The "19th Chungnam Arts Festival," where the past, present, and future of Chungnam arts can be experienced in one place, kicked off on the 18th in Naepo New Town.

Hosted by the Chungcheongnam-do Federation of Artistic & Cultural Organizations (Chairman Oh Tae-geun) and organized jointly with the provincial government, the Chungnam Arts Festival, and city/county arts councils, this year's festival runs for three days until the 20th around the Chungcheongnam-do Provincial Government Multi-purpose Plaza.

Under the theme "Chungnam United Through Art," the festival was organized as a harmonious venue to promote the identity of Chungnam arts and to foster communication and empathy between residents and artists.

Notably, as this is the first time the festival is being held in Naepo New Town, the administrative center of Chungnam, it provides an opportunity to expand cultural and arts enjoyment opportunities for residents and establish itself as a representative arts festival of Chungnam encompassing regions and generations.

The festival features participation from associations under the Chungnam Federation of Arts and city/county arts councils, presenting a diverse program including 16 performing arts programs, 4 exhibitions, hands-on experiences, competitions, and an arts forum. Beyond performances and exhibitions, programs that residents can directly participate in and experience are also being operated, transforming the event from an artist-centric gathering into an open arts festival that anyone can enjoy together.

Key programs include:

Chungnam Writers Association Poetry and Painting Exhibition
22nd Chungnam Expatriate Artists Flag Art Festival
Tour Exhibition of Award-Winning and Selected Works from the 56th Chungnam Photography Exhibition
Hands-on experiences and exhibitions that delight the five senses
Chungnam Youth Dance and Dance Competition
Performances in Korean traditional music, trot, folk, traditional Korean dance, classical music, and musicals
Chungnam Arts Forum
The opening ceremony took place at 7 p.m. on the 18th at the Provincial Government Multi-purpose Plaza, during which the provincial governor's citation plaques were awarded to five artists who contributed to the development and revitalization of creative activities in Chungnam arts.

The recipients are:

Jung Sang-soo (Member, Chungnam Korean Music Association)
Jang Mi-sook (Member, Chungnam Writers Association)
Kim Kyung-mi (Member, Gongju Federation of Arts)
Shin Young-seop (Member, Boryeong Federation of Arts)
Baek Tae-hyun (Member, Dangjin Federation of Arts)

A provincial official stated, "We hope that this Chungnam Arts Festival, held for the first time in Naepo New Town, will be an opportunity for nearby residents as well as all provincial citizens to encounter and enjoy art close to their daily lives," adding, "The provincial government will continue to support the creative activities of local artists and expand opportunities for residents to enjoy culture and arts."

Oh Tae-geun, Chairman of the Chungcheongnam-do Federation of Artistic & Cultural Organizations, said, "We hope this Chungnam Arts Festival becomes a festival where residents and artists mingle, enjoy, and communicate together," adding, "Through various programs, we will take Chungnam's art and culture to the next level and develop the Chungnam Arts Festival into a representative arts festival that residents can resonate with and share."

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