The inaugural Korea Art Festival this fall will connect large-scale art events in Gwangju, Busan and Seoul. Shown above is 2023 Gwangju Biennale held last year. (Gwangju Biennale)

By Lee Jihae

The inaugural Korea Art Festival this fall will connect large-scale art events in Gwangju, Busan and Seoul.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Arts Management Service on Aug. 14 said the festival will integrate and promote arts events nationwide such as the Gwangju Biennale, Busan Biennale, Korea International Art Fair (KIAF) Seoul and Frieze Seoul.

The festival will link the Gwangju (Sept. 7 to Dec. 1) and Busan (Aug. 17 to Oct. 20) galas with large-scale art events in Seoul such as the Asian Students and Young Artists Art Festival (July 30 to Aug. 25), Seoul Art Week (Sept. 2-8), KIAF Seoul (Sept. 4-8) and Frieze Seoul (Sept. 4-7).

A combined 329 participating art and picture galleries nationwide will hold exhibitions and related programs, as well as offer discounts on admission or free entry.

Users can get discounted or free admission if they use exhibition-related products from the festival.

Visitors can get 30% off admission to the two biennales if buying a joint ticket to both events, plus discounted or free admission to 123 major art museums nationwide.

During Art Travel Week from Sept. 1-11, 16 tour courses on offer will allow people to visit galleries and museums with expert guides in seven regions including Seoul, Incheon and Daejeon. Reservations for the week's programs can be made from Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. on the festival's official website, with a participation fee of KRW 5,000.

The event "2024 Dive into Korean Art: Seoul" from Sept. 1-8 will promote domestic artists to the world. Twelve leading art experts from abroad including museum directors and curators will be introduced to nine teams of Korean artists and visits to the latter's studios.

An academic conference will have domestic and foreign art professionals discuss contemporary tasks and new issues in art. "KIAF Seoul X KAMS X Freize Seoul" will run from Sept. 5-7 at COEX Mall in Seoul.

More information on the Korea Art Festival is available on its official website (https://k-artfestival.com) and its Instagram account (@koreaartfestival)

jihlee08@korea.kr