Seoul City Provides a Total of 5 Billion KRW Support to Over 500 Cultural and Arts Performance Groups

Up to 10 Million Won per Group for Performing Arts Revival... Online Applications Open from the 8th

In January, quarantine officials were disinfecting the performance hall at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] On the 8th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will provide up to 10 million KRW in production support funds to over 500 performing arts organizations and agencies to create jobs for performing artists facing closure and unemployment due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The support covers six genres: theater, music, gugak (traditional Korean music), dance, musicals, and children and youth performances. Applications are accepted online until the 17th. Any organization with its main office in Seoul planning indoor or outdoor performances between July and December this year can apply.

At least 50% of the support funds must be spent directly on labor costs for performers and staff. Additionally, selected organizations and agencies will hold outreach performances at venues such as traditional markets and parks, depending on the COVID-19 situation.

According to the '2020 Integrated Performing Arts Network,' the performing arts industry's sales were about 40 billion KRW in January this year but sharply dropped to 3.6 billion KRW by the end of April. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's '2019 Performing Arts Survey' shows that about 90% of private performing artists work as freelancers with unstable employment, and the significant decline in industry sales has caused livelihood difficulties.

Earlier in April, Seoul planned to support about 5 billion KRW for 500 cases of 'cultural artists' creative activities,' but after receiving 5,000 applications, it increased the budget and supported a total of 860 cases with 6.5 billion KRW.

The city is also promoting various supports for the cultural and artistic community struggling due to COVID-19, beyond just artistic activity support. It plans to refund or reduce about 500 million KRW in rental fees for public cultural facilities such as Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and Buk Seoul Dream Forest Art Center, and reduce about 800 million KRW in rent for 37 tenant stores within public cultural facilities, continuing maximum support.

Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, said, "This performing arts industry revival project was prepared to create jobs and resume creative activities for the performing arts industry facing closure and unemployment due to COVID-19." He added, "We will continue extensive support so that the performing arts sector, which has suffered unprecedented damage from COVID-19, can overcome the crisis, resume creative activities, and provide citizens with high-quality performances in the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.