Getty Partners with Arts Council Korea (ARKO) to Globally Advance the International Study of Art

Arts Council Korea (ARKO) and the Getty Research Institute (Los Angeles) have agreed to enter an exploratory phase of international collaboration and exchange, in the interest of furthering connections between the two institutions and advancing art historical research between Korea and the United States. This collaboration comes at an opportune moment, as ARKO prepares to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the birth of the iconic video artist Nam June Paik in 2032.

Starting in Fall 2025, a delegation of ARKO staR members will visit Getty to learn about their archival holdings, research projects, and history of international exchange. Getty staR will then pay a reciprocal visit to ARKO and the Museum Archive at the Nam June Paik Art Center in Yongin Special City, Gyeonggi Province to discuss the next steps.

Additionally, ARKO will fund a pilot program in 2026 for Korean guest researchers to embark on a summer residency at Getty to explore the topic of Paik, his contributions to new directions in modern art in the second half of the 20th century, his connections with a wider international circle of artists, and his legacy. The Getty Research Institute holds strong collections related to these movements and regularly welcomes scholars to consult their rare materials.

“We are delighted to embark on this collaboration with ARKO centered around one of the most important artists of the post-WWII era and the avant-garde movements in which he played an integral part,” shared Andrew Perchuk, Deputy Director of the Getty Research Institute. “International partnerships such as this one serve as powerful ways to demonstrate the global value of the arts and the humanities.”

Both institutions view this project as the first strategic step in cooperation, with the aim of preserving and disseminating knowledge about Korean art and its global cultural relevance.

“Art is the common language of humanity that endures through time and across cultures. I hope that the journey that ARKO and Getty will create together, starting with these exchanges, will become a new model of international cooperation that will promote the ability to present our culture through art,” said Byoung-gug Choung, Chairperson, Arts Council Korea. “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Getty Research Institute for joining us on this journey.”

These exchanges will lay the ground for further collaboration, with the potential for future convenings, symposia, and possibly exhibitions and publications, held and carried out in Korea and Los Angeles, related to Paik and other topics of mutual interest.

About Arts Council Korea (ARKO)

Arts Council Korea (ARKO), a public institution under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, was established in 1973 to support the creation of Korea’s arts ecosystem and to make arts and culture accessible to the public. ARKO operates Korea’s leading cultural and arts platforms including the ARKO·Daehakro Arts Theater, ARKO Art Center, ARKO Arts Archive and the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. ARKO is committed to establishing global partnerships to increase cultural exchange and collaboration. Learn more about ARKO and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

About Getty Research Institute (GRI)

As a part of the J. Paul Getty Trust based in the city of Los Angeles, the Getty Research Institute (GRI) is a leading international center with an extensive library, special collections, array of programs, and a knowledgeable and diverse staff. The GRI is committed to preserving, creating, and sharing resources related to the history of art, conceived in the broadest terms. In November 2024, Getty forged its first official collaboration with a Korean institution, the National Research Institute for Cultural Heritage (국립문화유산연구원) and looks forward to deepening its ties to peers across the Pacific.