[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Yoo Je-sung] Gwangmyeong City has given the green light to the Gwangmyeong Art Center construction project, which has been pursued with an aim to open in 2030.
The city announced on the 2nd that the public property management plan for the Gwangmyeong Art Center was approved at the 299th extraordinary session of the Gwangmyeong City Council held on the 1st.
Following passage of the Gyeonggi Province investment review in October last year, the council approval has completed most major administrative procedures necessary for construction commencement, with only the Gyeonggi Province public architecture review remaining.
The city plans to systematically prepare for the remaining Gyeonggi Province review process by conducting architectural planning studies, design competitions, and detailed design work.
The Gwangmyeong Art Center is being developed on the Gihydong-do Culture Park site in Iljik-dong, Lot 499, with an investment of approximately 19.4 billion won, spanning 2,050㎡, targeting a 2030 opening.
Considering that the region has relatively insufficient cultural infrastructure and lacks a specialized art museum, the city has pursued the creation of exhibition-focused cultural facilities to expand cultural enjoyment opportunities for residents. The city plans to develop it into a municipal art museum by expanding collections and content in the future.
The facility will be designed as a complex cultural space featuring exhibition halls, storage areas, multipurpose rooms, rest areas, and an outdoor sculpture park. In particular, the building exterior will incorporate media facades to allow artwork appreciation from both inside and outside, while combining exhibition production with public information provision to secure both openness and symbolic significance of the space.
Furthermore, the city will establish exhibition and creative infrastructure involving local artists and residents, fostering collaboration among emerging artists, arts organizations, and local communities to strengthen the foundation of the regional arts ecosystem.
Additionally, the city plans to develop a 'cultural belt' linked with abundant historical and cultural assets in the vicinity, including the Gihydong-do Literature Hall, Gwangmyeong Traditional Intangible Cultural Heritage Transmission Center, Choonghyun Museum, and Ori Seowon, enabling residents to enjoy richer culture in their daily lives.
Choi Hye-min, Acting Mayor of Gwangmyeong City (Vice Mayor), stated, "The Gwangmyeong Art Center will become a citizen-centered cultural platform where art and daily life naturally harmonize," and added, "We will develop it as an open space where any citizen can appreciate and create art, enhancing the city's cultural competitiveness."