26~28 APRIL 2024

Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental has always been considered by many writers as Philippine literature’s “hometown.” It hosts the oldest [and continuing] creative writing workshop in Asia, which has molded many generations of Filipino writers. It was home to the late National Artist for Literature Edith Lopez Tiempo and the late National Artist for Cinema Eddie Romero. As a setting, it has inspired many literary works, from novels to poetry, from essays to plays. And it continues to be home to many notable authors and artists. A literary festival celebrating this literary heritage, and embracing the realities of the modern world and the place of the creative in it, is a fitting development for this future City of Literature. The first Duma LitFest is also in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Charter of Dumaguete.

THE VENUE

The venue of Duma LitFest 2024 is 58 EJ Blanco Drive, the home of Arts + Design Collective Dumaguete, which has become a creative hub for many local artists and designers as well as writers and entrepreneurs. It is a heritage Dumaguete house of fascinating nooks and crannies, and is perfect for how we envisioned the first literary festival of Dumaguete to be: exactly like the city itself—small, thriving with creative ferment, significant, and unapologetically uncommercial. The hub also has a bookstore, a Vietnamese restaurant, a music studio, several artist studios, an art shop, a fermented food snack bar, and a store selling organic goods.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Help make the first Duma LitFest be a success! We need photographers, videographers, computer experts, artists, minders, ushers, etc. to help us organize all our scheduled events better! You may apply at this link, or through our QR code. We close the call for volunteers on April 12.

CALL FOR VENDORS

The three-day Duma LitFest will have a zine fest and literary/ artistic bazaar at 58 EJ Blanco Drive. We are calling for zine makers, publishers, bookstores, and artists of all kinds to sell their merch and publications and art! We will be providing all the physical requirements for a table—just bring along the products of your artistry. Apply at this link, or use our QR code. We are closing applications for vendors on April 13.