'Dream Arts Ensemble' Named Top Government Innovation Case... Ministry to Expand to 200 Hubs Next Year

Next year's budget to increase from KRW 17.1 billion to KRW 26.6 billion
Expand genres to include choral singing and strengthen advanced training for members
Establish donation and sponsorship system involving businesses and the public

The Dream Arts Ensemble, operated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service, was selected as Korea's top example in the tangible youth welfare category in the 2026 Government Innovation Firsts and Bests contest. The ministry announced on November 2 that it would use the recognition as an opportunity to pursue its “Dream Arts Ensemble 2.0” policy to further develop the program.

The Dream Arts Ensemble is an arts education program that gives children and adolescents in underserved areas access to a variety of arts education and performance opportunities. It was selected as Korea's top example in the tangible youth welfare category in the 2026 Government Innovation Firsts and Bests contest, organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Korea Institute of Public Administration. The selection recognized the program for providing children and adolescents with quality opportunities to engage in the arts and contributing to the artistic growth of its members and the development of a sustainable local arts and culture infrastructure.

The Dream Arts Ensemble began in 2010 as Dream Orchestras in eight regions and has since expanded into fields including dance, theater, studios, Arts Ensemble Plus, and traditional arts. This year, it has grown to involve more than 6,000 members at 150 locations nationwide. The ministry selects cultural foundations, cultural centers, arts and culture centers, and other institutions as local hubs to support arts education suited to regional conditions. At present, 45 Dream Orchestra hubs operate independently.

Members of the Dream Art Ensemble perform at a joint concert of the Dream Orchestra and Dance Camp at the Alpensia Music Tent in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, on Aug. 6. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Building on its achievements, which have been recognized as a leading example of government innovation, the ministry will pursue “Dream Arts Ensemble 2.0” to further develop the program. Whereas its efforts so far have focused on establishing the Dream Arts Ensemble across the country, the plan is to move into a more mature phase in which local communities work together to nurture the ensembles. To this end, the ministry plans to expand the regions and art forms covered, systematically support members' artistic development, and strengthen the foundations for sustainable operations through local community participation. The 2027 government budget proposal allocates KRW 26.6 billion to the program, an increase of KRW 9.5 billion from this year's KRW 17.1 billion.

Next year, the ministry will expand the Dream Arts Ensemble's local hubs from 150 this year to more than 200, broadening opportunities for children and adolescents in local communities to participate. It will introduce new fields, including choral singing, alongside existing art forms, and develop models for operating small orchestras tailored to the population and demand in each region. It also plans to launch new initiatives specifically to expand participation opportunities in areas facing population decline.

The program will also offer advanced arts education and a range of artistic experiences, including ensemble playing and performances, to help members who have grown through the Dream Arts Ensemble further develop their abilities. To support this, the ministry will expand cooperation with national arts organizations and major performance venues, and appoint prominent artists and others as “Dream Arts Ensemble Masters” to lead masterclasses and provide consultations.

The ministry will also strengthen support for independently operated local hubs so that the Dream Arts Ensemble can continue operating stably in local communities after government funding for operating expenses ends. In addition to existing support for instructor training, camps, and performances, it will introduce support for educational equipment, including the replacement of aging instruments. It will also establish a donation and sponsorship system that companies and members of the public can participate in.

“The Dream Arts Ensemble's selection as Korea's top example of government innovation recognizes its achievements in expanding participation opportunities for children and adolescents underserved in the arts, while nurturing both their growth and the foundations for local arts and culture,” said Jeong Hyangmi, head of the Arts and Culture Policy Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. “We will now move beyond establishing ensembles across the country and advance to a more mature phase in which local residents, regional businesses, and hub institutions work together to nurture ‘Dream Arts Ensembles in Our Neighborhoods.’”

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