The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), led by Minister Choi Hwi-young, announced Thursday that it will support 300 cultural arts and reading clubs operated by public libraries nationwide starting in April, aiming to create spaces where local residents can directly participate in and enjoy cultural arts activities centered on easily accessible public libraries.
The initiative seeks to revitalize self-sustaining local cultural club activities and expand opportunities for residents to enjoy culture in their daily lives. Notably, the number of supported clubs has expanded sixfold from 50 last year. Of the 300 clubs selected, 200 are in cultural arts and 100 in reading.
Selected clubs will receive funding for expenses such as instructor fees and material costs, along with pre-training sessions, workshops, and capacity-building opportunities including best practice case studies and expert lectures. In particular, clubs that operate special programs on Wednesdays — aligned with the expanded "Culture Day" (Culture Wednesday) program running every Wednesday starting April 1 — will receive additional support.
Starting this year, clubs will also be able to receive assistance from "Regional Culture Connectors" to strengthen their self-sustainability. Regional Culture Connectors are experts who reside in communities with public libraries and have experience in cultural planning or community-based cultural project management. They serve as facilitators supporting the growth of club leaders and participants while promoting club activities. In November, regional workshops and a nationwide club competition will be held where clubs present their key activity results, share best practices, and provide opportunities for outstanding clubs to stage performances and exhibit their works.
However, the concentration of support in the Seoul metropolitan area remains a concern, reaching 62.7%. Among the 200 cultural arts clubs supported, 128 are in the capital region — 80 in Seoul, 13 in Incheon and 35 in Gyeonggi Province — accounting for 64% of the total. Among the 100 reading clubs, 60 are in the capital region — 36 in Seoul, six in Incheon and 18 in Gyeonggi Province — representing 60% of the total.
"We will spare no effort in ensuring that libraries go beyond being mere spaces for reading books and become the centerpiece of local cultural arts," the MCST said.