Visitors last year view artworks at an exhibition for disabled artists at Chunchugwan, the media center of the former presidential compound of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. (Korea.net DB)

By Park Hye Ri

The A+ Festival, the nation's largest culture and arts festival for disabled artists, will run from Sept. 1-15 at Cheong Wa Dae, specifically at the former presidential compound's media center Chunchugwan and its heliport.

The event will be the third of its kind held at Cheong Wa Dae. The first was an exhibition in August last year and the second was a orchestral performance by disabled musicians in April this year at Chunchugwan.

The opening ceremony is slated for the morning of Sept. 1 at Chunchugwan. Ha Ji-sung, who this year became the first person with brain damage to win Best Actor at the Baeksang Arts Awards, and vocalist Suh Jung-min will formally open the festival by reciting the national charter of disabled artists.

An opening concert of disabled and non-disabled artists is scheduled later that day.

Disabled artists will participate in concerts and exhibitions from Sept. 1-3 near Cheong Wa Dae's heliport. The programs include pieces by disabled dancers, orchestral performances by visually impaired musicians from Hanbit Arts, exhibition of braille publications and display of calligraphic works from international exchanges among Korea, China and Japan.

Interactive events will also raise visitor awareness of disabled people.  

From left are "Mountain Secrets" by Kim Tae-min, "Lion's Lunch" by Park Se-joon and "Chaekgado2" by Shin Eui-hyeon. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

The second edition of the disabled artists' exhibition "Into the People, Into Harmony" is scheduled at Chunchugwan, with the inaugural event held last year.

The display will feature works by 49 artists selected through a contest. The figures include Kim Tae-min, who depicts nature such as animals, plants and natural scenery on canvases, and Shin Eui-hyeon, whose Oriental paintings reflect his growth and inner world.

The works of 19 artists not selected will also be shown at a media art exhibition on a large screen.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will provide text files convertible into audio guides to serve as audio docents for visually impaired visitors at the event. Sign language will also be provided to those with hearing impairments.

A viewing environment of "relax performance" will also be available to visitors with developmental disabilities. The term refers to an inclusive viewing culture that stimulates visitor understanding of sounds or movements caused by disabilities.

"Since the inauguration of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, we have instilled a strong stance of disabled-friendly policy in sectors like culture and arts and sports," Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon said. "We will continue providing structured support so that artists with disabilities can exert their imagination and artistry in a better environment and the public can grow closer to works by disabled artists."

hrhr@korea.kr