyoto, which opens in November.