The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service, is hosting a policy seminar and an international forum from May 22 to 23 at NEMO, a complex cultural space in Seoul’s Blue Square.
This event commemorates the ‘2025 World Arts and Culture Education Week (May 22-28)’ and marks the 20th anniversary of the cultural and arts education policy. It aims to evaluate the policy’s achievements and discuss future directions.
The policy seminar on May 22 will feature four presentations and a comprehensive discussion under the theme ‘A New Paradigm for Arts and Culture Education that Creates the Future.’ Kim Hye-in, a research fellow at the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, will present the second comprehensive plan for arts and culture education and the directions in response to social changes. Koo Moon-mo, a member of the Korea Arts Council, will propose a cooperation model between the public and private sectors, and Lee Mi-yeon, a member of the Presidential Committee on Region-based Strategies, will explain regional-based strategies. Kim Ja-hyun, director of the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service, will introduce the direction of professional personnel and content.
The comprehensive discussion, chaired by Professor Kim Se-hoon of Sookmyung Women’s University, will include the presenters and Kim Kyung-hwan, the director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to discuss policy directions.
On the following day, May 23, an international forum will be held under the theme ‘Innovation in Art Experiences and Cultural Spaces for Future Generations of Children and Families.’ Professor Kim Bung-nyeon from Seoul National University will discuss the impact of arts and culture on children’s mental health and brain development. Following this, four institutions will introduce examples from their respective countries: La Villette of France, the Victoria and Albert Museum for Children of the UK, the Finnish Children’s Cultural Association, and the UK’s Assemble.
The forum will conclude with a discussion hosted by Professor Cho Kyeong-jin of Seoul National University, and will be streamed online simultaneously.
To commemorate World Arts and Culture Education Week, orchestra performances, art therapy events, and regional experience programs will be held across the nation. Related information can be found on the official website of the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service, as well as on their social media platforms and event website.
Lee Jung-woo, the Director of Cultural Arts Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, “In an era where much of our leisure time is consumed by short videos and fragmented culture, arts and culture education enhances the quality of life and has a positive impact on society. We will continue to find and promote various policy projects.”