This paper aims to study the commercialization of cultural clusters, how artists adapt to this change and clusters’ resilience. Resilience refers to an ability to adapt to uncertain and unexpected changes. The concept has recently drawn growing atte...
This paper aims to study the commercialization of cultural clusters, how artists adapt to this change and clusters’ resilience. Resilience refers to an ability to adapt to uncertain and unexpected changes. The concept has recently drawn growing attention as it is about responding to various complicated issues and exploring ways to adapt to shocks, going beyond avoiding or mitigating them. This is why this study analyses commercialization which many cultural clusters go through and efforts of artists to survive and adapt to evolving environments based on the resilience theory. The research also redefines 4 Rs of the resilience theory (Robustness, Redundancy, Resourcefulness, Rapidity) considering the specific characteristics of cultural clusters and focuses on resilience that these areas show against commercialization. Mullae Art Village was set as a research subject as it faces rapid commercialization after COVID-19 and has a high susceptibility to environmental changes due to its high proportion of small-sized art studios.
The results of the analysis are as follows: First, the emergence of commercial art, use of spaces and art activities. The number of artists who switch their genre from fine art, such as painting, to craftwork which can be more easily used for commercial purposes has grown. It was also found that an increasing number of art studios are used for commercial activities, including sales for artworks, education and rental. Commercial art activities have emerged in various forms, for example incorporation of art into existing commercial facilities such as pubs and restaurants, art gallery alleys and art fairs based on these alleys. All of these efforts have helped the region to adapt to commercialization by promoting commercial art and making the region more accessible.
Second, artists’ efforts to stay and continue their career in the area. Movement of local artists to other regions due to increased rent, aging environment and inconvenience driven by commercialization has been very common in this area. However, more and more artists are choosing to stay and continue their activities in Mullae Art Village. Intra-regional movement of artists brought about gradual expansion of Mullae Art Village.
Third, public and private cooperation. The establishment of local artist organizations and cooperative associations enabled the village to respond to commercialization-driven changes in a systematic manner, and artists tried to continue their work through joint marketing. In the meantime the government established a hub facility to protect the art ecosystem of Mullae Art Village and provided artists in the region with financial support and art studio spaces.
Fourth, raising awareness of commercialization with festivals, artistic activities and forums to rapidly respond to changes. When the village was first established, artists organized a festival to publicize the presence of artists in the region, standing against the reconstruction. However, since the region started to be commercialized, festivals have been used as a tool to show that the village has not only trendy commercial facilities but also individual artists creating artworks. Surveys and forums are also organized to preemptively respond to commercialization while artistic activities including exhibitions and documentaries have facilitated discussion about commercialization. We could find cases where these activities helped artists who were almost pushed out of the village to survive.
Then why are artists trying so hard to survive in Mullae Art Village despite devastating impact of commercialization? Major factors include some environmental benefits such as inexpensive rent, convenient public transport and flexible use of space. However, it was found that local artist networks and collaboration based on them, artistic stimulus, solidarity and mutual support, and the use of local resources have brought about positive changes to local artists and made them stay longer in the village.
While existing studies have focused on analyzing different aspects of commercialization of cultural clusters and consequential exit of artists from the areas, this research tried to look at how artists adapt and respond to evolving challenges caused by commercialization. In order to protect and nurture cultural clusters in the future, continued interest and monitoring is of great importance. Also, possible measures to assist artists to continue their careers amid a wave of commercialization should be actively explored.