Atua Midtown: Cebu’s ‘reimagined playground’ for creatives

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City has a new must-visit spot for lovers of culture and arts: Atua Midtown.

Formerly the location of Eddie’s Hotel along F. Manalo Street, the property has been transformed into an art hub and a commercial space designed for all kinds of creatives.

Well-known businessman and Tubo Cebu Art Fair director Allen Tan founded the establishment with the goal of offering “a place for those who live and breathe creativity.”

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The name Atua means “Ours” in Cebuano. Much like the inspiration behind its name, Atua Midtown is built to serve as an accessible and inclusive place, where people from different walks of life can bask in the beauty of art.

“The creative community heavily relies on pop-ups and bazaars and that usually happens once a week in a good month. The intention of the founder is to have a brick-and-mortar space for all creatives,” Donald Villamero, the community manager of Atua Midtown, told Rappler. 

For the people of Atua Midtown, it’s not just a venue to view art — it’s “a reimagined playground” for visual artists, storytellers, musicians, and makers to show and explore their craft. 

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A place of our own

Since its opening in September 2024, the art hub has been home to some of Cebu’s seasoned and budding artists. The lineup features art supplies by Art Caravan, art souvenirs by Siyam, micro shading by Aubrey, and leather crafts by Quick Brown Fox, to name a few.

The hub also features Happy Garaje, a design studio run by a husband-and-wife duo celebrated for their unique wooden sculptures. Studio Amping, a tattoo shop noted for its intricate and charming tattoos, Luna Gazette cafe, and Owl Bookshop and Bar can also be found at Atua Midtown. 

“There will be lots of things offered for different creatives in different fields,” Villamero said.

Atua Midtown regularly hosts events, including live painting competitions, cake decorating workshops, pop-up markets, and art exhibitions at Galerie Inatu, Atua Midtown’s in-house gallery.

“We’ve heard of other initiatives from other places. They’ve always had a place for their creatives which we don’t really have in Cebu. We still feel there’s a need for more of those places. That’s how we came up with the idea,” Mariz Rallos, one of the visionaries behind Atua Midtown, told Rappler.

Through Atua Midtown, Rallos believes that they can prove that artists can continue to produce their works and earn from them as well.

“A visit to Atua is not just about experiencing the food and looking at the merchandise, but it’s really learning. You have to engage with the creatives who are here,” Rallos said. – Rappler.com

Princess Elna Fernandez is a Rappler intern from the Cebu Normal University in Cebu City.