The Korea Arts Council (Arko) announced that it will begin accepting applications for the 2027 Arts Promotion Fund projects starting October 8.
This funding initiative will cover six areas: entry into the arts field, literature, visual arts, multidisciplinary arts, performing arts, and international exchange.
The total budget for the 2027 Arts Promotion Fund is 93.9 billion won, an increase of 33.7 billion won from 60.3 billion won in 2026. Notably, the budget for international exchange has been expanded to more than 2.5 times its previous amount.
Support tailored to artists at various stages of their careers will also be strengthened. The budget for supporting aspiring artists entering the field will be increased to 12.7 billion won, providing more opportunities to gain practical experience. Additionally, the budget for employment support for creative and performance personnel will rise to 16.7 billion won, aiming to assist a total of 690 individuals. The existing 'Youth Artist Leap Support' program will be divided into four genre-specific projects starting in 2027, with the funding amount increasing from approximately 1.6 billion won to 2.8 billion won, a 1.7-fold increase. The age limit of 34 years will be removed, allowing for support criteria and content to be restructured according to the characteristics of each genre, ensuring that artists can continuously grow from emerging to promising to mid-career stages.
Starting October 12, an 'AI Guidance Chatbot' will be launched to provide information on key aspects of the support projects and application procedures more easily and quickly. A 'Customized Project Finder' service will also be available, allowing users to input simple eligibility criteria to find applicable projects immediately.
Arko has revised its guidelines regarding the use of AI in the application process and creative work following discussions within its AI working group. The guidelines emphasize that the core of creation lies with human artists, and applicants are encouraged to disclose any use of AI in their applications. However, merely using AI will not result in any scoring advantages or disadvantages during the evaluation process. Conversely, it is prohibited for evaluators to input application materials into AI systems.
Applications for the Arts Promotion Fund can be submitted through the National Arts Support System until 3 p.m. on November 5. Informational videos for each project will be available on Arko's YouTube channel. More details regarding the application process can be found on the ArtNuri and Arko websites.
Lee Beom-hun, the chairperson, stated, “The record-high support budget for 2027 marks a significant turning point in creating a sustainable ecosystem for basic arts. We will firmly support the arts community to promote artists' creation and growth, leading to a richer cultural experience for the public.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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