It's Okay to Fail at the Museum... MMCA Launches Summer Vacation Program

Held at the Seoul Branch in Connection with "Still Trying Days," August 1–16
Lecture by Kim So-Young, Heart Piano Trio Performance, and Keyring-Making Sessions

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) announced on the 15th that it will run a special summer vacation program linked to the MMCA i-space exhibition "Still Trying Days" from August 1 to 16 at the Open Education Space+ in the Education Building of the Seoul branch.

A scene from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art's summer vacation special program workshop, "My Own Sculpture Collection." National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

This program was designed to expand upon the exhibition's core themes of "attempt" and "failure" and to help children embrace new challenges and the process of growth, rather than fear failure. Participatory events for families, including lectures, performances, and ongoing workshops, will be offered.

On August 1 at 2:30 p.m., author Kim So-Young, who wrote "A Child's World," will deliver a lecture titled "A Child's World at the Art Museum." Aimed at guardians raising children, the lecture will cover how to respect children's mistakes and communicate with them in a healthy manner. Children may attend with their guardians, and participants will be granted complimentary access to the "Still Trying Days" exhibition during the same time slot.

On August 8 at 3:00 p.m., the Heart Piano Trio—an ensemble of musicians with developmental disabilities—will perform a concert titled "Barriers Reduced to Zero, Music United as One." Through a violin, cello, and piano ensemble, the event will foster communication through art, transcending the boundaries between people with and without disabilities.

During the program’s run, the Open Education Space+ lounge will host two ongoing workshops: "My Own Sculpture Collection" and "My Own Artwork." Visitors can use materials from exhibition participant Yang Junguk’s workshop to make their own keyrings. Additionally, the first 500 participants to share their "failure story" and photos of creations made in the exhibition space online as part of "My Own Artwork" will receive a specially designed eco-bag on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participation scene at the MMCA i-Space exhibition 'The Days I Still Tried' at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

Program applications can be made in advance on the MMCA website beginning at 2:00 p.m. on the 15th. The lecture is limited to 50 participants and the performance to 150, with participation free of charge.

"Still Trying Days" is an interactive exhibition created in collaboration with Yang Junguk, the 2024 Artist of the Year Grand Prize winner. Visitors can stack wooden blocks, construct with natural materials, or toss walnuts into baskets, giving them a hands-on experience with trial and error and experimentation in the creative process. The exhibition encourages viewing failure as a starting point for new possibilities.

Kim Sung-Hee, Director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, stated, "In a results-oriented society, what children need most is the freedom to fully attempt and fail. During the summer vacation, we will offer diverse cultural and artistic programs so that children can freely challenge themselves and grow in the safe environment of the museum."

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