Dedicated to the Performing Arts: Hyo Han, Arts Manager

By Choi Gabi, Editor

Photo Credits: Jabin Choi, Intern Editor (NYU Tisch)

Introduction to Arts Management

The 21st century is often regarded as the era of arts management. This term, which combines "pure art" with the "cultural industry," embodies both artistic ideals and managerial mindsets. It doesn’t just aim to provide the joy of art but also aspires to create an efficient system for revenue generation. Initially used by public institutions to convey art more systematically, it began emphasizing profitability as it expanded to private entities.

Among the arts managers is Hyo Han, the Performing Arts Director at the Korean Cultural Center in New York. Despite the job's demands—sacrificing weekends, enduring constant tension and stress—Han finds significant reward in promoting Korean culture globally as an arts manager and cultural diplomat.

Role of the Performing Arts Director at the Korean Cultural Center

The Korean Cultural Center of New York, an extension of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, oversees 30 cultural centers worldwide. As it approaches its 40th anniversary, its mission remains to promote Korean culture, including traditional music and dance, through events such as concerts and food festivals, thereby enhancing Korea-US relations. The center comprises various departments including performance, exhibitions, film, Korean cuisine, sports, library, accounting, and public relations.

Han specifically manages traditional and modern performing arts, excluding K-pop, such as classical, traditional, and multimedia performances.

Journey to Becoming an Arts Manager

With majors in sociology and administrative management from undergraduate studies and a master's degree in performing arts administration from NYU, Han has worked at the cultural center since 2012. An early interest in event planning during high school eventually led Han down this career path. The exchange program experience in the Netherlands furthered this interest, particularly in promoting Korean culture through events like Korean Day.

The Demands of Arts Management

Han embarked on this career out of pure love for art. However, the role requires continuous learning across various domains, a challenge for someone without a direct artistic background. The constant study of Korean traditional arts, particularly attracted by the charm of Korean traditional music (gugak), has been enlightening and rewarding.

Memorable Performances and Challenges

Annually, the center hosts over 50 performances. Notably, the "Gugak Music Concert with Commentary" by the National Gugak Center’s folk music troupe was a poignant event. It aimed to make traditional Korean music more accessible to New Yorkers with detailed explanations, a format that succeeded at prominent venues like the Florence Gould Hall and the Metropolitan Museum.

However, managing public institutions poses challenges. While the center targets New Yorkers to spread Korean culture in the U.S., it faces misconceptions about being solely a resource for local Korean communities, which sometimes leads to conflicts of interest. Limited budgets further complicate organizing diverse events.

Future Aspirations and Community Engagement

Han aspires to one day manage a performance venue, inspired by the unique dynamics and humanity of live performances. Meanwhile, there is a call for Korean-Americans to understand the cultural center's governmental mission and actively participate in its programs, which include extensive library resources and free art exhibitions, enriching both expatriate and broader communities.

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