Applications for Next Year’s Project
To Be Announced in Early December
Haenam County in South Jeolla Province is invigorating the local arts scene by utilizing the largest Culture and Arts Promotion Fund in the province.
On November 11, Haenam County announced that, through this year’s Culture and Arts Promotion Fund project, it has provided a total of more than 350 million won to 62 individuals and organizations in the county, including professional artists, cultural and arts organizations, and volunteer arts groups.
Compared to other cities and counties in South Jeolla Province, which operate funds of less than 100 million won, Haenam County’s scale of support for the arts stands out.
Haenam County provided over 350 million won to support the revitalization of local culture and arts. Photo by Haenam County
The Haenam County Culture and Arts Promotion Fund, first established in 2001, expanded its fund size from 3 billion won to 6 billion won starting in 2025. Currently, 5.8 billion won has been secured, providing a stable financial foundation for the promotion of local culture and arts.
This year, the fund was allocated across three categories: support for professional artists, support for cultural and arts organizations, and support for volunteer arts groups.
In the professional artist support category, 15 local artists and one organization were selected, resulting in nine solo exhibitions in painting, calligraphy, and crafts; five performances in dance and pansori; and the publication of two books, demonstrating vibrant creative activity.
In the cultural and arts organization support category, 38 organizations held exhibitions and performances at venues such as the Haenam Culture and Arts Center, Ttangkkeut Tourist Site, around Daeheungsa Temple, and the Usuyeong Tourist Site, providing rich cultural experiences to residents and tourists. This has helped strengthen Haenam’s image as a “cultural tourism destination.”
In the volunteer arts group support category, eight teams visited village halls, hospitals, and care facilities to perform, delivering the inspiration of the arts to culturally marginalized groups.
A county official stated, “New arts organizations are continuously being established, and applications for fund support are increasing each year. Even with a limited budget, we will improve efficiency so that more artists can benefit, and we will analyze other local governments’ cases to establish a sustainable and fair support system.”
Applications for the 2026 Culture and Arts Promotion Fund support project will be accepted following a public announcement in early December.
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