Gana launches cultural foundation

Gana Art Center, one of the nation’s most prestigious galleries, has launched the Gana Foundation for Arts and Culture in order to promote public interest in art.

“The first objective of the foundation is to make public use of the know-how that we acquired from running our gallery,” said Kim Hyung-Kook, the chairman of the new body, at a press conference held yesterday at Gana Art Center in Pyeongchang-dong, northern Seoul.

The center has 31 years of experience managing a commercial gallery.

“There are artworks in Korea that are hard for commercial galleries to exhibit due to profit issues and are considered unidentified by public galleries,” Kim continued. “We are going to shed light on these works.”

Part of the foundation’s plan includes unveiling the works of artists who defected to North Korea.

The institution will also support seven artists with rent and maintenance fees through residency programs at home and abroad where they will receive a chance to exchange and develop their creative values.

The foundation was approved by the Seoul government as a nonprofit company on Feb. 14.

By jin eun-soo, contributing writer [estyle@joongang.co.kr]