Culture Ministry, Korea Arts Management Service Seek Applicants for Regional Performing Arts Distribution; 39.5 Billion Won in Support Next Year

The program covers five genres: theater, musicals, dance, music, and traditional arts
Up to 1 billion won in support per group and 200 million won per venue

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts Management Service will launch a call for applications for next year’s regional performing arts distribution program, with a total budget of 39.5 billion won.

The ministry and the Korea Arts Management Service said on October 27 that they would accept applications for the integrated “2027 Nationwide Distribution Support for Culture and Arts” program through January 7, 2027, via P:art:ner, an online performing arts distribution platform. The program aims to reduce regional disparities in the distribution of performing arts, strengthen performing arts groups’ distribution capabilities and self-sustainability, and expand local residents’ opportunities to enjoy culture. It covers five basic performing arts genres: theater, musicals, dance, music, and traditional arts.

Specifically, 28.5 billion won will be allocated to the “Regional Distribution Support Program for Performing Arts,” and 11 billion won to the “Regional Distribution Support Program for Representative Performance Content.”

Under both programs, performing arts groups and other applicants first apply with their works and discuss performance venues, schedules, stage and technical requirements, and budgets. The venues then submit the final applications. Grants are awarded to the venues, which contract with the performing arts groups to stage the performances.

The play "Red, Deep Blue Meoguri," selected for the 2026 Performing Arts Regional Distribution Support Program / Korea Arts Management Service

The Regional Distribution Support Program for Performing Arts seeks to promote the regional distribution of performances through cooperation between private performing arts groups and public performing arts venues. It supports works by private performing arts groups and production companies that have completed production and been staged for paying audiences, so they can be presented at public performing arts venues outside Seoul.

Each performing arts group may apply with up to three works. Across all its applications, a group may distribute its works to up to six venues, and receive up to 500 million won in support. A venue may apply with two to seven works, including works from at least two different genres, and receive up to 150 million won. The maximum number of works each performing arts group may apply with has increased from two to three, and the distribution support limit has been adjusted to up to six venues per group. The minimum number of works venues must apply with has been reduced from three to two.

The Regional Distribution Support Program for Representative Performance Content distributes representative performances with proven marketability and artistic merit, as well as outstanding performances produced through public support programs, to public performing arts venues outside the Seoul metropolitan area. Eligible venues are public performing arts venues in regions other than Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon that have registered indoor performance halls with at least 700 seats.

Eligible works include the top 10 works by ticket sales in each genre, as listed in the ticket sales analysis report published by the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System (KOPIS), as well as works that have won the Presidential Award, Prime Minister’s Award, or Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award for Best Work. Performances produced through the Specialized Support Program for Arts Centers run by the Korea Culture and Arts Centers Association are also eligible if they meet certain ticket sales thresholds.

Next year, the minimum seating capacity for participating venues will be lowered from 800 to 700 seats. Each performing arts group and relevant public institution may apply with one work and distribute it to up to six venues. The maximum grant will be 1 billion won per group or institution. Venues may apply with up to three works and receive up to 200 million won each.

For both programs, performing arts groups must apply by 5 p.m. on November 19, 2026. After consulting with the performing arts groups, venues may apply from December 11, 2026, through 5 p.m. on January 7, 2027.

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