Should Artworks for Buildings Be Rented for Installation? Expansion of Open Calls Also Discussed

[Financial News] Measures to expand the buildings required to hold open calls for artworks and improve the fairness of the selection process are under discussion. Renting artworks to fulfill the installation requirement is also being considered.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) on the 11th, a policy forum on improving the system for artworks for buildings will be held at 2 p.m. on the 16th in the auditorium of the National Folk Museum of Korea. The forum will gather views from the field on relevant provisions of the full revision of the Culture and Arts Promotion Act, proposed by Rep. Cho Gye-won on July 21, and examine mid- to long-term reform tasks.
The system for artworks for buildings requires developers constructing buildings of certain uses with a total floor area of at least 10,000 square meters to spend an amount set within 1% or less of the construction cost on installing artworks. Instead of installing artworks, developers may contribute 70% of that amount to the Culture and Arts Promotion Fund. This means the contribution is 30% less than the legally required amount for artwork installation.
The system began in 1972 as a recommendation to install artworks, became mandatory in 1995, and introduced an optional fund contribution scheme in 2011. Although it has expanded opportunities for people to enjoy art in their daily lives and for artists to create works, calls for improvements to the fairness of the selection process and post-installation management have continued.
The current discussion focuses on improving the selection process and installation and management procedures when developers choose artwork installation over the two available options: installing works or contributing to the fund.
At the forum, MCST will explain key provisions of the amendment, including expanding the buildings required to hold open calls, establishing a system for agencies to administer the calls, and creating a nationwide pool of candidates for review committees. The plan is for local governments to use the candidate pool.
Park Kyoung-Shin, an adjunct professor at Ewha Womans University, will present measures to replace the installation requirement by renting artworks and to strengthen post-installation management. Painters, sculptors, media artists, architecture experts, and local-government officials will take part in the discussion, which will be moderated by Professor Lee Dong-gi of Kookmin University.
An MCST policy official said, "We will faithfully reflect the views from the field expressed at this forum in the National Assembly’s review of the bill and in developing measures to improve the system."

[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter