Seoul Arts Center | Seoul City

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Seoul Arts Center
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The Seoul Arts Center, proposed in 1982 and completely finished in February 1993, is truly a complete cultural complex. It offers a wide variety of cultural events, performances, and exhibitions, ranging from music to dance to movies. The Music Hall and Calligraphy Hall opened in 1988 in time for the Seoul Olympics. Two years later, the Art Gallery and Arts Library came into service before the opening of the Seoul Opera House. The Seoul Arts Center is also home to the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts. Opera House Nicknamed the 'Big Hat' (due to the shape of the upper part of the building which was designed to resemble a traditional Korean hat), the Opera House offers three different venues for performing arts, ranging from traditional European classics (grand operas and ballets) to the experimental and contemporary works. The Opera Theater showcases big productions, with 2,300 seats. Towol Theater has medium-sized drama productions, with 700 seats. A third audience area can accommodate groups of 300-500 people. Paris' Bastile Opera, St. Petersburg Ballet, English National Ballet, and the original production of the musical "Cats" were recent programs at the Opera Theater. The Towol recently offered an excellent venue for the Jirea International Dance Festival and numerous theatrical and musical works by national and international artists. The Chayu Theater had served as the most accessible venue for artists and audiences of all tastes, having accommodated dance, advantaged events, children's theater, jazz, underground, and crossover music. Since its complete opening in 1993, professionalism of management has been the driving force in providing the Opera House with outstanding international and national programs offering audiences in Korea a direct experience of high quality arts and culture. The venues include service areas for refreshments, meeting rooms, and areas for conventions and private functions. Music Hall Acknowledged by world's renowned musicians of its excellence, Music Hall is a classic concert hall over 15,000 square meters in size. Since its opening it has been visited by many famous domestic and foreign artists for their local debut and repeat performances. It consists of a Concert Hall, Recital Hall, as well as a rehearsal room, foyer, and dressing rooms. The foyer is open to the public all the time regardless of the performance schedule, making it popular among visitors. Calligraphy Hall Located closest to the Korean Garden and Woomyon-san, the Calligraphy Hall offers an Oriental attraction where people can go to contemplate art as well as themselves. Though it offers a quiet place from the hustling city life, the management is never quiet in promoting and exchanging international calligraphy exhibitions, competitions, and education programs. A visit to Calligraphy Hall gives one an insight into how Oriental literature transforms into visual art. Art Gallery Offering a spacious exhibition area of over 15,000 square meters, the Hall is divided into five galleries on four different levels, plus an outdoor sculpture plaza. The Art Gallery features a wide variety of exhibitions through out the year, reflecting current trends in the arts. It is a busy area in the daytime as it functions as an outreach center, extending its artistic and educational functions throughout the communities. Arts Library The Arts Library, located between the concert hall and Art Gallery, provides the general public, artists, and arts students with a wealth of data and information on arts and culture beyond the boundaries of time and ideology. Equipped with a hands-on computer data sourcing system and audio-visual apparatus, visitors can travel to different times and cultures with ease. One can spend an entire day reading original plays, watching arts films in the archive, or browsing through a colorful history of various fields of arts. Outdoor Areas The outdoor areas provide places for people to get some fresh air after a breathtaking session in the theater or to relax after a hectic day at work? The Seoul Arts Center's outdoor event spaces provide a nice backdrop for a special occasion, including a Korean garden leads to the top of Woomyon-san. The walk from the Opera House to the Music Hall passes a beautiful pond sheltering Korean ducks and silk carps. Behind the pond is a small forest where you can hear a small cascade falling from the hill. National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts This organization began more than 1,400 years ago. Its forerunners trace back to an institute called Umsongso during the reign of Queen Chindok of the Shilla Kingdom. The succeeding kingdom to Koryo had two national music institutes which combined during the early part of the Chosun Dynasties into Changakwon (Music Affairs Institute), which continued to be responsible for all music, song, and dance performed at major national celebrations. It also provided training for musicians and composers of new music. This institute survived the Japanese occupation. During the Korean War, the present center opened in Busan on April 10, 1951. The institute currently works toward preserving, researching, and transmitting traditional music and dance. Location: 700, Seoch'o-dong (along Nambu Ring Road)