On the Occasion of the G7 Visit,
Learning About Center Operations and Support for Cultural and Artistic Activities for People with Disabilities
On June 17 (local time), First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, who is visiting Canada with President Lee Jae-myung on the occasion of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit, visited the National AccessArts Centre (NaAC) in Calgary. First Lady Kim listened to explanations from officials regarding the center's operations and its support for cultural and artistic activities for people with disabilities. She encouraged local disabled artists and expressed her interest in the Canadian government's policies supporting people with disabilities, as well as in promoting cultural and artistic exchanges between the two countries.
The event was attended by Yu Jungseok, CEO of NaAC, as well as sponsors and board members. The attendees introduced NaAC as the most historic and largest nationwide center in Canada specializing in disability culture and the arts. They explained that the center supports professional arts education and creative activities in various fields such as visual arts, dance, music, and film, and provides opportunities for its more than 350 affiliated artists to present their works through domestic and international exhibitions and performances, as well as online platforms.
They particularly emphasized that in 2023, the center held the "Some Difference for Everyone" exhibition in Seoul and Ottawa to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Korea-Canada diplomatic relations, and that NaAC is actively engaged in exchanges with various Korean organizations, highlighting the vibrant cooperation between the two countries. Afterwards, First Lady Kim toured the creative and exhibition spaces on site and expressed pride in the fact that a Korean-Canadian director is leading this multidisciplinary arts facility for people with disabilities.
First Lady Kim encouraged the officials, stating, "I am impressed by how well Canada is equipped with facilities and infrastructure that allow people with disabilities to go out conveniently, safely, and freely, and by how well they are embraced by the local community." She also expressed her hope that, with the launch of the new Korean government, policy support for cultural and artistic activities for people with disabilities would further promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of arts for the disabled.
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