Regional art markets organized by Patrons of the Arts (POTA), including the slated “POTAween Cebu” and “POTAween Davao” events, are facing mounting uncertainty following direct venue inquiries confirming that no bookings exist under the organizer’s name at SMX Convention Center locations for October 2026.
Representatives from SMX Convention Center locations in Cebu and Davao confirmed that no finalized or tentative reservations have been established under “POTAween,” “POTA Win,” or “Patron of the Arts” for the month of October. While other major events such as the Manila International Cards and Collectibles Expo remain officially scheduled across the convention network, POTA has no registered event allocations at either regional venue.
The lack of confirmed space has sparked widespread concern among local creators, coming on the heels of repeated venue allocation disputes and logistical discrepancies that have plagued the organizer’s recent regional tours.
The venue verification follows the abrupt cancellation of “POTA Lust” just 48 hours before its scheduled opening, an unexpected shutdown that left participating artists and vendors grappling with unrecoverable out-of-pocket expenses for custom merchandise, packaging, and travel arrangements.
In an official statement addressed to affected creators, POTA cited organizational disruption and internal management challenges as the primary factors behind the last-minute cancellation. However, despite establishing a dedicated “transparency page” to address community feedback, the organizing group has yet to issue concrete disbursement timelines, verified payout schedules, or definitive processing dates for outstanding table fee refunds.
Independent artists and micro-vendors continue to bear compounded financial losses stemming from unrefunded table fees alongside non-recoupable inventory investments. In response, several affected creators have begun documenting formal transaction claims and consulting consumer protection channels. Multiple exhibitors are pursuing accountability through formal demand letters, police reports, and official inquiries submitted to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Given the absence of verified venue contracts and pending payout resolutions, industry advisories urge artists and potential attendees to withhold non-refundable travel bookings and inventory investments until POTA or venue management issue official confirmation. POTA has yet to release an updated statement clarifying venue statuses or definitive refund timelines for its cancelled events.