Arts Council Korea, known as ARKO, signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding with 10 organizations on the 24th at the ARKO KkumBat Theater to promote children’s and youth arts and expand awareness of its value.
Participating organizations include the Gwangjin Cultural Foundation, the National Children and Youth Theater Company, the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (Korea), the Geumcheon Cultural Foundation, the Nowon Cultural Foundation, the Bucheon Cultural Foundation, the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, the Yongin Cultural Foundation and the Jongno Cultural Foundation.
Under the agreement, the organizations will cooperate on developing works and co-producing projects for children and teens; jointly planning and operating programs at performance venues for young audiences; and exchanging human, material and other resources to broaden access to cultural and arts experiences for children and youth.
ARKO said the partnership is expected to connect areas that had been run separately — creation support, venue operations and festival management — into a more integrated system.
In particular, works selected for the 2026 Arts Support Program for Children and Youth will be presented in coordination with children’s theaters, ARKO said.
ARKO also plans to pursue practical, field-focused cooperation through creation and production projects led by the National Children and Youth Theater Company and the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (Korea), along with joint efforts tied to programming at children’s performance venues.
ARKO Chairperson Jeong Byeong-guk said the agreement is “a starting point” for more closely linking creation, distribution and audience access through cooperation among children’s and youth arts organizations. He added that ARKO will continue working toward a sustainable cooperation model so children and teens can experience art in everyday life, reflecting voices from the field.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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