'Arko Some Festa' Unites 17 Festivals Nationwide for Integrated Branding... "First Step This Year, Gradual Synergy to Follow"

Arko Selects 17 Festivals Nationwide
'Arko Some Festa' Launches Integrated Branding
Unified Support for Promotion and Marketing
"This Year, Laying the Foundation...
Synergy Expected Through Thematic Planning"

"'Arko Some Festa' is an integrated brand that connects genres such as theater, dance, music, and traditional arts into one. Rather than simply listing festivals, it aims to bring different festivals together under a single name to create synergy for mutual growth."

On the morning of the 23rd, attendees of the 'Arko Some Festa' press conference held at the Open Hall Auditorium of Korea National Open University are taking a group photo. Korea Arts Council

On June 23, Jung Byungguk, Chairperson of the Korea Arts Council (Arko), announced the launch of 'Arko Some Festa' during a press conference held at the Open Hall Auditorium of Korea National Open University in Seoul, stating the above.

Arko Some Festa is a new integrated brand that connects various performing arts festivals across genres such as theater, dance, music, and traditional arts under the slogan "All Performing Arts Festivals in the World."

This year, Arko plans to provide joint branding, promotion, and marketing support for 17 festivals selected for its performing arts festival support program. Arko also aims to create an environment in which performing arts can maintain their unique identity and regional characteristics while becoming self-sustaining, through connections with domestic and international arts organizations.

The performances will take place from July to September. The 'Neulpureun Theater Festival,' featuring veteran actors such as Park Jeongja and Choi Jongwon, will be held from July 30 to August 17 at the Seoul Theater Creation Center. The 'July Festival,' which will feature Baek Yunhak, a renowned conductor and professor at Yeungnam University's College of Music known for his engineering background, will be held from July 1 to 31 at venues including the House of Artists in Daehakro, Seoul.

Other events include the 'Pumasi Performing Arts Festival' (July 30 to August 3), a comprehensive performing arts festival held in rural villages; the 'Changmu International Performing Arts Festival' (August 22 to 31), which showcases dance from the Asia-Pacific region; and the experimental 'Hic et Nunc! Music Festival' (August 22 to September 5). The Hic et Nunc! Music Festival will also feature world-renowned novelist Bernard Werber, who will present a program where literature and music meet.

As this is the first year of the program, Arko plans to focus on promotion and marketing support, while concentrating on establishing a "framework" to foster future synergy.

Some have pointed out that if the program focuses solely on promotion without coordinated planning between events, the expected synergy may be diminished. In response, Jung Byungguk, Chairperson of Arko, stated, "This year, we faced difficulties in forming an organizing committee, so we will focus on building the framework and will not be further involved. In the future, we plan to group festivals by theme from the planning stage. Since we have taken the first step, we will proceed gradually."

He also emphasized that this program will not be a one-off event. Chairperson Jung expressed his strong determination by saying, "In the past, attempts to integrate festivals have repeatedly ended in division and a return to the original state, but this time, we will ensure there are no such setbacks."