The Photographic Arts Center, Seoul Museum of Art, is the first public photography museum in Korea, scheduled to open in 2024 in Chang-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul. The center is a branch of the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), and it has been sharing its establishment process through pre-opening programs in a wide range of formats every year leading up to its opening, presenting questions on its role and function as an art museum. This year’s pre-opening program, titled The Portfolio, Seoul, is designed to expand the ground of photography culture in Korea and support the creative activities of artists. The program consists of a Portfolio Review and an Archive Lounge.

Portfolio Review is a program where domestic and international reviewers who are experts of photography exchange opinions with artists on their works. Artists who participate in the program conduct a one-on-one interview with up to 3 reviewers. About 10 participants will be selected for the publication of a book with their works and critical essays on them. The website of the program will operate as a platform to archive representative artworks of participating artists and facilitate connections between the artists and the users. With this program, we hope to generate a lot of interest and participation from artists whose works are based on photography, video, and media.

Archive Lounge provides a space where visitors and participants can freely browse and interact with the photo books and exhibition catalogs of the artists who participate in Portfolio Review. The Archive Lounge is an open space for all citizens, as well as the program participants, to gather together and exchange conversations. The Exchanging Space at the Art Archives, SeMA, will host the Archive Lounge throughout the duration of The Portfolio, Seoul.

Overview
– Title: The Photographic Arts Center, Seoul Museum of Art Pre-opening Program The Portfolio, Seoul
– Opening Hours and Period: 10:00-18:00, September 4th (Mon) – 10th (Tue), 2023 (7 days)
– Venue: Exchanging Space, Art Archives, Seoul Museum of Art (101, Pyeongchangmunhwa-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea)
– Details: Activating discourses on contemporary photography and supporting creative activities by artists by providing opportunities for meetings between domestic and international experts of photography and artists.
– Organized by Culture Headquarters of Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Museum of Art

• September 4th (Mon) – 5th (Tue), 2023
• Multi-purpose Auditorium, 2F, Exchanging Space, Art Archives, SeMA

• September 4th (Mon) – 10th (Sun), 2023
• Exchanging Space, Art Archives, SeMA

Website | theportfolioseoul.com
Instagram | @seoulmuseumofart