Art Transforms the City: Goyang Innovates as a Cultural Ecosystem
Goyang City Embraces Artistic Creation, Communication, and Enjoyment
Open Art Spaces Haum and Saedel Evolve into Local Cultural Platforms
Tailored Support and Joint Planning for Organizations
Strengthening Infrastructure from Aram and Eoullim Nuri to Facility Upgrades
Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) is establishing itself as a cultural ecosystem city, offering creative freedom to artists and opportunities for citizens to experience art.
According to Goyang Special City on October 18, the city is driving change by making art a source of urban competitiveness. This is achieved by operating art creation spaces 'Haum' and 'Saedel' as hubs for supporting artistic creation and citizen participation programs, as well as establishing tailored support systems for art organizations.
The Haum and Saedel art creation spaces serve as creative bases for artists and cultural experience venues for citizens, functioning as hubs of local culture.
These two spaces, created by remodeling the Goyang 600th Anniversary Exhibition Hall and the Sinpyeong Military Barracks, provide creative studios to 13 visual artists each year and run programs to strengthen artists' capabilities, such as critical workshops and curated exhibitions.
Since their opening in 2022, around 30 emerging artists have been nurtured, and the third group of resident artists is currently active this year.
In addition to curated exhibitions, the spaces also host exhibitions linked to local festivals such as the Lake Arts Festival (2022), Reading Festival (2023), and International Flower Expo (2024), offering citizens a diverse range of cultural experiences. Resident artists are also actively collaborating with the local community.
Artist Kang Subin contributed to alleviating social isolation among seniors through art activities at the Ilsan Senior Welfare Center. Artists Kwon Jaehyun and Lee Hyukjong recycled scrap wood from the construction of the Tanhyeon Phase 2 Neighborhood Park to create sculptures and rest facilities within the park.
Additionally, artist Han Seokyoung presented a performance based on oral histories from seniors in Sinpyeong-dong, where Saedel is located, thereby recording the community's memories through art. Resident curator Kim Jinyoung organized the 'Studio Tea Time,' a program facilitating communication between citizens and artists.
Citizen participation programs are also thriving. Through the 'Haum Exhibition Docent Training Program' for middle-aged and older adults, 15 citizens who received professional docent training are now active in the art field. At Saedel, the 'Humanities on the Road' program is being run this year under the theme 'Reading Local through Art,' combining lectures, hands-on experiences, and field trips for citizen engagement.
Other initiatives such as 'Open Studio,' which opens artists' studios to the public, and the 'Youth Internship' program, provide citizens with direct experiences of the art scene, allowing them to expand their roles as art participants. In November, the studios of resident artists will again be opened to the public, with exhibitions, hands-on activities, and talks as part of the 'Open Studio' event.
The city is also strengthening support systems for the independence and growth of local art organizations, not just individuals. Since 2022, the city has shifted to tailored creative support for each art organization, establishing a structure for collaboration between public and private sectors.
In partnership with the Goyang Arts Council and its eight affiliated associations (including traditional music, dance, music, and visual arts), the city supports a variety of activities such as performances, exhibitions, and festivals, enhancing the autonomy and planning capabilities of these organizations. By encouraging joint planning among similar organizations and expanding collaboration with public institutions, the ultimate goal is to reinforce the foundation for self-reliance and planning capacity of art organizations.
As a result, the Goyang Theater Association's 'Creative Musical Battle of Haengju' was selected for the '2025 Northern Gyeonggi Cultural Resource Creative Performance Support Project,' securing 40 million won in provincial funding (with a total project budget of 80 million won). This is a case where local creative support has led to tangible results, combining the region's history and content in a creative performance.
Remodeling Completion and Opening Ceremony of Goyang City Aram Art Museum. Provided by Goyang Special City
Furthermore, the 'Goyang Art Festival,' jointly planned by the Goyang Cultural Foundation and local art organizations and artists, stands as a representative example of successful collaboration between public institutions and private art organizations. The private sector has participated in theme planning and operations from the early stages, creating a self-sustaining growth structure for local art.
The city is also working to expand cultural infrastructure where artists and citizens can engage together.
Goyang Aram Nuri and Eoullim Nuri are the city's representative cultural infrastructures, hosting performances that combine artistic excellence and popular appeal. Goyang Aram Nuri, equipped with an opera house and a concert hall with optimal acoustics, hosts performances by international artists and professional art organizations. Goyang Eoullim Nuri, with its multipurpose performance hall, holds popular performances for children and families.
A wide variety of performances have been held, including concerts by Sumi Jo, Seong-Jin Cho, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Universal Ballet, as well as the play 'Waiting for Godot' and the musical 'The Last Empress.' High-caliber performances are scheduled for the second half of this year as well, such as Universal Ballet's Don Quixote (October), Kun-Woo Paik's piano recital (October), and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's tour in Korea (November).
Meanwhile, the Goyang City Aram Art Museum reopened in July 2023 after remodeling and has been hosting a variety of exhibitions, including the 'Goyang Artist 365' relay exhibition to discover local artists and curated exhibitions by world-renowned artists. Starting from the 29th, over 330 original works by Marc Chagall, the magician of color, will be on display, broadening citizens' opportunities to enjoy culture.
In addition, the remodeling project for the Cultural Arts Center, which has secured 760 million won in provincial funding (with a total project budget of 1.9 billion won), is underway with the goal of completion next spring. The project aims to transform the aging facility into a safer and more comfortable cultural venue.
Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, stated, "Art is a social asset that enhances the dignity of the city and enriches the lives of citizens. We will continue to support artists and create a city where people, art, and culture thrive together, while expanding cultural welfare."
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