Buan County Hosts 1st Buan Sanggam Ceramic Art Contest for University Students

Document Submission from July 1 to 4
Total Prize Money of 50 Million Won

Buan County in North Jeolla Province is hosting the 1st Buan Sanggam Ceramic Art University Student Contest, the first of its kind in the nation, specifically targeting university students.

According to the county on the 12th, the purpose of this contest is to carry on the tradition of Sanggam ceramic culture in Buan, renowned as the hub of high-quality Goryeo Sanggam Celadon, and to discover practical ceramic works that reflect the creativity of young (university student) artists.

Poster for the 1st Buan Sanggam Ceramic Works University Student Contest. Provided by Buan County

The contest is open to all university students nationwide who are interested in ceramics. Participants are required to submit works that reinterpret the beauty and excellence of Sanggam Celadon in a contemporary way.

Document submissions will be accepted from July 1 to 4, and only those works that pass the first round of document screening will proceed to the second round of physical evaluation. The submitted works will be reviewed by experts, and outstanding pieces will be selected. Winners will receive certificates and prize money, and their works will be showcased to the public through a special exhibition at the Buan Celadon Museum. This contest is particularly noteworthy as it is the first ceramic art competition in the country exclusively for university students.

This event is expected to serve as a meaningful opportunity for the modern succession and development of traditional ceramic art, shedding new light on the beauty of Buan Goryeo Sanggam Celadon.

Furthermore, the works and talent discovered through the contest are anticipated to play a key role in shaping the future direction of Buan Celadon. By encouraging the active participation of young ceramic artists, the contest aims to ensure the sustainability of the celadon industry and help Buan establish itself as the leading center of celadon culture in Korea.

Buan was a major production site for Sanggam Celadon during the Goryeo Dynasty, with over 100 kiln sites located in the Yucheon-ri and Jinseo-ri areas. With this historical background, the Buan Celadon Museum has been carrying out various activities to preserve and develop celadon culture.

In particular, programs such as the ‘Cheongjajigi’ cultural initiative, which encourages voluntary participation from residents, and the ‘2024 Buan Craft Week’ event organized by the Buan Cultural Foundation for both locals and tourists, have raised awareness of Goryeo Celadon and promoted public interest and participation.

An official from the Buan Celadon Museum stated, “This contest will be an important opportunity to modernize the traditional Sanggam technique derived from Goryeo Celadon and to discover practical works showcasing the fresh ideas of university students. We look forward to the enthusiastic participation of many students.”

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