Integrated Regular Venue Rental Application for Three Seoul Culture and Arts Education Centers

Applications Accepted Until February 10

The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture announced on January 26 that it will be accepting applications for the first regular integrated venue rental for its three Seoul Culture and Arts Education Centers-Gangbuk, Seocho, and Eunpyeong-until February 10. The initiative aims to provide citizens with unique artistic experiences in their daily lives.

Last year, the three Arts Education Centers operated pilot venue rentals to improve overall space management. During the pilot period, a total of 194 programs were held, with 3,256 artists participating.

Through this integrated rental, the foundation will accept applications for a total of 35 spaces across the centers, including professional performance halls, studios, rehearsal rooms, and classrooms, each specializing in different genres. The rental fees are set lower than those of similar private and public facilities, making the spaces accessible and affordable for both citizens and artists.

The Gangbuk Center of the Seoul Culture and Arts Education Center (Gangbuk Center) is a hub for theater and traditional arts, equipped with eight customized spaces such as multipurpose studios, rehearsal rooms, creative rooms, and classrooms. Through this regular rental application, the center offers spaces where the entire process of artistic activities-from education and development to rehearsal, creation, and presentation-can be seamlessly carried out.

The multipurpose studio 'Yesuldangsolsaem' is a signature space at Gangbuk Center, where theater and traditional arts groups such as Yangson Project, Hatangse, and Ipwasohn Studio have performed. The studio, measuring approximately 258 square meters, is equipped with stage lighting and sound facilities, and the stage and audience seating can be configured freely. Both the front and side of the studio can be used for beam projector presentations, allowing for flexible use according to the user's needs. In addition to performances, the space can also be used for workshops and lectures.

Seoul Culture and Arts Education Center Gangbuk 'Yesuldangsolsaem'
[Photo by Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture]

Seoul Culture and Arts Education Center Gangbuk 'Yesuljium'
Photo by Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture

The rehearsal rooms 'Yesuljium' and 'Movement Creative Rooms' (two rooms) are equipped with full-length mirrors and wooden or linoleum floors, making them suitable for physical activities. The 'Sound Creative Rooms' (two rooms) are finished with soundproof walls, allowing for focused music practice or sound work. Additionally, the 'Classrooms' (two rooms) can be used for small-scale lectures or seminars.

Starting with this regular rental, the Gangbuk Center will operate regular venue rentals twice a year (in the first and second half), and will also accept ad-hoc rental applications for remaining dates on a quarterly basis after the regular rental selection.

The Seocho Center of the Seoul Culture and Arts Education Center (Seocho Center) provides spaces for professional artists (groups) in basic music genres and for citizens who need rehearsal or community spaces related to music.

Various spaces are available for musical activities, including the professional performance hall 'Seoul Chamber Hall,' multi-studio, masterclass room, workshop rooms, ensemble rooms, and rehearsal rooms. Depending on the operating policy for each space, rental types are classified into four categories: Regular Rental ① (annual application) for the Seoul Chamber Hall, which is dedicated to classical music; Regular Rental ② (quarterly application) for the multi-studio, masterclass room, and workshop rooms; Regular Rental ③ (monthly application) for ensemble and rehearsal rooms; and ad-hoc/planned rentals for other cases. Regular Rental ① and ② applications can be submitted through the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture’s integrated rental system to ensure fairness through a review process, while Regular Rental ③ is available for real-time booking via Naver Reservation.

Seoul Culture and Arts Education Center Seocho 'Seoul Chamber Hall'
[Photo by Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture]

Seoul Culture and Arts Education Center Seocho 'Masterclass Room' [Photo by Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture]

Seoul Chamber Hall is a medium-sized performance venue optimized for chamber music, with acoustics designed for such performances and a maximum capacity of 241 seats. Thanks to its variable seating structure, the hall can be used for a range of musical activities, from chamber music to orchestra-scale rehearsals. Notably, the hall is equipped with a 'Steinway Spirio B-211' grand piano, which faithfully conveys the performer’s subtle expressions to the audience, creating an optimal environment for immersive musical experiences. Renowned artists and ensembles such as pianists Son Minsoo and Son Yeol-eum, violinists Kang Dong-suk and Park Suye, and the Korean Chamber Orchestra have performed here.

The multi-studio, a multipurpose space, is equipped with lighting, sound, and soundproofing facilities, making it suitable for large-scale music rehearsals, forums, seminars, and arts education programs. The masterclass room is designed for public lessons by distinguished performers and small concerts, and is equipped with a 'Kawai GX-6' grand piano and acoustics optimized for acoustic instruments. The four workshop rooms are classroom-style spaces of various sizes, suitable for running educational programs, research and development, and activities for exchange and collaboration.

The four ensemble rooms and thirteen rehearsal rooms can accommodate individual performers or groups of up to 40 people. All 17 rooms are equipped with Kawai upright pianos. These spaces fall under Regular Rental ③ (monthly application) and can be booked monthly via Naver Reservation. For user convenience, real-time reservations are possible up to two hours before the intended use.

The Eunpyeong Center of the Seoul Culture and Arts Education Center (Eunpyeong Center) is a cultural space equipped with a dance-only performance hall and professional dance studios. It operates based on the 'Dance House' model, where comprehensive dance-related activities such as performances, creation, education, and communication take place. Through this regular rental application, three spaces-the 'Seoul Dance Creation Center' performance hall and 'Dance Studio 1 and 2'-will be available for rental.

The black box performance hall 'Seoul Dance Creation Center,' which hosted outstanding dance companies such as Ahn Eun-me Company and the National Contemporary Dance Company during last year’s opening festival, is a dedicated dance venue specialized for various genres including Korean dance, ballet, and contemporary dance. The upper stage is equipped with a 'tension wire grid system,' allowing for flexible stage configurations such as proscenium, arena, two-way, and runway formats. The venue features a ceiling height of 9 meters, providing a sense of spaciousness that enhances immersion in performances. The stage floor is made of highly elastic beech wood to ensure dancer safety, and the hall seats up to 256 people.

The multipurpose 'Dance Studio' is also equipped with a dance floor, full-length mirrors, barres, and mats, providing the necessary facilities for dance. This allows for a variety of programs, including performance rehearsals, workshops, and arts education.

Seoul Culture and Arts Education Center Eunpyeong 'Dance Studio' [Photo by Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture]

The Eunpyeong Center plans to collaborate with selected groups to organize various programs such as arts education linked to performances, workshops, and artist-audience dialogues, enabling citizens to experience dance more closely. In addition, the center will provide free access to the essential dance floor for artists (groups) renting the Seoul Dance Creation Center. An information session about the rental spaces and overall operations will be held at the Eunpyeong Center at 2:00 p.m. on January 29, including a tour of the spaces.

Following last year’s integration of three theaters in Daehak-ro, the foundation plans to unify the rental procedures for all its facilities into a single system through this integrated rental for the three Arts Education Centers. This will streamline previously separate processes, enhance user convenience, and allow for a broader selection of spaces suited to various genres and work types. Furthermore, the Gangbuk, Seocho, and Eunpyeong Arts Education Centers will provide citizens with opportunities for everyday artistic experiences and offer artists a stable creative environment, expanding beyond simple educational spaces into artistic platforms where creation, education, and enjoyment form a virtuous cycle. The foundation also plans to link these centers with its flagship arts education brand 'Seoul Citizens Arts School,' as well as other projects such as 'Seoul Connect Stage' and 'Masterpiece Talk.'

Song Hyungjong, President of the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, stated, "Seoul is a city where each district has its own unique artistic character. Through this regular venue rental, artists and the foundation will pursue new collaborations centered around the Arts Education Centers, specializing in theater and traditional arts in the northeast, classical music in the southeast, and dance in the northwest, thereby showcasing Seoul’s cultural diversity as an attractive city."

Applications for the regular integrated venue rental can be submitted through the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture’s integrated rental system. The results of the application review will be announced on the foundation’s website in February after individual reviews by each center.

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