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Busan Metropolitan City’s "Cultural Listening Tour" in April Brims with Energy at Performing Arts Sector Roundtables

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The Busan Metropolitan City announced that its ongoing Cultural Listening Tour, aiming to transform Busan into a global cultural hub city, hosted field roundtable discussions throughout April for artists in the performing arts sectors (music, dance, and theater).

• ●The Cultural Listening initiative, jointly organized by the city, the Busan Institute, and the Busan Cultural Foundation, was designed to hear firsthand from local artists and groups,
  with the goal of reflecting their voices in future cultural policies and the upcoming Regional Cultural Promotion Plan.

In April, roundtables were held as follows:

• ●April 9: Music sector at Busan Concert Hall

• ●April 10: Dance sector

• ●April 16: Theater sector

• ●These discussions gathered performing artists to exchange vibrant and diverse opinions.

Common Key Opinions Across Fields:

• ●Expand stage and rehearsal spaces

• ●Support emerging young artists

• ●Activate cultural and artistic networks and platforms

• ●Establish inclusive civic-government (governance) collaborations to prevent marginalization of local artists

• ●Foster the creation of a sustainable regional cultural ecosystem beyond simple artist support

Specific by Field:

• ●Music:
  Participants (musicians and organization representatives) called for
  ▲ Increased performance opportunities at local venues for regional artists
  ▲ Expansion of public employment opportunities for young artists
  ▲ Discounts on venue rental fees for local performers.

• ●Dance:
  Discussions with dancers highlighted the need for
  ▲ Dedicated stages and rehearsal rooms
  ▲ A regional dance festival where amateurs and professionals can both participate
  ▲ Introduction of artist residency programs
  ▲ Activation of cultural information-sharing platforms.

• ●Theater:
  Theater company representatives and directors emphasized
  ▲ Urgent support for small theater operations
  ▲ Support programs for young theater artists
  ▲ Establishment of a dedicated theater for plays
  ▲ Specific policy directions for strengthening the local theater ecosystem.

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Today’s Event:

• ●The second meeting of the Citizen Working Group is also being held today (April 29) at 3:00 p.m. at the Busan Institute.

• ●The Citizen Working Group consists of about 50 citizens interested in culture and the arts,
  discussing topics such as
  ▲ Desired cultural facilities
  ▲ Solutions to bridge cultural gaps
  ▲ The future of Busan as a global cultural hub
  ▲ Talent development
  ▲ Civic-government collaboration models.

• ●In this second meeting, they will review results from the first session and hold in-depth discussions on specific policy directions for the Regional Cultural Promotion Plan.

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Looking Ahead:
The Cultural Listening Tour continues into May.

• ●Tours will focus on the visual arts, literature, and small performance venue sectors.

• ●A final results report and a "Companion Declaration Ceremony" will be held in June, officially incorporating the outcomes into Busan’s Regional Cultural Promotion Plan.

• ●Through ongoing dialogue with both citizens and artists, Busan will gather a wide range of perspectives and reflect them actively in its cultural policy vision.

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Jo Yu-jang, Director-General of Busan’s Culture Bureau, stated,
"Through the performing arts roundtables, we felt the true passion of the field firsthand.
The voices heard through the Cultural Listening initiative will become core assets for our cultural policies.
With major infrastructure projects such as the opening of the Busan Concert Hall, completion of the Busan Opera House, and establishment of a world-class art museum,
we will continue to create an environment where these efforts are realized in close communication with citizens and cultural artists alike."