By Choe Yun-wu (parodia@hanmail.net)
Photo by Seo Dong-shin, Sow Studio

Since the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism began to operate the “resident arts groups support project” on June 17 this year to improve the ministry’s arts support policy 2010, it selected a total of ten theaters and 23 arts groups to run the project’s first year plan by next June. It is not easy to obtain a smooth approval from everyone in regard to the introduction of the new support program. This project instantly became a matter of great concern for artists than any other arts support policies, with increasing complaints arising from the policy operation procedure. This is because the new support project was a support system which integrated the two largest support projects in the performing arts circles -- performing arts groups foster project and stage arts creation support project.

The new project was operated unexpectedly without giving enough time for artists to respond to the sudden changes, not to mention the change in the way of support from an advance support system to post facto. Overall, the feeling of loss among the arts circle in the process of selecting theaters in August this year and the ambiguousness of the ministry’s selection criteria seemed to cause the controversy.

The new support system has been undeniably carried out in line with the ministry’s policy to support arts groups. Though the related government ministry and institutions clearly stated that this policy is to support arts groups, artists still feel a grave sense of distance. This is because there was an obvious lack of communication between the concerned government institutions and artists, the recipients of the support. According to Ahn Ho-Sang, CEO of Seoul Foundation Arts and Culture that provide the new support project, however, such feeling of loss was mostly caused by misunderstandings of the new arts group support system. Ahn also expresses his view that artists should adapt themselves to the changes and new conditions of the new support policy.

Concepts
“As we receive applications for accommodating resident arts groups from theaters, people seem to be mistaken whether the new policy is made to support theaters, not artists. Theaters ask us why they are not selected for the support project. But we do not support theaters; instead, we choose both theaters and arts groups that can fulfill the win-win conditions in order to enable arts groups to use theaters more actively than in the past. This is because the audience pay attention to theaters’ own programs, not just focusing on one single group or one artwork. In that sense, if a theater has its own program, it can secure more audience in cooperation with its resident arts group. So we understand the concept of the new support project that it is eventually made to support arts groups.”

Misunderstandings
“Actually, the reason to carry out this system is because we think the effect of the direct support for arts groups is not enough to achieve its initial goal of offering opportunity for artists to create works, attract more audience in arts and improve environment for arts activities. It should be seen that the new support system was needed to address such problems. But, it is not easy to fully realize the goal because not many public theaters run their own programs or annual schedules. Still, when we choose the theaters for the new support policy, we picked theaters that have capabilities to play a role of a support institution itself by supporting their own performing arts production, doing marketing and planning, securing the audience and expanding the volume of production. These theaters can really give managerial support for resident arts groups. The main reason for such misunderstanding is because people think this system focuses on supporting private theaters. They seemed to have difficulties accepting such differences. But the operation of a private theater is a different business. So they should know it is different otherwise such misunderstandings will not be cleared up.”

LG Arts Center
“In case of LG Arts Center, the theater’s choices win much of the audience’s trust. So arts groups think they can receive help from there. That is the effect of the theater’s brand. We picked LG Arts Center in a wish to succeed the new support policy. In Seoul, we chose theaters by mainly focusing on literary art centers in local districts because these theaters have to expand their own project programs. They are also in a favorable condition; for example, they may have their own training facilities, offices, or seasonal programs. We also considered such material factors.”

Worries 
“We had to think a lot over the new support policy whether it can have effect on arts groups; whether it can effectively make up for the weak points of supporting specialized groups or whether it does not bring nothing but changes. So we thought a lot in order to make the new policy a system that can not only bring changes but also effectively improve the existing problems. Still, more are needed. Theaters basically need to secure the firm foundation to support its own arts production; otherwise arts groups will be bound to be restricted or theaters could take advantage of arts groups. If that is the case, it will be worse than before. In the past, if arts groups receive support, they could find a theater to stage performances. But, if the new system makes it harder to receive support for art groups and even pose more burdens to them from theaters, art groups will shoulder doubled burdens. Should that be the case, this is the most worried part of the new support system. So we had to be extremely careful in selecting theaters and it was hard to broaden the range of theaters.” 

Sudden changes
“When it comes to ‘sudden changes’ in the new system, I don’t agree. I even think it is already late. Arts groups should have channels to accept needs of consumers but they are late for that. Sudden changes mean the uncertainty over future changes. Some say the new support project will integrate the existing stage arts support program. I don’t know how it will turn out. I guess controversy will rise over theaters’ capability to accept stage arts support project and resident arts group support project. Some will ask the difference between the existing theater support policy and the new project. I hope the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Arts Council Korea can test-operate the project for the first two years and carry out the project after reviewing its possibility and problems.”

Turning points in arts support system
“Now, more theaters have their own performance programs. Literary art centers in Gangdong, Gangnam or Nowon districts even have their own project programs and supply programs to satisfy the needs of their residents. This holds great significance. They supply programs to meet the demands. If resident arts groups get involved in the process, they will also carefully study the needs and that will affect their artistic directions. We have to notice the turning point in the new arts support policy that it now aims to involve both theaters and the audience together in order to make changes.”

This article has been abstracted from the October issue of “The Korean Theatre Review” 2009.