Jungoe Academic Welfare Foundation Conducts 'Universal Design Creative Space Project'

JW Group's public interest foundation, Jungwoo Academic Welfare Foundation, announced on the 11th that it will carry out the 2023 first half 'JW Universal Design Creative Space Project' for artists with disabilities in collaboration with the Heart-Heart Foundation.

The Korean Disabled Sound Arts Group, selected as the project recipient for the JW Universal Design Creative Space Project in the second half of 2022, with soundproofing facilities, anti-slip flooring materials, and stage platforms installed.
[Photo by Jungoe Academic Welfare Foundation]

Universal design refers to design that improves usage spaces so that facilities or services are not restricted by disabilities, age, gender, and other factors. Examples include the installation of ramps for mobility and braille tactile paving for the visually impaired.

The Jungwoo Academic Welfare Foundation provides donations to the Heart-Heart Foundation to carry out the project. The Heart-Heart Foundation selects creative spaces for artists with disabilities through a public contest and applies universal design. Additionally, it renovates and repairs outdated facilities to improve the creative environment.

The Heart-Heart Foundation plans to select up to three support targets through a public contest by the 28th of this month. In the second half of last year, three places were selected, including the Korea Disabled Sound Arts Troupe, Chungbuk Intellectual Disability Welfare Association, and Seodaegu Daycare Center, where universal design was applied and renovations were made to spaces used by about 80 artists with disabilities.

A representative of the Jungwoo Academic Welfare Foundation stated, "We will continue to support creating an environment where artists with disabilities can freely carry out creative activities."

JW Group holds the 'JW Art Awards,' Korea's first corporate-sponsored art contest for people with disabilities, annually. JW Pharmaceutical and JW Life Science established Saengmyeongnuri, a subsidiary-type standard workplace for people with disabilities, in 2020, the first among domestic pharmaceutical companies, and have employed a total of 18 people with developmental disabilities as regular employees to date.