Scholars and practitioners in the field of arts and culture coming to Gwangju for
Asia Culture Forum 2016
Writer: JEONG Sohee
Proofreader: KIM Donghun, Anna
The Asia Culture Forum, inheriting the legacy of the Asia Culture Symposiums (2004-05) and marking its 10th anniversary this year, has gained recognition as the “Forum of Asia” since its inception in 2006 by providing a platform for arts & culture scholars and practitioners around the world to sit together and share experiences and knowledge on Asian culture as well as promoting international exchange in the field.
The Republic of Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Gwangju Metropolitan City will jointly convene this 10th forum under the theme “Culture, Technology and Creativity: Creative Industry and City” to further develop and extend the dialogue with scholars and practitioners around the world.
Leading personalities in the field of arts and culture from 7 countries, including Asian nations such as China, Japan and Singapore, along with the UK and Australia, will come to Gwangju to participate in this Forum to be held in conjunction with the 7th Asia Europe Culture Ministers Meeting (ASEM CMM7). Kim Woo-chang, Chair professor at Ehwa Women’s University, also known as a representative intellectual in Asia, and Koichiro Matsuura, the former Director-general of UNESCO, will be keynote speakers for the Forum. Charles Landry is expected to engage in a heated debate regarding the creative cities, as well as giving a keynote speech, along with Masayuki Sasaki, Professor at Doshisha University.
Charles Landry’s involvement in this forum draws special public attention.
From his website biography:
“Charles Landry is an international authority on the use of imagination and creativity in urban change. He invented the concept of the Creative City in the late 1980’s. Its focus is how cities can create the enabling conditions for people and organizations to think, plan and act with imagination to solve problems and develop opportunities. The notion has become a global movement, changing the way cities think about their capabilities and resources.
In 1978 he founded Comedia, a highly respected globally oriented consultancy working in creativity, culture and urban change. He has completed several hundred assignments for a variety of public and private clients and given key note addresses and workshops in 58 countries across the continents including South Korea, Japan, China, USA, Canada and so on.
Landry helps cities identify and make the most of their potential by triggering their inventiveness and thinking. According to his website, Landry aim is to help cities become more resilient, self-sustaining and to punch above their weight.”
His speech, armed with his own theory of the Creative City and his counseling experience, will draw people’s attention to this Forum.
This year’s Forum will be an open forum, to encourage not only culture experts but also the general audience to participate through a newly organized Thesis Presentation, where participants are offered a chance to give a presentation on “Urban Regeneration.” In addition, the “Youth Camp” program will be run for Korean and international youth interested in culture and creative industries, to build momentum for them to become future leaders in the development of Asian culture. Videos showing urban spaces will be organized by the Gwangju Biennale during Special Session II, and a session called “Hello, Media. Let’s Play!” organized by the Gwangju Cultural Foundation will run during Special Session III. Additionally, the Korean Literature Special Exhibition will be held under the theme of “Cities: Spaces of Life and Dreams,” which is expected to further enrich the Forum.
You can pre-register for the Asia Culture Forum 2016 from May 9 to June 12, 2016. For more information and pre-registration for the Forum, please visit our website at http://asiacultureforum.org.