“Busan's coastal and maritime identity, urban transformation, and site-specific contemporary art”
About the opportunity
The Busan Biennale Organizing Committee is seeking one Artistic Director for the 2027 Sea Art Festival in Busan, Republic of Korea. The selected curator will develop an exhibition responding to Busan's maritime and coastal environment through contemporary art, with opportunities to propose site-specific projects, research, workshops, performances and public programmes across beaches, rivers, ports, islands and other coastal sites.
Since its inception in 1987, the Sea Art Festival has established itself as a distinctive contemporary art event that continually reinterprets Busan's relationship with the sea and the city through the lens of contemporary art. We welcome applications from candidates with vision and expertise who can critically engage with the transformation of Busan as a coastal city and envision new possibilities for the Sea Art Festival.
Project Overview
- Curate site-specific exhibitions and projects that reinterpret Busan's coastal spaces and urban transformation from a contemporary perspective.
- Develop art projects centered on sites that embody Busan's maritime character—including beaches, riverfronts, and ports—with the possibility of connecting with surrounding urban spaces, including local streets and shops, public facilities, cultural spaces, and media walls.
- Extend beyond conventional exhibition formats by incorporating a range of approaches, including research, workshops, performances, and public programs.
- Foster collaboration and co-production with public institutions, arts and cultural organizations, research institutions, and other partners in Busan.
Name of the project: Sea Art Festival 2027
Exhibition Period: September–November 2027 (37 days)
Venues: Sites within Busan that reflect the city's maritime character, including beaches, riverfronts, ports, islands, and coastal areas (to be proposed by the applicant)
Participating Artists: Approx. 20 artists and/or collectives from the Republic of Korea and abroad
Project Budget: Approximately KRW 800 million, subject to change depending on the project plan and implementation circumstances.
- Included: Artistic Director's fee, artwork production and installation costs, artist fees, travel expenses, personnel costs, costs associated with exhibition-related programs, overall exhibition operating expenses, and administrative expenses
- Excluded: PR expenses
Hosted by: Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Biennale Organizing Committee
Who can apply
Open to individual curators of any nationality. Applicants should have expertise in contemporary art, experience in exhibition planning and delivery, an understanding of site-specific and experimental practices, and the ability to develop public programmes in collaboration with local partners. The selected curator should also be available to stay in Busan during the project period.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide overall artistic and curatorial direction for the exhibitions and projects of the Sea Art Festival 2027
- Establish the exhibition theme and curatorial direction and oversee the development of detailed implementation plans
- Select participating artists and artworks, and oversee the overall direction of artwork production
- Develop the exhibition budget and consult with the Organizing Committee regarding budget allocation
- Develop the spatial configuration of exhibition sites and assess the feasibility of projects proposed for each location
- Plan and implement related initiatives, including research, public programs, and archival projects
- Cooperate with the Organizing Committee in domestic and international communications and promotion, the identification of partner institutions, and sponsorship development
Application and Selection Process
- Application Period: September 21–October 31, 2026, until 23:59 KST (41 days)
- Application Review: November 1–19, 2026
- Announcement of Interview Candidates: By Friday, November 20, 2026
- Interviews: By Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Announcement of Final Selection: December 2026
Application Method: Online via apply.busanbiennale.org