Domestic and International Experts Discuss the Role of Arts Education Amid Social Crises

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 17th that it will hold the ‘2021 World Culture and Arts Education Week’ online from the 24th to the 30th in cooperation with the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought greater attention to the value and role of culture and arts education, this year’s World Culture and Arts Education Week will be held under the theme ‘The Role of Participatory Arts Education in Social Crisis.’ The main programs include ▲ the ‘UNESCO UNITWIN’ international academic conference ▲ artist and citizen participatory programs ▲ seminars by related academic societies in culture and arts education ▲ and weekly events by regional culture and arts education support centers.

The opening ceremony will be broadcast live from 1 p.m. on the 24th through the official website and the Service’s YouTube channel. Contemporary dancer Cha Jin-yeop will present ‘The Circulating Body: Round 1’ as the opening performance, and three keynote speakers?Ben Twist, Peter Sellers, and Yojo?will convey the social role of culture and arts.

In particular, this year’s event is linked with the ‘UNESCO UNITWIN’ international academic conference held from the 24th to the 26th. Cultural and arts education scholars from 13 countries including Germany, Kenya, Australia, and Singapore will participate to discuss ‘Arts Education in Action in Times of Crisis.’

Participatory programs where artists and citizens share the value of culture and arts education will also be available. Artists from various fields such as electronic music, dance, visual arts, and media arts will explore interactions between people, animals and plants, the environment, and objects in their own ways, while collaboratively creating works online with citizens.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official stated, “We hope that this event, where domestic and international culture and arts educators gather to share their wisdom and experiences, will help rediscover the increasingly important role and value of culture and arts education amid the changes brought by COVID-19.”

More detailed information about this week’s events can be found on the official website of the ‘2021 World Culture and Arts Education Week.’