Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Integrate Boards of 5 National Arts Organizations and Establish Unified Secretariat

On the 20th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that it plans to integrate the boards of directors of five national arts organizations?the National Opera Company, National Chorus, National Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet Company, and National Contemporary Dance Company?and establish an integrated administrative office within the first half of this year.

The ministry explained that this measure aims to equip administrative capabilities to support the five national organizations, each representing a different genre, in pursuing the highest level of artistic excellence.

Seoul Arts Center [Photo by Seoul Arts Center]

With the establishment of the integrated administrative office, the five national arts organizations will receive support from a management organization possessing expertise and efficiency in administrative tasks such as budgeting, accounting, contracts, and public relations. It is also expected that a practical system for collaboration among these five organizations, which are based at the Seoul Arts Center, will be established. Furthermore, various projects including private sector exchanges and overseas expansion will be developed, enabling the national arts organizations to engage in more progressive artistic activities, the ministry added.

The ministry emphasized that each national arts organization will maintain its individual name and identity, and that the heads and artistic directors of each organization will be able to focus more on their core artistic activities?based on autonomy in areas such as conducting, directing, and choreography?from mid- to long-term season program selection to decisions on individual performance programs, while retaining their current positions.

A policy official from the ministry stated, "Detailed matters related to the integrated administrative office and board organization of the national arts organizations are being finalized through consultations with the national arts organizations."