'Komjirak' Tiny Gestures Take the Stage... Gyeonggi Baby Culture and Arts Festival

Jointly Hosted by Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation and Namyangju Cultural Foundation
Six Domestic and International Infant Programs to Be Presented

A culture and arts festival for infants aged 0 to under 36 months will be held in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

The Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation and Namyangju Cultural Foundation announced on the 11th that they will hold the '2026 Gyeonggi Baby Culture and Arts Festival Ggomjirak, First Art' from the 6th to the 11th of next month throughout the Namyangju area.

The Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation and Namyangju Cultural Foundation announced on May 11 that they will hold the '2026 Gyeonggi Baby Culture and Arts Festival Ggomjirak, First Art' from June 6 to 11 throughout the Namyangju area.

Now in its second year, this festival features performances for babies and their guardians, educational and hands-on programs, an international forum, and artist creative workshops. The Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation and Namyangju Cultural Foundation are co-hosting and organizing the festival to revitalize the infant cultural and arts ecosystem in Gyeonggi Province and improve regional accessibility.

From June 6 to 11, six infant culture and arts programs by domestic and international arts organizations from Korea, Japan, Thailand, and more will be presented. On the opening day, the Socially Engaged Musicians Network will stage a special performance of the "Lullaby Project," which has continued since 2019. This project involves mothers creating songs with professional composers to express their heartfelt wishes to their babies.

Additional programs include "Owl Forest," an infant workshop developed by the Goyang Cultural Foundation and the theater company Namootip Bae; the musical play "Kuwung~Tta Saan~Book!" by the Bucheon Cultural Foundation and Bucheon S Chamber Orchestra; the live puppet musical "Red Berry" by the Yongin Cultural Foundation and the theater company Little Theater; and the "Do Re Mi Baby Concert" by the Namyangju Citizen Orchestra.

The Japanese infant theater group "Bambino! Performing Arts from Age 0" will present "Kao Kome~The Story of Rice that Nurtures Life~" on June 10 at Namyangju Dasan Art Hall. This new piece, co-produced with Thai infant theater director Rada Kondakchi, uses rice—an everyday element for babies—as a motif to explore the themes of life and growth.

Educational and experiential programs are also planned. "Sararak Forest, Chalang Sea" by the Northern Gyeonggi Children's Museum, and "Sweep-sweep, Kong-kong! Meet Me," jointly developed by Suwon Cultural Foundation and KickKickKick Studio, are programs designed to expand infants' sensory experiences using sound, movement, and the texture of objects.

Events for infant culture and arts professionals and artists will also be held. On June 8, an international forum will take place under the theme of creation and expansion in infant culture and arts, and on June 9, a creative workshop for artists focusing on infant theater will be held.

A representative from the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation stated, "The 2026 Gyeonggi Baby Culture and Arts Festival 'Ggomjirak, First Art' marks a meaningful starting point in viewing infants as active participants in cultural enjoyment," adding, "We hope everyone will share in the moments when every small gesture of a baby becomes art."

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