Creative resilience: Seoul’s initiatives to support artists during the pandemic

The Purpose
Seoul’s artists faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Seoul Metropolitan Government acted to create initiatives and programs to support artists during this crisis.

The Challenge
In-person cultural activities were almost impossible and led to significant financial losses in the performance sector, particularly for freelancers.

The impact of the programs was significant, with over 10,000 artists benefiting from the Artist Life Stabilisation Fund in 2021.

The Solution
In response to the harsh impact of the pandemic on artists, the Seoul Metropolitan Government launched several initiatives to support artists. These initiatives include the ‘Artist Life Stabilisation Fund Support,’ which provided annual financial support to artists living in Seoul, particularly freelancers. The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture also launched the ‘Emergency Support for Artists Affected by COVID-19’ to fund non-face-to-face cultural and artistic activities. These programs aimed to ensure sustainable artistic activities and provide financial support to artists affected by the pandemic.

The Impact
The impact of these programs is significant, with over 10,000 artists benefiting from the Artist Life Stabilisation Fund in 2021. The funding continued until the damage caused by COVID-19 receded, and additional support for artists’ welfare was planned for the post-COVID-19 era.

The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture will expand support for planning and research at the early creative stages, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government is providing long-term support for artists by operating creative facilities with affordable studio space. These initiatives aim to ensure that Seoul remains a city where creativity flourishes and artists are well-supported.

Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022

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