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Weiwuying Signs Memorandum with Jeonju International Sori Festival
Today (22nd), National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) signed a memorandum with Jeonju International Sori Festival (JISF), which is listed among the 25 Best International Festivals. The memorandum indicates a three-year collaboration between Taiwanese and Korean contemporary performers and artists.
JISF started in 2001 and is centered around traditional Korean music. Since 2012, JISF was selected for four consecutive years as one of the 25 Best International Festivals by renowned UK music magazine Songlines. Each year, JISF gathers various music groups that integrate traditional and contemporary music, organizing events such as workshops and master classes, attracting approximately 1,300 artists and professional curators from over 18 countries, making Jeonju a significant platform for performance art in the Asia and Pacific area.
Weiwuying artistic director Chien Wen-Pin stated that: “This collaboration with JISF is the first memorandum that Weiwuying has signed with other music and performance art platforms. JISF has managed to integrate traditional music with contemporary music, which aligns with the artistic goal of Weiwuying. Centered in Asia, we hope to integrate the various elements of traditional music from different regions and explore further possibilities for contemporary music, even music in the future. We also hope that this collaboration will allow more interactions between young professionals in Taiwan and Korea.”
This memorandum makes Weiwuying JISF’s first partner in Asia; artist exchanges and collaborations will commence in 2021. In the future, recipients of the Best Program prize of JISF will be invited to perform at Weiwuying each year. Park Je Chun, executive director of JISF, traveled to Weiwuying for the signing of the memorandum. After taking the post as executive director of JISF in 2014, Park used his influence in the Korean music world and expressed his plans to “shake the foundations of tradition,” encouraging musicians to experiment with their art. Park has successfully introduced innovation in the music festival, attracting more audiences for traditional Korean music. Park stated during today’s signing ceremony that: “Both JISF and myself strive to uphold the legacy of traditional music through innovation. This collaboration with Weiwuying is the perfect opportunity and platform for new artists.”