‘Dream Art Troupe’ hubs to reach at least 200 next year...advanced training to be strengthened

[Financial News] The number of local hubs for the Dream Art Troupe, which supports children’s and adolescents’ artistic activities, will expand to at least 200 next year. The program will strengthen advanced training with professional artists and career counseling, while broadening its operating base through support from local residents and businesses.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) said on the 2nd that it is pursuing Dream Art Troupe 2.0 to expand participation opportunities and support members’ growth. The government’s budget proposal for next year allocates 26.6 billion won, up 9.5 billion won from this year’s 17.1 billion won.
The Dream Art Troupe began in 2010 as the Dream Orchestra in eight regions and has since expanded into fields including dance, theater, visual arts and traditional arts. This year, at least 6,000 members are taking part at 150 hubs nationwide.
The Dream Orchestra, the initiative’s starting point, adopted the educational philosophy of El Sistema, a Venezuelan music education program. Through ensemble playing, it helps children and adolescents experience cooperation and mutual learning, and develop self-esteem and a sense of community.
Next year, MCST will introduce new fields such as choir and develop a model for operating small orchestras tailored to each region’s population and demand. It will also launch a new initiative to expand participation among children and adolescents in areas experiencing population decline.
In cooperation with national arts organizations and major performance venues, the program will provide advanced training and opportunities for ensemble playing and performances. Prominent artists and others will be appointed as Dream Art Troupe Masters to lead master classes and counseling, helping members build their skills and clarify their career paths.
For self-sustaining hubs whose government funding for operating costs has ended, the program will add support for educational equipment, including replacing aging instruments, to its existing support for instructor training, camps and performances. Currently, 45 Dream Orchestra hub institutions are operating independently.
A donation and sponsorship system involving local residents and businesses will also be established. Support will be provided for local businesses and hub institutions to jointly hold performances in their communities. Sponsors will be invited to performances, and a nationwide sponsorship campaign will also be launched.
The revamp is being pursued following the Dream Art Troupe’s selection as the country’s top example in tangible youth welfare in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Korea Institute of Public Administration’s “2026 Government Innovation: Firsts and Bests” competition.
Jeong Hyang-mi, head of MCST’s Arts and Culture Policy Office, said, “We will continue developing it into a mature stage in which local residents, local businesses and hub institutions work together to nurture ‘Our Neighborhood Dream Art Troupe.’”
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