Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop: "Expanding Opportunities for Emerging Artists... Supporting Revitalization of the Arts Sector"

On the First Day of the Special Culture and Arts Week, Visit to the Korea Federation of Arts and Culture Organizations Gwangju Metropolitan City Federation

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, listened to difficulties on site and took measures to support the struggling cultural and artistic community, which has been stagnant due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Lee designated the period from the 22nd to the 26th as the "Special Week for Culture and Arts," the second week of the "COVID-19 Overcoming Special Week," and as his first step, visited the Gwangju Metropolitan City Federation of the Korea Federation of Artistic and Cultural Organizations (Korea Yesong) on that day.

The Korea Yesong Gwangju Metropolitan City Federation, founded in 1987, is a federation of 10 cultural and artistic organizations including literature, theater, dance, gugak (traditional Korean music), fine arts, film, entertainment, architecture, music, and photography, with about 20,000 local artists as members.

On this day, Mayor Lee visited the Gwangju Yesong Hall and held a meeting with Chairman Im Won-sik of Gwangju Yesong and the heads of the 10 associations to listen to the difficulties faced by the cultural and artistic community severely impacted by COVID-19 and to discuss countermeasures.

At the meeting, the association heads proposed ▲ improvement of integrated cultural and artistic public contests ▲ building traditional walls in the Art Street and creating a safe walking environment ▲ expanding opportunities for industry-academia cooperation in the cultural and artistic sectors ▲ establishing linkage plans with the National Asia Culture Center ▲ operating the "Gwangju Family Film Festival," among other suggestions.

Mayor Lee said, "Despite the sudden hardships faced by numerous artists and art organizations due to COVID-19, they have overcome these challenges and are leading their organizations excellently. We will ensure that no organizations fall into blind spots in the upcoming fourth round of government support funds, and we will prepare measures for additional support for those excluded from assistance."

He continued, "We will continue to take active interest and provide unwavering support so that new artists can be newly appointed through contests and secure competitiveness, thereby enhancing Gwangju's status."

Meanwhile, Mayor Lee plans to hold a meeting with filmmakers and video professionals on the 23rd, visit the Yangnim-dong craft specialty street and watch a gugak regular performance with local artists on the 24th, hold a full meeting of the Culture and Arts Future Committee on the 25th, and on the 26th, visit the National Asia Culture Center, hold meetings with the Gwangju Cultural Foundation, representatives of organizations affiliated with the Gwangju Federation of National Artists, and visit art galleries around Mudeungsan Mountain.

Gwangju City will reflect the opinions proposed on site in cultural and artistic policies depending on the issues and actively seek solutions by making recommendations to the National Assembly and government.

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