The Arts Council Korea (ARKO) has opened applications for its 2026 Arts Promotion Fund support programs. Next year’s open call encompasses a total of 26 programs across diverse fields, with a total budget of KRW 61.3 billion.
 
ARKO plans to implement a tiered support system to ensure balanced and sustainable assistance across the entire arts ecosystem.
 
This includes programs aimed at strengthening the capacities of emerging artists and providing opportunities for field engagement, such as △On-site Support Linked to Art Universities and △On-site Presentation Support for Arts Organizations. It also includes initiatives to nurture future leaders of the cultural and artistic sector, such as △Support for Young Artists’ Advancement and △Youth Employment Support in the Arts (support for cultural and arts trainees).

Additionally, ARKO continues to support project-based creative activities for artists and arts organizations through △ARKO Selection and △Arts Support for Children and Youth. △Support for the Korea Performing Arts Festival expands opportunities for presenting outstanding performing arts and increases public access to performances. △The Creative Entities Program aims to establish a mid- to long-term foundation to enhance the self-sustainability of arts organizations.
 
To respond to global interest in K-culture and strengthen artists’ international networks, ARKO will expand overseas engagement and international exchange through △Support for Participation in Overseas Residencies, △International Collaboration Support, △Overseas Advancement Support Linked to ARKO Programs, and △Inbound International Cooperation Enhancement. 

Other initiatives, such as △Literary Artist Fellowship, which supports outstanding writers, and △Regional Arts Advancement Support, which provides follow-up support for exceptional local artworks, are conducted through separate calls for applications.

As a new initiative, ARKO will launch △Support for the Creation of Full-Length Novels with a budget of KRW 600 million. Additionally, programs that have been consistently in demand on the ground will see significant budget increases: △Performing Arts Venue Rental Support (from KRW 2.52 billion to 5.17 billion) and △Literary Creation Studio Use Support (from KRW 540 million to 900 million). The △Inbound International Cooperation Enhancement program, aimed at supporting international collaborative activities, will also see its budget rise sharply from KRW 100 million this year to KRW 1 billion in 2026.
 
An ARKO official stated, “To reduce administrative burdens for artists and create an environment where they can focus more on creative activities, we have decided to abolish the mandatory self-contribution requirement for 2026 Arts Promotion Fund subsidy programs. The obligation to register and execute self-contributions through the Integrated Government Subsidies Management System has also been removed.” 

Applications can be submitted through the National Culture and Arts Support System, and guidance videos for each program are available on ARKO’s YouTube channel to improve accessibility and convenience for artists. The main application deadline for most support programs is October 30 at 3:00 PM, while applications for international exchange programs close on October 21 at 3:00 PM.

References

• 한국문화예술위원회, 2026 문예진흥기금 지원사업 공모 안내
• 이데일리, 아르코, 내년 문예진흥기금 공모 시작…총예산 613억 투입, 2025.09.23