Lots of studies on the legitimacy and effectiveness of cultural economics and supporting the cultural sector have been made. Developing artistic taste of the general public (demand side approach) is more effective than financial support from the gover...
Lots of studies on the legitimacy and effectiveness of cultural economics and supporting the cultural sector have been made. Developing artistic taste of the general public (demand side approach) is more effective than financial support from the government (supply side approach). Artistic taste is developed through cultural education. Culture and arts are public and merit goods to which the government should ensure the equal accessibility of every citizen.
The Korean authorities have worked much on building infrastructure and improving institutional frameworks. There are many theaters out there and but unfortunately it is hard to find quality programs and audiences to enjoy them. We need to have an effective policy to develop artistic taste among people and attract willing customers to buy cultural products. Advanced countries increased art education and improved accessibility to cultural assets.
In Korea, the two major obstacles for culturally qualified life, cost burden and lack of leisure time, are substantially reduced, which will highly likely to lead to the rapid increase of peoples demand for art programs. Education level is getting higher and accordingly their desire to enjoy cultural activities become stronger. Such development stresses the necessity to reinforce demand-side cultural policy.
To do so, policy paradigm must undergo reforms and manpower and budget support must be followed. More importantly, diagnostic survey of demand should be conducted in an accurate and detailed manner and then infrastructure to satisfy such demand should be supplemented. The cost problem should also be addressed and methods to enhance public accessibility to arts are to be formulated. In addition, potential demand for art contents ought to be developed through right education and policy programs should be backed up to encourage tasteful customers to be actively engaged in art activities.
Demand for arts and culture is on the increase and the environment is also changing. The paradigm of cultural policy is shifting toward demand-side focus. Customers will not wait for the government to act, but raise there voices to demand tangible benefits and participation in policy-making process. Therefore, significantly, the cultural policy makers should shift its gears toward demand side support.