Gwangju Bank Selected as an 'Outstanding Institution for Cultural and Arts Sponsorship'

Gwangju Bank announced on the 10th that it was certified as an Excellent Institution for Cultural and Artistic Sponsorship at the ‘2023 Cultural and Artistic Sponsorship Intermediary Organizations and Excellent Institutions Certification Ceremony’ held at Lotte Tower in Seoul on the 9th.

The ‘Excellent Institution for Cultural and Artistic Sponsorship’ certification system is hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service. It evaluates and certifies organizations and companies that demonstrate outstanding expertise in the field of cultural and artistic sponsorship and have achieved significant sponsorship results.

Gwangju Bank’s achievement, marking its 55th anniversary this year after wisely overcoming the global financial industry crisis and COVID-19, is the result of consistent support and exceptional dedication to the local cultural and artistic sector. It is recognized both internally and externally for its sponsorship achievements through this credible certification system.

Earlier this year, Gwangju Bank expanded and reorganized its dedicated department into the ESG Contribution Department and assigned dedicated management personnel, establishing the necessary organization and workforce for cultural and artistic sponsorship to meet the certification requirements.

The bank also established a donation review system and a mid- to long-term cultural project plan, carrying out systematic and continuous sponsorship projects, which earned high evaluations.

In particular, among numerous independent cultural projects, 15 sponsorship projects have been ongoing for more than three years, with an average sponsorship period of six years, reflecting Gwangju Bank’s steadfastness and sincerity in expanding the base of cultural and artistic activities.

Additionally, over the past three years, the bank has played a solid supporting role in fostering the local cultural and artistic ecosystem by providing sponsorship funds totaling approximately 1.7 billion KRW to 30 local public cultural projects, talent development initiatives, artists, and art organizations.

Moreover, Gwangju Bank operates the only financial museum in the Honam region within its headquarters, providing a venue for financial education and experiences for local children. The ‘Gwangju Bank Art Hall,’ opened in November last year, has established itself as a cultural space in the city center.

The ‘Gwangjuhwaryu,’ held for the seventh time this year, is the largest Korean painting contest nationwide and has received great acclaim as a gateway to discovering emerging artists who will lead the future of Korean painting.

Bank President Ko Byung-il stated, “We will continue to strive to become Gwangju Bank that can communicate with the local community through culture and arts beyond finance.”

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