To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the Asia Culture Center (ACC) is organizing large-scale performances, exhibitions, and cultural products. Alongside this, the ACC Foundation has been designated as a public institution, aiming to enhance management transparency and efficiency.
Having entered its fourth year, the ACC Foundation plans to introduce appealing and noteworthy content for the anniversary. Beginning with the “Vienna Boys’ Choir” performance last month, it aims to present world-class performances and exhibitions, along with various citizen-participation programs that were previously rare in the region.
The foundation is diversifying its business through cultural arts incorporating artificial intelligence and advanced technology. It also plans to expand the target audience of the Children’s Cultural Center to include family groups, transforming it into a space where everyone can enjoy together.
With its designation as an “other public institution” following deliberation and resolution by the Public Institutions Operations Committee of the Ministry of Economy and Finance last month, the foundation plans to boost management transparency and efficiency and improve public services for visitor convenience.
The ACC Foundation is also strengthening its role as a cultural arts distribution platform connecting the region, Asia, and the world by continuously expanding domestic and international content distribution channels it has built over the years.
Through exchange, collaboration, and open calls, it plans to expand the distribution of excellent ACC content, including performances and media art, targeting major cultural art festivals and cultural institutions nationwide.
As part of this, ACC original theater works will be presented at the Japan Beseto Festival, and the ACC’s original content “Aqua Heaven” will be exhibited in Italy and Austria.
ACC’s branded performance, the Brunch Concert, continues this year, offering performances by popular artists from various genres on the last Wednesday of each month at 11 AM. High-quality classical performances like Super Classic will feature the Camerata Orchestra and pianist Paik Kun-woo, along with stages by internationally renowned artists like cellist Gary Hoffmann and jazz musicians Maria Kim and Ko Sangji.
Programs such as “ACC Choice,” which invites acclaimed performances with verified artistic and commercial value, and easily accessible popular programs like “ACC Fun” are also set to entertain citizens’ eyes and ears.
Celebrating its 16th edition, the “ACC World Music Festival” will be renewed for the 10th anniversary, offering more enriching programs to greet audiences in a new guise.
The newly opened Children’s Cultural Center remodeled from outdated spaces and content strengthens its role as a complex cultural space for children based on Asian cultural arts. It significantly expands programs targeted at children to family audiences and enhances the utilization of cultural technology.
The permanent exhibition “Nature and Life” area in the children’s experience area integrates various natural environments and living cultures of Asia, introducing exhibitions and experiences reflecting Asian culture and future values.
Additionally, by training elementary school-aged children as guides, a child-led program will be expanded where children introduce ACC’s content through their own unique perspectives.
Programs like the “Never Before Series,” providing children with their first artistic experiences, accessible performances for a wide range of toddlers and infants under 36 months, and other child-oriented theatrical performances are set to be introduced.
The “Kids and Family Cultural Festival Haufun 11,” targeting children and families, will collaborate with prestigious cultural and arts institutions, artists, and performance groups both domestically and internationally to present diverse programs to visitors.
In honor of ACC’s 10th anniversary, large-scale foreign outstanding performances and special exhibitions, which are typically hard to come by, are being prepared. In May, the international performance “The Pulse,” combining circus, dance, and music will visit Gwangju, and in July, a special exhibition “Masters of New York” showcasing abstract expressionism will take place.
In October, a massive outdoor performance that can be easily and comfortably enjoyed by the general public will be held, and the Children’s Cultural Center will run a special exhibition “Fantasy Inventory” involving participatory content.
Alongside cultural arts content, cultural products that meaningfully commemorate ACC’s 10th anniversary will be developed. These include the “ACC x Jinjeongseong Tea Set,” in collaboration with the famous milk tea café Jinjeongseong, ACC CI branding products for the 10th anniversary, and architectural series products reflecting the characteristics of the space.
Kim Sun-ok, president of the ACC Foundation, stated on the 4th, “Marking the fourth anniversary of the foundation’s establishment and the 10th anniversary of the ACC’s opening, we will present various programs so that all local residents can experience rich cultural art content without any restrictions or barriers, and as a designated public institution, we will further solidify our status as the country’s largest complex cultural arts institution.”