Visit to G7, Listening to Center Operations and Support for Cultural and Artistic Activities of People with Disabilities, On the occasion of the G7 summit, First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, who accompanied President Lee Jae-myung to Canada, visited the National Center for Arts and Disability (NaAC) in Calgary on the 17th (local time). First Lady Kim listened to reports on the center’s operations and support for cultural and artistic activities for disabled individuals. She encouraged disabled artists and expressed interest in the Canadian government’s support policies for people with disabilities and the promotion of cultural exchanges in the arts between the two nations.
The event was attended by NaAC representative Yoo Jeong-seok, sponsors, board members, and others. Attendees introduced NaAC as the oldest and largest national representative center in the field of disability arts in Canada. They explained that NaAC supports professional arts education and creation in various fields, such as visual arts, dance, music, and film while providing opportunities to showcase the artists’ work through domestic and international exhibitions, performances, and online platforms.
They emphasized that NaAC is actively engaged in collaborations between the two countries, including hosting the ‘Any Difference for All’ exhibition in Seoul and Ottawa to commemorate 60 years of Korea-Canada diplomatic relations in 2023 and interacting with various Korean organizations. Afterward, First Lady Kim toured the creative and exhibition spaces and expressed pride in the fact that a director of Korean descent is leading a comprehensive arts facility for people with disabilities.
First Lady Kim remarked, “Canada has impressive facilities and infrastructure that allow people with disabilities to go out conveniently, safely, and freely, indicating they are well-integrated into the community.” She encouraged the officials and expressed hope that the newly inaugurated government in Korea would make policy considerations for cultural and artistic activities for people with disabilities, further boosting cooperation between the two countries in the field of disability arts.