Mapo-gu Seeks Artworks to Participate in Red Road Festival
District to Recruit Participants for ‘Co-Creating Street Culture’ Event to be Held Next Month until the 26th
Various Paintings, Antiques, Crafts, Sculptures, etc.… Selected Works Can Be Exhibited on the Streets of Hongdae Eoulmadang-ro
Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) is recruiting individuals and groups to participate in the street exhibition program ‘Co-Creating Street Culture,’ one of the festival programs for the upcoming Red Road Festival to be held next month.
The district is developing the Red Road to prevent safety accidents caused by crowd congestion while enhancing the brand value as a tourist city. The approximately 2 km section from Gyeongui Line Forest Trail to Hongdae and Danginri Power Plant is being transformed into a representative themed street of the Hongdae area.
Once the Red Road development is completed, the district plans to hold the Red Road Festival over two days on May 13 and 14.
A district official explained, “The Red Road Festival is designed as a cultural event to announce the birth of a new landmark in Seoul and introduce its representative character. We planned the street exhibition program ‘Co-Creating Street Culture’ so that activists from various artistic fields can directly participate.”
‘Co-Creating Street Culture’ will be held for five days from May 11 to 15.
Various artworks by participants will be exhibited around Hongdae Eoulmadang-ro, and the district is recruiting individuals or groups to join by the 26th.
Participants (groups) may also sell their works during the event period.
The recruitment fields include various paintings such as old calligraphy and paintings, Oriental and Western paintings, calligraphy, antiques, ceramics, bonsai, traditional crafts, sculptures, etc., and applications for related experience programs are also accepted.
Individuals or groups wishing to participate can download the application form from the Mapo-gu website (Notice section) and submit it via email. For more details, contact the Mapo-gu Tourism Policy Division.
Meanwhile, the district will select two teams per category through document screening on the 27th, and the final results will be individually notified on the 28th.
Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “The Red Road is a unique street in Mapo where culture, tourism, safety, and nature harmonize. Once completed, it will become a new landmark in Seoul and an attractive tourist destination for foreigners. We ask for active participation and interest in the Red Road Festival and the Co-Creating Street Culture program, which officially marks the beginning of the Red Road.”
Geumcheon-gu to Host ‘2023 Geumcheon Harmony Festival’
May 13?14, Geumcheon-gu’s Representative Festival Held at District Office and Anyangcheon Area
Various Street Art Performances from Mask Dance to Circus and Numerous Citizen-Centered Programs
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) will hold the representative festival ‘2023 Geumcheon Harmony Festival’ from May 13 to 14 in front of Geumcheon-gu Office and the Anyangcheon area. The opening ceremony will take place at 7:30 PM on May 13 at the central stage in front of the district office.
After the pandemic, the ‘Geumcheon Harmony Festival’ resumed last year with enthusiastic participation of about 10,000 people. It expanded the role of residents as the main protagonists of the festival and operated an environment-centered ESG project, earning praise as a festival where residents and nature harmonize.
This year’s festival theme is ‘Spring Again, Spring Spring,’ and various cultural programs to fully enjoy spring will bloom.
Main programs include ▲‘Geumcheon, Flowers, Light,’ an exhibition of hanji lanterns (Korean paper lanterns) beautifully visible even at night ▲‘Harmony Theater,’ showcasing various street arts from circus to mask dance ▲‘Harmony Playground,’ an experience zone prepared by the citizen planning group ▲‘Harmony Shoulder-to-Shoulder,’ an art program with local artists ▲‘Harmony Picnic,’ featuring food and markets all in one place.
From Mask Dance to Circus... Enjoy Street Performances this ‘Spring’
The plaza in front of the district office transforms into a joyful space of delightful escapism with various street artists. At ‘Harmony Theater - Street Art Performances (May 13?14, 2 PM?6 PM),’ performances by ‘Marine Boy,’ who combines circus, juggling, and wit, and ‘Polloseum,’ showcasing pole (pole) acrobatics, will be held. Additionally, a ‘Circus Playground’ where the whole family can learn circus skills will be open, allowing a multi-dimensional festival experience.
A mask dance event will also take place. At ‘Harmony Theater - Geumcheon Mask Dance (May 13, 3:30 PM?5 PM),’ the mask dance troupe Cheonhajeil Tal Workshop and Geumcheon residents will come together for a lively play. During the performance, sign language interpretation, captioning, audio description, and one-on-one whispering interpretation will be provided to create a barrier-free festival that everyone can enjoy and dance to.
From Trot to Gugak, Musical, and Choir, Everyone Plays Together this ‘Spring’
The harmony created by residents and local artists continues this year. The official event ‘Harmony Again Spring, Spring Spring (May 13, 7:30 PM?10 PM)’ held on the central stage in front of the district office will begin with lighting the work of hanji lantern artist In Song-ja, followed by a series of stages starring local residents.
The National Traditional Arts High School, a prestigious school for gugak (traditional Korean music), will perform Daechwita, along with a Les Mis?rables musical gala show, Geumcheon Women’s Choir, Geumcheon Senior Choir, G Harmony Choir composed of G-Valley CEOs, an international youth choir with immigrants, and Mulbit Sound Choir centered on visually impaired members, blending diverse resident harmonies.
Special performances include stages by singer Hyun-sook, Kim Hee-jae, and rock band Crying Nut. The national singer Hyun-sook, who appeared on the nationwide singing contest Geumcheon edition and received enthusiastic support from residents, singer Kim Hee-jae, widely supported by the public through ‘Tomorrow’s Mr. Trot,’ and the energetic Crying Nut band will all perform in one place.
Together with Nature and Community, We All Gather this ‘Spring’
As part of the ESG festival, nature-friendly programs for spring lovers will be operated. Along the Anyangcheon area, a walking contest ‘Spring Together, Walk and Spring (May 13, 8 AM?11 AM)’ will be held to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery by walking along the riverbank. At the plaza in front of Geumcheon-gu Office, a ‘Plant Market (May 13?14, 11 AM?6 PM)’ will be held in cooperation with the social economy enterprise Dandelion Walker Cooperative.
Events with local art groups will also be held simultaneously in various locations. At Mancheonmyeongwol Artist House, programs with the Calligraphy Association and Riverside Orchestra will take place, while along Anyangcheon, a poetry and painting exhibition prepared by the Geumcheon Writers Association and a sketch contest hosted by the Geumcheon Art Association will be held.
To ensure smooth event progress and participant safety, Geumcheon-gu will close roads around the district office from 11 PM on the 12th until 11 PM on the 14th, the last day of the festival, and make thorough preparations for safety management.
Yoo Sung-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “Thanks to the support for last year’s Geumcheon Harmony Festival, we have prepared programs where residents are the main protagonists again this year. I hope all participants fully enjoy spring at the same time and space and recharge with the festival’s energy.”
Seocho Hanuri Orchestra Composed of Developmentally Disabled Musicians to Hold Regular Concert at Seoul Arts Center on the Evening of the 20th
Diverse Repertoire from Classical to Art Songs and Simultaneous Display of Paintings by Disabled Artists
Hosted by Announcer Hwang Su-kyung with Collaboration by Korea’s Top Baritone Professor Ko Sung-hyun
Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) will hold the 2nd regular concert ‘Colorful Concert: The Color of Sound’ by the Seocho Hanuri Orchestra, composed of developmentally disabled musicians, at the IBK Chamber Hall of Seoul Arts Center on the 20th in observance of Disability Day.
Founded in 2017, the Seocho Hanuri Orchestra is a professional orchestra under Seocho-gu that has conducted over 100 performances of various sizes. Notably, it has been recognized for its outstanding skills by winning the Best Award and Instructor Award in the Western Instrument category at the 10th National Disabled Youth Arts Festival in 2017 and the Grand Prize at the 2nd National Developmentally Disabled Music Festival in 2018.
This regular concert, conducted by Music Director Jeon So-young, will feature a diverse repertoire ranging from classical music starting with Supp?’s ‘Light Cavalry Overture’ to film music and art songs.
Announcer Hwang Su-kyung will host the event, and a collaborative performance with Korea’s top baritone Professor Ko Sung-hyun will also be held. Simultaneously, paintings by disabled artists will be displayed, creating an enjoyable concert that captivates both the eyes and ears of the audience.
Percussionist Lee Ki-hoon, who has been active as a member since the orchestra’s founding, is nurturing his dreams through the Hanuri Orchestra’s performances. His mother, Kim Mi-soon, shared, “Since Ki-hoon became a salaried artist, his sense of responsibility has grown, and he has worked hard to improve his skills. Especially, he proudly wears his employee ID every day.”
The district is making various efforts with the Hanuri Information and Culture Center to provide employment opportunities and support independence for people with disabilities. It operates 12 ‘Neulbom Cafes’ where people with disabilities work as baristas and two ‘GS Neulbom Stores,’ the nation’s first disability vocational training convenience stores.
Seocho-gu Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, “I hope this concert becomes an emotional occasion where everyone can enjoy the beautiful harmony of the members who have achieved remarkable growth. We will continue to implement various policies to help people with disabilities realize their career aspirations and achieve economic independence.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
