Civil Defense Shelters Become Museums... 10 Years of the "Small Museum" Project, 38 Established Nationwide

1,291 Exhibitions and 570,000 Visitors
Bogugot Small Museum in Gimpo Wins Grand Prize
Established as a Regional Cultural Hub

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts Council (ARKO) celebrated the 10th anniversary of the "Small Museum Establishment and Operation Support Project" by sharing its achievements over the years and recognizing outstanding cases.

Exhibition view of 'Eatda Space Small Art Museum' in Baedari, Incheon. Photo by Korea Arts & Culture Commission

The Ministry and ARKO announced that on March 5, they held the 10th anniversary event for the Small Museum Project, titled "Layers, Connections, and Beside," at the Artist House in Daehak-ro, Seoul.

The "Small Museum" project was launched in 2015 to transform unused public spaces in areas without museums into cultural venues, thereby expanding opportunities for local residents to experience the arts.

Over the past ten years, a total of 38 small museums have been established in 34 cities and counties nationwide, hosting 1,291 exhibitions, with a cumulative audience of approximately 570,000 visitors and 2,907 participating artists. Small museums have come to be recognized not just as exhibition venues, but as community-based visual art platforms where local artists and residents interact.

During the event, awards were presented to small museums and curators who have served as regional cultural hubs, in recognition of their exemplary work.

In the organizational category, the grand prize went to the Bogugot Small Museum in Gimpo, which was created by repurposing a civil defense shelter. The museum was highly praised for reflecting the characteristics of a border region and for operating joint exhibition and education programs involving local military units and residents.

The Gyeongnam Sacheon Small Museum, located near Samcheonpo Bridge Park, received the Regional Resource Value Promotion Award. The Etda Space Small Museum in Baedari, Incheon, which revitalized a former inn building, was awarded the Regional Cooperation Governance Excellence Award. The Naju Small Museum, operating in a renovated rice mill, received the Award for Excellence in Operational Sustainability.

In the individual category, on-site personnel who contributed to the operation and program planning of small museums were also honored.

The Award for Operational Merit went to Director Kim Hyunju of Angye Small Museum and Chairman Lee Myungkyu of Naju Small Museum, while the Award for Outstanding Curator was presented to Curator Kim Shinae of Samcheok Small Museum AND.

Other notable examples were also introduced, including Jecheon 175 Small Museum, which utilizes the underground space of a traditional market, and Sejong BRT Small Museum, established at a key transportation hub.

Jung Byungguk, Chairman of the Korea Arts Council, stated, "The past ten years have been a time when, thanks to the efforts of artists, planners, and local residents, unused spaces have been transformed into cultural venues where art breathes. We will continue to support efforts to bring art closer to people's everyday lives."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.