7/21/2013

Daegu wins the bid to host the World Congress for the International Society for Education through Art (InSEA) in 2017.

The international bid over hosting the InSEA World Congress 2017 was held as part of the InSEA European Regional Congress on June 24, in Canterbury, England. The Korean delegation, comprised of the Committee for Hosting the InSEA in Korea and members from the Daegu Convention Bureau, finally won the bid after fierce competition from Turkey.

The International Society for Education through Art, better known by its acronym InSEA, is a nonprofit, UNESCO-affiliated academic society that was founded by Herbert Read in 1954, who sought to enhance humanistic education through art in the aftermath of the Second World War. Now it is the most active art education society in the world, counting art educators and artists in over 80 countries worldwide as its members. InSEA operates seven regional chapters, including those for Europe, North America, South America, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and Africa and the Middle East.

The InSEA World Congress, held every three years, is the world’s largest and most significant event in art education. The event is mainly divided between research conferences and the main congress. Lasting for six days on end, the World Congress features in-depth academic symposia, workshops, exhibitions of artistic works, and a variety of other participation-oriented programs. 

The InSEA Asian Regional Congress was held in Seoul in 2007. The World Congress, now to be held in Daegu in 2017, is expected to draw over 1,500 art educators, artists, and experts from around the world.

This year’s bid was decided by votes cast at the World Council Meeting, which consists of representatives from each regional chapter. The Turkish delegation, lobbying for Konya, a Turkish city boasting a rich artistic and cultural heritage, effectively and actively lobbied the representatives of Europe with whom it has cultivated good ties. Yet the Turkish delegation could not beat the organized lobbying efforts waged by the Korean delegation, which had effective leadership in Professor Lee Ju-yeon of Gyeongin National University of Education, who was part of the Council. 

The Korean delegation also had strong endorsements from other Asian countries, including Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan, as well as active support from Korean public enterprises, including the Korea Tourism Corporation, the City of Daegu, and the Daegu Convention Bureau. In particular, the presentation prepared by the City of Daegu and the Daegu Convention Bureau left a deep impression on all the Council members and played a decisive role in the bid process.

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