The Entire Myeongpa Village in Northernmost Goseong-gun Becomes an Art Stage

'Artcation Festa' Held from 27th to 29th
Abandoned Warehouse Becomes Performance Venue, Village Transforms into Creative Art Exhibition...
Original Play 'Myeongpahwansanggok', Invited Band Performances Also Featured

Goseong County, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Ham Myeong-jun) announced on the 23rd that the Goseong Cultural Foundation will hold the ‘Artcation Festa’ from the 27th to the 29th.

This festival is part of the ‘Cultural Regional Revitalization Project Responding to the Risk of Disappearance,’ jointly hosted by the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service and the Goseong Cultural Foundation. The participating artists are 12 young artists who took part in the ‘One Month Living in Myeongpa’ (June?July) and ‘Residency in Myeongpa’ (August?September) programs since June. Additionally, Dalholmun Cooperative, active in Goseong, connected the young artists with Myeongpa Village, and the theater troupe ‘Root’ prepared creative works, fostering collaboration among artists in and around Myeongpa Village.

Promotional poster for the 'Artcation Festa' held from September 27 to 29 in Myeongpa Village, Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, the northernmost village of South Korea.

The genres are diverse as well. Visual arts, music, performance, dance, multidisciplinary arts, and crafts will be showcased through exhibitions and performances throughout Myeongpa Village.

The participating artists lived in village guesthouses and created original works inspired by Goseong’s nature, the daily life of Myeongpa Village, and the stories of village residents. Their works will be exhibited throughout Myeongpa Village?in guesthouses, supermarkets, welfare centers, and more?forming a village gallery concept that visitors can experience by walking around.

The highlight of this festival is the theater troupe Root’s ‘Myeongpa Rhapsody.’ Last year, Root received acclaim for creating a play based on the archiving and production process of Ayajin Village. In this performance, they will produce a creative play set in an abandoned warehouse in Myeongpa Village, featuring stories of the village residents. Local residents will perform directly, and Artcation artists will collaborate to present an even more special stage.

An invited performance is also planned. The ‘Gaehwagi Band,’ which includes bassist ‘Lee Yu,’ who participated in last year’s foundation ‘Art Stay,’ will perform. Gaehwagi Band presents music from the Japanese colonial period, evoking nostalgia for the older generation and allowing the younger generation to feel the passion for artistic freedom during a time of oppression.

A representative from the Goseong Cultural Foundation stated, “This Artcation Festa will be a significant moment for Myeongpa Village to gain new life through the creative works of artists,” adding, “It will demonstrate to local residents the potential of art to transform communities and offer tourists a unique experience where art and local culture harmonize.”