"Art and culture should not belong to a select few, but to everyone."
The 10th World Cultural Arts Assembly officially opened on May 28 at the Grand Hall of the Arko Arts Theater in Jongno-gu, Seoul. In his opening address, Jung Byungguk, chairman of the Korea Arts and Culture Committee (Arts Council Korea), emphasized that "art and culture are a common language for the future of humanity," and expressed his hope that "the power of integration and creativity inherent in culture and the arts will spread even further."
The World Cultural Arts Assembly is the flagship event of IFACCA, which has 90 member arts and culture organizations from 71 countries around the world. It is a venue where global cultural policy leaders gather to share policy achievements and discuss future visions. The first assembly was held in Canada in 2000, and it has since taken place every two to three years.
Jung Byungguk, chairman of the Korea Arts and Culture Committee, is delivering a greeting at the opening ceremony of the 10th World Cultural Arts Assembly held at the Arko Arts Theater Grand Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 28th. Photo by Korea Arts and Culture Committee
The 10th World Cultural Arts Assembly, being held in Korea for the first time, will run through May 30, featuring 36 sessions with 106 speakers from 65 countries worldwide, exploring ways to address the future of arts and culture together.
Chairman Jung stated, "Those of us gathered here today may differ in nationality, language, tradition, history, and experience, but we are united by the belief that art and culture are a common language for the future of humanity." He added, "I believe IFACCA, which can be called the compass of global cultural policy, is a strong source of support and hope for all of us." He further expressed his hope that IFACCA will continue to grow as a global cultural alliance encompassing the entire world.
Chairman Jung highlighted that King Sejong's creation of Hangeul was driven by the conviction that all people should enjoy and communicate, and emphasized that Korea is a country that has transformed and developed itself through the power of culture over many years. He went on to mention BTS and the film "Parasite" as examples, stressing that "even today, young artists are communicating with the world and creating a culture for everyone."
Chairman Jung acknowledged that there have been difficult chapters in the spread of culture, but stated, "No one has ever been able to stop the power of culture." He expressed his hope that the Seoul IFACCA Assembly will enable global cultural policy leaders to establish a shared vision and further expand the influence of culture.
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