Reusing Exhibition Materials and Preserving Cultural Heritage: Art Museums Gather to Share ESG Practices

Samsung Foundation of Culture to Host ESG Exchange Program for Cultural and Arts Institutions at Leeum on the 15th
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, National Museum of Korea, and Others to Participate:
Sharing Cases in Environmental and Social Sectors
Free Admission for the Public Beyond National, Public, and Private Institutions

After exhibitions conclude, leftover materials are reused by other art museums, and the value of diversity is taught to children through the use of cultural heritage. Various examples of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives from cultural and arts institutions will be brought together in one place.

Poster for the "2026 Cultural and Arts Institutions ESG Exchange Program – Solidarity through Art, Sustainable Future" hosted by the Samsung Foundation of Culture at the Leeum Museum of Art on the 15th. Institutions including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the National Museum of Korea will participate to share cases of ESG practices in cultural and arts institutions, such as reuse of exhibition resources, ecological education, education on cultural diversity, and preservation of cultural heritage abroad. Samsung Foundation of Culture

According to the Samsung Foundation of Culture on October 7, the "2026 Cultural and Arts Institutions ESG Exchange Program – Solidarity through Art, Sustainable Future" will be held on October 15 at 2 PM in the auditorium of the Leeum Museum of Art in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The event, now in its third year since its launch in 2023, will be attended by professionals from national, public, and private cultural and arts institutions, as well as the general public.

This year, the program will focus on moving beyond individual responses from institutions to the climate crisis and social challenges, and instead seek ways to share resources and experiences among organizations. In the environmental sector, topics such as the recycling of exhibition resources and ecological education will be featured. In the social sector, cases will be shared on cultural diversity education and the preservation of cultural heritage located abroad.

Kang Seungwan, former director of Busan Museum of Contemporary Art, will deliver the keynote address on "Museum and ESG Operation." Drawing from his experience in museum management, he will suggest practical ESG solutions that can be implemented on-site by cultural and arts institutions.

In the first environmental session, Jung Jieun, administrative officer at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, will introduce the "Exhibition Resource Sharing Platform," which shares and reuses exhibition materials between institutions to reduce waste. Taeyeon Kim, curator at Samsung Foundation of Culture, will present a case study on a science-art convergence program based on "Green Science," developed in collaboration with the Biodiversity Foundation, which integrates ecology, environment, and biology.

In the social sector, Lee Youngshin, curator at the National Museum of Korea, will introduce the "MODU! ABCD" cultural diversity education platform, which helps promote understanding and respect for different cultures through cultural heritage. Kyuseong Kang, researcher at Samsung Foundation of Culture, will share examples of supporting the preservation of Korean cultural heritage scattered overseas.

After the case study presentations, cellist Lee Won-hae, a recipient of support from the Samsung Music Fellowship—Samsung Foundation of Culture’s musical instrument sponsorship program—will perform a congratulatory piece on a Matteo Goffriller cello from 1715. Networking among participants will follow.

The event is open and free to both cultural and arts institution professionals and the general public. Those who pre-register on the Leeum Museum of Art website will be granted complimentary access to the museum from 12 PM to 2 PM on the day of the event. The first 100 people who present a photo verifying their use of public transportation or a fare record will also receive a commemorative gift.

Since 2021, the Samsung Foundation of Culture has been conducting resource circulation initiatives, including the reuse of modular partitions and exhibition materials, as well as recycling used hand towels and discarded electronics. It also produces sign language interpretation videos, organizes invitations for persons with disabilities, hosts touring exhibitions in local communities, and operates overseas cultural heritage preservation support projects.

Ryu Mun-hyung, CEO of Samsung Foundation of Culture, said, "The sustainable transformation of cultural and arts institutions can only be expanded when each party shares its experiences and cooperates with others," adding, "I hope this occasion will serve as an opportunity to reinforce practical, field-oriented solidarity beyond the boundaries of national, public, and private institutions."

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