926 Emerging Artists Participate, Two-Year Consecutive Support Starting This Year
'Collector Entry Platform' Purchasing Artworks Under 3 Million KRW
1.34 Million Cumulative Visitors and 12,000 Participating Artists Over 10 Years
The '2024 Jakga Art Market,' featuring 926 artists from eight major cities nationwide, began in June and successfully concluded last September.
Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Yoo In-chon) and organized by the Arts Management Support Center (CEO Kim Jang-ho), the '2024 Jakga Art Market' is an art fair selling mid- to low-priced artworks under 3 million KRW in major cities across the country. Marking its 10th year, the event directly connects artists with consumers.
This year, 926 artists (teams) participated, and approximately 48,000 visitors attended, according to officials from the Arts Management Support Center. Over the past 10 years, the cumulative number of visitors has reached 1.34 million, with about 12,000 participating artists.
The Jakga Art Market has selected participating institutions annually through open calls, but starting this year, the selection method changed to a two-year consecutive support system. The eight markets held this year will continue their projects stably for another year in 2025.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this year's market attracted more attention by being held at special venues. Notable examples include ▲ 'ASIAF,' which transformed the old National Theater Baek Seong-hee Jang Min-ho Theater in Seogye-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, into an art fair site ▲ 'Gotaek Art Fair,' where contemporary artworks were exhibited in the traditional Muju Hyanggyo old house ▲ 'bac: Sokcho Art Fair,' which revitalized the Chilseong Shipyard, closed in 2017, into an artistic space ▲ and 'ONE PICK MARKET,' held at the Jochiwon Cultural Garden in Sejong, all of which were loved by audiences.
Artist Art Market 'ONE PICK MARKET' held at Sejong Jochiwon Cultural Garden [Photo by Arts Management Support Center]
'Musosok Company,' which has participated in the Jakga Art Market for eight consecutive years since 2017, is a group that has carried the art fair brand bac (becoming a collector) through Yeonhui-dong (2017?2019), Suncheon (2020), Buyeo (2021), and now Sokcho Art Fair (2022?2024).
A representative from Musosok Company explained, "bac has grown alongside the Jakga Art Market from the start. Through our first three years in Yeonhui-dong and experiences in Suncheon and Buyeo, we realized that sustaining an art fair requires at least three years of continuous effort. Following this, we signed a three-year MOU with Sokcho City. Thanks to the two-year consecutive support this year, we have been able to collaborate steadily with local governments, various institutions, and artists early on to prepare for next year's market."
Markets with unique concepts and attempts also emerged. 'PRPT,' inspired by the culture of transactions and storage within bank spaces, enhanced visitor participation and enjoyment. 'Drawing Growing,' held at Ieum Gallery, aimed to transform into a barrier-free art fair. 'Market AP Season 5: Collector Salon' and 'Art Plus X,' which allowed experiencing artworks in commercial spaces such as department stores and shopping malls, significantly expanded the consumer base.
A representative from Print Art Research, which organized Market AP, said, "Usually, art fairs attract visitors with a clear purpose, but holding the market in a department store exposed it to a broad, unspecified audience, which was excellent for promotion. This year, we were able to plan better for next year's market right after the event, and we look forward to it."
Kim Jang-ho, CEO of the Arts Management Support Center, which oversees the Jakga Art Market, stated, "Over the past 10 years, the Jakga Art Market has become a 'collector entry platform' where emerging artists' works can be found at reasonable prices. We will continue to provide institutional support so that the Jakga Art Market can grow into a better art fair."
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