Seoul Arts Center CEO Seeks Cheaper Tickets
By Bae Keun-min
Staff Reporter
The newly appointed president of Seoul Arts Center unveiled his vision for the complex to become one of the world's foremost art halls, in his first press conference at the Press Center in downtown Seoul, Monday.
As an initial step, a renovation plan worth over 80 billion won will soon be announced, including an overhaul of its opera house, calligraphy art museum and extension work for the main entrance, said Seoul Arts Center president Shin Hyun-taek.
``Due to budgetary issues, it is impossible to refurbish all the facilities at a time. The opera house alone needs some 50 billion won. For the coming three years, the renovation will be made step by step,'' said Shin, former Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family. ``A mid- and long-term blueprint will be revealed as early as at the end of this month.''
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism tapped Shin for the public post on May 3. He will serve a three-year tenure.
``For the past 20 years, the center has built a reputation as the nation's top art complex and garnered know-how,'' said Shin, 55. ``But it is not enough: it is time to make it a world-class art center.''
Shin said the center will keep focus on providing pure arts programs but extend opportunities for the general public to savor high arts, even through sacrificing its financial self-reliance.
``I am highly interested in the cultural gap between classes. As the center hosts pure arts events, ticket prices tend to be high. We will devise a differentiated ticket-pricing policy for the general public and the low-incomers so that they come enjoy arts at the center,'' Shin said.
Shin said a committee, tentatively named the arts consultation committee, will be established, which will help with the center's programming.
To offer more affordable tickets for the public, the current financial self-reliance, estimated at 80 percent, will be lowered to 70 percent as it is far higher than most world-class art centers abroad with around 30-40 percent, Shin said. ``Although 80 percent is not very high compared to local public companies, I think the figure is too high for a quasi-public art center. We will give more attention to public benefits rather than profitability,'' Shin said.
In order to consolidate the arts business and fill possible loss resulting from a new ticket pricing policy, Shin plans to seek donations and cooperation from private enterprises.
``I will do my best to execute the goals, utilizing my knowledge and career as 30-year veteran public official,'' said Shin, who used to be a choir member during high school years. ``I am neither an artist nor an expert. But this will make me able not to lean too much to one genre of arts and balance myself when it comes to investment and nurturing.''
After he heard about his appointment, Shin said he consulted with former president of the center Kim Yong-bae and Lee Chang-dong, film director and former Minister of Culture and Tourism. ``Lee told me that `If you act humble, show genuineness and truthfulness, you will be acknowledged in the end','' Shin said.