By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

This year's Korea Art Festival this fall will connect Gwangju, Busan and Seoul.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on April 22 said it will host the event in September by integrating art fairs in the three cities.

Minister Yu In Chon announced the Joint Declaration for the Successful Hosting of the 2024 Korea Art Festival with leading officials like Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki Jung, Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon and First Vice Seoul Mayor for Administrative Affairs Kim Sanghan at the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea in the capital's Jongno-gu District.

The ministry will work closely with related institutions and connect the content and schedules of exhibitions and programs to make the festival a leading domestic event and global extravaganza.

The Gwangju Biennale runs from Sept. 7 to Dec. 1 and the Busan Biennale from Aug. 17 to Oct. 20. Seoul Art Week, which features the country's leading art fairs KIAF Seoul and Frieze Seoul, is scheduled from Sept. 2-8.

Over the festival period, many exhibitions from national, public and private museums and galleries will be presented. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul will host the exhibition "Connecting Bodies: Asian Women Artists" on Sept. 4.

An integrated ticket good for admission to the two biennales will go for KRW 23,800, 30% off the regular price for separate entry. This will enable visitors to more of the festival's visual art events and exhibitions.

Minister Yu said, "We will collaborate with local governments and related organizations to provide tourism and transportation infrastructure so that both the public and tourists visiting the nation can enjoy the diverse art events nationwide of the 2024 Korea Art Festival."

dusrud21@korea.kr