A Total of 691 Applications, Slight Budget Increase Compared to Last Year
Customized Projects by Sector, Average Support Amount Raised
‘Simsa Chamgwaninje’ and ‘Ombudsman System’ Ensure Fairness
This year, Daegu City received 691 applications for local cultural and artistic projects and plans to select and support a total of 218 projects.
The Daegu Cultural Arts Promotion Agency (Director Kim Jeong-gil) announced the results of the 2023 Local Cultural Arts Support Project evaluation on the agency's website on the 28th of last month.
The total number of selected artists and art organizations this year is 218, with a support budget of 2.974 billion KRW, slightly increased from last year. The agency accepted 691 applications across 25 project units in 7 fields through the online National Culture and Arts Support System from December 12 last year to January 6 this year and conducted evaluations.
Based on various field opinions last year, the agency investigated the limitations of the current system and the status of other regions, and prepared project plans through internal workshops. These plans were reviewed again at roundtable meetings, leading to improvements such as supplementing the project system by field, clarifying eligibility for support applications, and establishing a new Youth Arts Activation Support Project.
Subsequently, a total of 63 judges conducted evaluations over 14 days in February for the projects applied for by artists and organizations.
To ensure fair evaluation, the agency formed and appointed a pool of judges through the 'Judge Candidate Recommendation Committee.' The 'Judge Observer System,' composed of external members, was implemented to prevent unfair evaluations and to monitor the entire evaluation method and process, ensuring transparent and highly reliable assessments.
Officials from the Daegu Cultural Arts Promotion Agency are reviewing applications for the Regional Culture and Arts Support Project.
The representative support project, ‘Masterpiece Workshop Support,’ divided into performing arts and visual arts, provided concentrated support of 200 million KRW to three groups finally selected through the 2022 showcase evaluation, offering creative conditions. In the visual arts field, one group received 80 million KRW to provide opportunities for large-scale exhibitions.
Through the newly established ‘Youth Arts Activation Support Project’ this year, two project-based planning initiatives by young artists were supported. For projects selected as individuals, support funds are paid after withholding tax, and the submission of supporting documents during settlement has been abolished to reduce administrative procedures.
The ‘Resident Performing Arts Group Development Support Project’ decided on a total support fund of 490 million KRW for five groups. The selected groups (performance venues) are Art Avenue Company (Daegu Student Culture Center), CM Korea (Eoul Art Center), Geo Music (Seogu Culture Hall), Changjak Play (Bongsan Culture Hall), and Kairos (Suseong Artpia).
Kim Jeong-gil, Director of the Cultural Arts Promotion Agency, said, “We have made every effort to secure the budget to strengthen the creative safety net for artists who faced difficulties due to COVID-19,” and added, “We hope that Daegu citizens can enjoy high-quality culture and arts through the high-level creative activities of local art organizations and artists.”
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