Open Call for Preliminary Hub Institutions for the 'Dream Arts Troupe' for Local Children and Youth

Recruiting Around 35 Organizations
Applications Accepted Until June 10

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service are publicly recruiting preliminary hub institutions for the 'Dream Arts Troupe,' a flagship arts and culture education program for local children and youth. Around 35 organizations will be selected across four genres: orchestra, dance troupe, theater troupe, and studio. The application deadline is June 10, 2026.

The Dream Arts Troupe is a policy initiative for arts and culture education targeting children and youth, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service. Its purpose is to help local children and youth grow together within an artistic community and develop the power to dream about life through the arts.

Since the launch of the 'Dream Orchestra' in 2010, the program has expanded its genres by introducing the 'Dream Dance Troupe' in 2022, the 'Dream Theater Troupe' in 2024, and, this year, the addition of the 'Dream Studio.' Through 5 to 6 years of government funding, any local child or youth can participate as a member, enhancing their arts and culture capabilities close to home. The goal is for these groups to grow into self-sustaining local arts troupes, broadening opportunities for cultural enjoyment within the community.

This open call is the initial process of recruiting and selecting preliminary hub institutions to expand new support bases for the Dream Arts Troupe project. Public institutions and corporations or organizations such as cultural foundations or cultural infrastructure facilities that can establish mid-to-long-term goals and visions to operate the Dream Arts Troupe program in their regions are eligible to apply. Any institution with suitable facilities and spaces for genre-specific education and capable of building cooperative systems with local governments and within the region may apply.

Selected preliminary hub institutions will receive up to KRW 16 million in financial support and tailored expert consulting. From July to December 2026, over approximately five months, these institutions will select artistic directors, establish mid-to-long-term operational plans, and run pilot programs for local children and youth. Subsequently, based on the results of these activities, a transition review will be conducted to determine whether they will be selected as new support hubs in 2027.

Applications for the open call can be submitted online through e-Naradoum starting May 12, 2026. On May 14 and 20, briefings will be held in Changwon, Gyeongnam, and Seoul, respectively, targeting local government officials whose municipalities have not previously participated in the Dream Arts Troupe project. Additionally, at 2 p.m. on May 27, an online briefing will be held for all institutions and organizations interested in participating in the open call. Detailed information about the open call and how to register for the briefings can be found on the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service website.

A representative from the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service stated, "We are expanding the program so that access to arts and culture education does not depend on the region and that diverse arts education is available close to daily life. We hope that more regions and institutions will join the Dream Arts Troupe to help create nurturing spaces for children's growth together."