Organizer Information
The Busan Biennale Organizing Committee organizes the Sea Art Festival, a contemporary art event that has been held since 1987. The festival focuses on the relationship between Busan, its coastal environment, and contemporary art, using beaches, riverfronts, ports, islands, and other maritime spaces as contexts for artistic and curatorial projects. The 2027 edition is hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Biennale Organizing Committee.
Title & Description
Artistic Director of the Sea Art Festival 2027
Open Call for the Artistic Director of the Sea Art Festival 2027 invites applications from Korea and abroad for an Artistic Director to develop the overall artistic and curatorial direction of the 2027 festival. The selected candidate will create a curatorial concept that responds to Busan's identity as a maritime city and its ongoing urban transformation.
The festival will run for 37 days between September and November 2027, featuring approximately 20 artists and/or collectives. Proposed projects may occupy beaches, riverfronts, ports, islands, coastal areas, and connected urban spaces. The programme may include exhibitions, research, workshops, performances, public programmes, and archival projects.
The Role Overview
- Position: Artistic Director, Sea Art Festival 2027
- Contract Type: Non-full-time
- Contract Period: From the date of contract through December 2027
- Project Budget: Approximately KRW 800 million
- Participating Artists: Approximately 20 artists and/or collectives
- Curatorial Direction: Contemporary, site-specific and experimental
- Host: Busan Metropolitan City and Busan Biennale Organizing Committee
The project budget includes the Artistic Director's fee, artwork production and installation, artist fees, travel, personnel, exhibition-related programmes, exhibition operations, and administrative expenses. PR expenses are excluded.
Position & Tasks
- Establish the exhibition theme and overall curatorial direction.
- Select participating artists, artworks, and/or collectives.
- Oversee artwork production and installation.
- Develop the exhibition budget and consult with the Organizing Committee on allocation.
- Develop spatial configurations and assess the feasibility of proposed projects.
- Plan research, public programmes, and archival projects.
- Collaborate with local and international cultural, public, and research institutions.
- Support communications, promotion, partnership development, and sponsorship initiatives.
- Contribute to expanding the Busan Biennale Organizing Committee's international network.
- Undertake other responsibilities specified in the contract.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Contemporary Art
- Curating
- Site-Specific Art
- Public Art
- Installation
- Performance
- Research
- Public Programmes
- Interdisciplinary Art
Eligibility
The call is open to one individual from the Republic of Korea or abroad. Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong knowledge and expertise in contemporary art.
- Experience curating diverse exhibitions and projects.
- An understanding of the Sea Art Festival's history and Busan's maritime identity.
- Experience or capability in site-specific and experimental exhibitions.
- Ability to develop research and public programmes.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- Ability to work with diverse local stakeholders and develop inclusive, accessible programmes.
- Ability to visit and stay in Busan as required.
- Capacity to contribute to the Organizing Committee's international network.
Applicants may propose collaborators as part of their curatorial proposal.
Program Benefits
The selected Artistic Director receives a professional fee within the overall project budget. The approximately KRW 800 million project budget also covers participating artists' fees, artwork production and installation, travel expenses, personnel, exhibition-related programmes, operating costs, and administrative expenses.
The role provides the opportunity to lead the artistic and curatorial development of an international contemporary art festival in Busan.
Application Fee
Nonw
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 30 October 2026
- Application Review: November 1–19, 2026
- Interview Candidates Announced: By November 20, 2026
- Interviews: By November 26, 2026
- Final Selection: December 2026
- Festival Period: September–November 2027, for 37 days
- Contract: From appointment through December 2027
Location
Busan, South Korea
Additional Details
The selected Artistic Director must be able to visit and stay in Busan when required for planning and implementation. Shortlisted candidates must attend an interview at the date designated by the Organizing Committee. Interviews may use consecutive Korean-English interpretation.
All projects will be developed and implemented in consultation with the Organizing Committee. Proposed venues remain subject to considerations including accessibility, safety, permits, approvals, budget, and feasibility. The Artistic Director may not simultaneously hold a key role in another event if this could interfere with their duties or create a conflict of interest.
Only successful candidates at each selection stage will be contacted individually by email.