#INTRO

So far, we have looked at various types of non-profit startups, social ventures, and social enterprises. In the last volume, I put together a list of social economy enterprises in the field of culture and arts. This is a follow-up article, featuring ‘art companies that incorporate technology’ as well as intermediary organizations. Since the purpose of this column is to discover organizations that ‘make A MORE beautiful world,’ I would like to talk about techno-art companies, and then finish this series by introducing some intermediary organizations. However, please keep in mind that unlike the organizations covered in previous volumes, the ones I am introducing today are either for-profit companies or government-affiliated institutions.

d’strict, pioneering the media art exhibition scene with
highly immersive, hyperrealistic content’

The whale that swam in the sky in Extraordinary Attorney Woo captured our hearts and minds, as did the waves trapped inside the glass at COEX. When COVID-19 started escalating in April 2020, waves raged out of nowhere in the largest electronic display board in Korea at COEX. The one-month media art project by d’strict stopped countless passers-by and generated a huge amount of buzz on social media, both locally and globally. The sensational reaction led to the release of part 2, titled ‘Whale #2’ at Times Square, Newyork in July 2021. With travel restrictions brought on by the pandemic, Jeju once again emerged as a popular tourist destination, and the company’s Arte Museum made it to the list of must-visit Jeju tourist attractions. The museum opened new s in Yeosu and Gangneung as well, further pioneering the media art scene.

d’strict holdings INC. is a digital design company specializing in the production of hyperrealistic content. The company mainly uses a technology called ‘anamorphic illusion,’ which is a type of optical illusion that creates a three-dimensional effect on a flat surface. The company is not a dedicated cultural art company per se, but it plans on incorporating XR (extended reality) and VFX (visual effects) to create new forms of media art in the future. With new Arte Museum s opening in Chengdu, Las Vegas, and Dubai this year, in addition to the one that opened in Hong Kong last year, more global audiences will now have the chance to experience d’strict’s highly immersive media artworks.

BBuzzArt, an artist management system and
NFT transaction platform

A metaverse and NFT boom swept the world last year. Making headlines was the news that three NFT editions of artist Kim Whan-ki, the master of Korean abstract art, were auctioned for about 700 million won and that an NFT featuring the bored face of a chimpanzee was sold for billions of won. The world seemed to be on the verge of changing at that time, but the craze quickly died out. Some even go so far as to say there is an NFT bubble. Nonetheless, it’s hard to refute that NFT is an attractive media for emerging artists who rarely have the opportunity to showcase their work. BBuzzArt endorses the same cause, operating an online art market platform for new artists and supporting the digitization of art works to create and sell NFT editions.

It’s often difficult for artists to digitize or even sell NFT works on their own. In that regard, BBuzzArt can be a great partner. This type of method can come in handy when brands collaborate with artists in terms of showcasing their artwork to a wider audience.

ROWILAB, opening the web 3.0 era with
its real-world metaverse platform

Last year, the ‘metaverse’ frenzy was as huge as that of NFT. Several months later, however, ‘metaverse’ is being mocked as ‘a digital playground for kids.’ Many agree though that the metaverse will combine with the forthcoming ‘web 3.0’ to create a new ripple effect. While web 1.0 was a PC-based internet space and web 2.0 was a mobile-based internet space, web 3.0 is a never-before-seen space that combines AR/VR/XR technologies with blockchain and avatars, connecting the virtual world with the real world. Until now, it has taken on game-like forms, but many predict that the metaverse will become more integrated with reality in the future. ROWILAB Korea is committed to building a real-world metaverse at your fingertips. Before long, artists, curators, and collectors will be able to trade authentic works of art in the metaverse exhibition space created by the artists.

During the pandemic, the metaverse was frequently employed in contact-free exhibitions, but it was nothing more than showcasing art in a virtual arena. In the future, however, the experience will become much more immersive, allowing the audience to appreciate works of art in hyperrealistic virtual exhibition spaces.

It goes without saying that there are public institutions that discover and support these venture companies. So, who are they?

Arts Council Korea, a Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism-affiliated
public organization that supports projects and activities for promoting
cultural arts

Arts Council Korea (ARKO) was founded in 2005 with the vision that great art has the power to influence the lives of everyone around us, with the purpose of allowing everyone to share and appreciate the joy of creation and value of life by supporting projects and activities that promote culture and arts. ARKO sponsors various cultural art projects, for the creation and distribution of culture and art, succession and development of traditional culture, inter-Korean and international exchange of culture and arts, the promotion of welfare of cultural artists, contribution to local culture and arts promotion funds, creation of culture and arts for the underprivileged, such as those with disabilities, public art promotions, and even sponsorship for libraries and other cultural facilities. Just in time, the Council is holding a contest for its Metaverse Art Support Project.

Korea Arts Management Service, a public organization under the Ministry of
Culture, Sports, and Tourism, which supports the active distribution of arts

Korea Arts Management Service (GOKAMS) plays a pivotal role in supporting the arts scene and advancing arts management. GOKAMS helps with the growth of art institutions and the vitalization of art distribution both comprehensively and systematically, thereby contributing to enhancing the self-sustainability of the art scene. The 2023 K-Musical Overseas Sponsorship Project that the institution is currently hosting is enough to underline what ‘enhancing the self-sustainability of the Korean art scene’ means.

Korea Mecenat Association, leading the future of arts, success of
corporations, and changes in the cultural arts ecosystem

The Korea Mecenat Association was established in 1994 when companies and five economic organizations joined hands to raise public awareness of culture and arts and to contribute to the balanced growth of the Korean economy and cultural arts through Mecenat activities. As the name suggests, the Association is dedicated to supporting companies in the fundamental art field and encouraging companies in the cultural arts sector to engage in social contribution activities. The organization also takes part in proposing laws and policies to promote corporate culture and arts projects. Amorepacific received the Mecenat Grand Prize (Presidential Award) in 2021. If you are planning a culture and arts support project, this is where you can seek help.

Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, a leader in promoting the value of
cultural arts and sympathizing with citizens

Established in 2004 with the vision of ‘creating a happy, culture and art-infused Seoul’ and ‘promoting the various values of cultural arts and sympathizing with citizens,’ the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture (SFAC) is committed to raising the quality of the lives of citizens by increasing Seoul’s competitiveness as a city. From the ‘Seoul Street Arts Festival’ to the ‘Circus Cabaret,’ the first circus festival in Korea, the Foundation leads various cultural and artistic projects in Seoul. SFAC runs various other organizations, such as the Seoul Arts Education Center, Seoul Artists’ Platform, Seoul Dance Center and Seoul Theater Center, on top of supporting different youth art support projects. If you are planning a cultural arts activity related to Seoul, I highly encourage you to get in touch with SFAC.

So far, we have looked at companies that combine technology and art, and public institutions that act as intermediary organizations to support culture and arts activities of companies. Here are two additional institutions in charge of the ‘social economy’ organizations introduced so far. (since this is the last volume.. :))

Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency, which contributes to improving the quality of life of citizens by bringing the society together through the vitalization of social economy

Despite its name, the Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency does not work with only social enterprises. It supports various types of organizations, including social enterprises and cooperatives. If you need a reliable partner in that field, this is your place.

Seoul Social Venture Hub, which supports social ventures that create
business models designed to solve social problems

The Seoul Social Venture Hub was founded on May 1, 2019, through joint efforts between the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Korea Asset Management Corporation (KAMCO), Korea Student Aid Foundation, and Public Workers Solidarity Foundation. The Hub, which specifically supports social ventures that create business models designed to solve social problems while generating profit, provides a space for cooperation between companies and takes lead in vitalizing the social venture ecosystem. Some say that ‘social ventures’ are all the rage nowadays, more so than social enterprises because they pursue sustainable profits while solving social problems using innovative approaches to create social values. Contact the Seoul Social Venture Hub, if you intend on collaborating with a social venture located in Seoul.

Over the course of six parts, we looked at social economy organizations, actual cases, as well as public institutions that act as intermediary organizations, all dedicated to ‘making A MORE beautiful world.’ Even as we speak, someone is brainstorming ways to make ‘A MORE beautiful world,’ and I hope we can all take part in that cause with the right partners. Thank you.