Korea Art Week offers all-access pass for biennales

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts Management Service will hold Korea Art Week 2018 for two weeks in October, from Oct. 2 to 14. Having begun in 2015, the art week will offer events and programs at nearly 180 art-related institutions across Korea under the theme of “Art in Life.”

“If the previous art weeks revolved around artists and museums, this one will be about bringing art closer to the general public,” said Kim Do-il, president of the organization. “We have brought in programs that are more user-oriented, so that more people get to enjoy art and take part. We hope that this becomes an art festivity for everyone.”

During the art week, admission to 80 galleries and museums will be either discounted or exempted, including free entry to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) and the Busan Museum of Art, special tours or workshop programs at 72 institutions and, the biggest deal of all, a ticket that covers each of the major art biennales taking place this autumn.

For just 16,100 won ($14.30), the ticket grants full access to the Gwangju Art Biennale, the Busan Art Biennale, the Daegu Photo Biennale and the Jeonnam International Sumuk Biennale. If purchased separately, entry to all of those events costs a total of 43,000 won. A different package deal is also available for those who’d like to visit the 17th Korea International Art Fair (KIAF) Seoul that will be held from Oct. 4 to 7.

To help people travel throughout the country, Korail has a special offer for those who purchase the Art Week or Biennale packages. The ticket allows them to get on any train they wish at 92,700 won for three days or 123,600 for five days. Although the biennale package tickets can be purchased online, the Korail tickets need to be bought in person at Korail tour centers. There are four Korail tour centers in Seoul - Seoul Station, Yongsan Station, Yeongdeungpo Station and Cheongnyangni Station.

For people who have always wanted a piece of art at home, the Visual Artists Market, a collective of open-air art markets, will offer two-to-three months without interest for BC Card and Lotte Card holders. Location details can be found at www.vam.or.kr

“When I was in Argentina, I saw people staying out late into the night, not for a drink, but to go to art museums that are open late for people to come and enjoy,” said Kim Shin-ah, director of international relations at the management center.

“We thought about how we could bring that to Korea. We hope this art week becomes a way for people to feel happy through art and to feel closer to art. The goal is to let them know that art is always there in our lives.”

An opening ceremony for the art week festivities will be held on Oct. 2 at the MMCA Seoul’s outdoor garden in central Seoul at 4 p.m. Details can be found at the event’s website, www.artweek.kr.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]