How to Quench Cultural Thirst Amid COVID-19?

Nowon Cultural Foundation Established 'New Normal New Business TF Team' in December Last Year, Developing Safe Cultural Arts Programs Enjoyable Regardless of COVID-19... Wish Project, Visiting Textbook Art Travel, 1:1 Master Class, etc.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) has actively embarked on developing new cultural and artistic programs for residents who are experiencing cultural deprivation due to COVID-19.

The cultural and artistic sector was one of the fields severely impacted by COVID-19 last year. Numerous local cultural projects, including various events, were canceled or scaled down, inevitably shrinking residents' cultural activities.

In response, the Nowon Cultural Foundation established the 'COVID-19 Response New Normal New Business TF Team' in December last year, the first among the 22 district cultural foundations in Seoul, and began planning new programs.

As a result, five safe cultural and artistic programs that residents can participate in and enjoy regardless of the COVID-19 situation were developed and have been implemented in earnest since February.

First, at the end of February, artists from various fields will create healing cultural and artistic programs tailored to residents' wishes and bring them directly through the program “Amazing Nowon Art Lamp ? Tell Me Your Four Wishes!”. Magicians, pianists, photographers, traditional Korean musicians, and high school rappers will visit 100 hopeful resident teams to provide diverse artistic programs, targeting a total of 3,000 residents.

The 30-day music appreciation program “Culture Challenge 100 ? Viva Verdi” will begin on March 15. To commemorate the 120th anniversary of the death of the world-renowned opera master Giuseppe Verdi, participants will enjoy and experience Verdi’s masterpieces with Korea’s representative vocalists: soprano Professor Oh Mi-seon (Sungshin Women’s University, Vocal Department) and baritone Professor Kim Jin-chu (Chugye University for the Arts, Vocal Department). This program is open to all age groups, from children to seniors. Missions will be provided via SNS and Kakao, and residents who participate consistently will receive special commemorative gifts.

Programs for children and adolescents will also be operated. “Visiting Textbook Art Trip ? Music Lunchbox” is a small-scale classical concert for elementary and middle school students who cannot gather in performance halls due to COVID-19. This concert, which can be enjoyed with friends in each classroom, is scheduled to visit five elementary and middle schools in the area starting from the new semester in March.

Additionally, a special opportunity to receive a “1:1 Master Class” from Korea’s leading artists will be provided. Starting in March, a total of seven sessions will be held, where famous artists in genres such as classical music, musicals, and dance will conduct one-on-one classes for Nowon residents, broadcast live online. Real-time chat and interviews will also be conducted, adding educational value, fun, and communication enjoyment.

Moreover, during the recent Lunar New Year holiday, the “Seollal Wasso Cultural Healing” program delivered healing folk game art kits to 500 households in the area. An event is ongoing where 100 households that send certification photos of folk games after receiving the kits will receive special prizes. This program received great enthusiasm from residents, with applications completed within three hours of opening.

For details on the new programs, please refer to the Nowon Cultural Foundation website or contact the Foundation’s Festival Business Department.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “I hope these newly attempted cultural and artistic programs will help relieve the cultural deprivation of our residents.”