Korean Cultural Center of Chicago to receive $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

The Korean Cultural Center of Chicago (KCCoC), Wheeling, is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $30,000.

The grant will support “Earthly Eloquence” – An Exhibition of Contemporary Korean Ceramics, part of a collaboration between the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago. In total, the NEA will award 958 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $27.1 million that were announced as part of its first round of fiscal year 2024 grants.

“The NEA is delighted to announce this grant to the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago, which is helping contribute to the strength and well-being of the arts sector and local community,” said National Endowment for the Arts Chair Maria Rosario Jackson. “We are pleased to be able to support this community and help create an environment where all people have the opportunity to live artful lives.”

“We express our heartfelt gratitude to the National Endowment for the Arts for their invaluable support. As we embark on this exciting project, we are committed to utilizing this grant to its fullest potential, creating meaningful experiences for our community and beyond. This milestone reinforces our commitment to the arts and cultural enrichment, and we look forward to sharing the beauty of Korean contemporary ceramics with a broader audience," said KCCoC director of Visual Arts, Gay-Young Cho.

The KCCoC will be showcasing "Earthly Eloquence – An Exhibition of Contemporary Korean Ceramics" in 2025. The exhibition will present contemporary ceramic works inspired by the renowned Korean ceramics tradition, offering audiences a glimpse into Korea's cultural history through important contemporary artworks. In collaboration with the Art Institute of Chicago, concurrent exhibitions at both institutions will complement each other.

The exhibition will be featured in KCCoC's newly renovated museum. KCCoC plans to acquire the works to establish a permanent Ceramics Gallery, strengthening its collection and supporting artists. A permanent contemporary Korean ceramics collection at KCCoC will provide a lasting legacy for the Korean American community for many generations to come.

For information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

The KCCoC is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and organize Korean cultural, artistic, educational and social activities. KCCoC seeks to be a community landmark where people of all ethnicities can come together and explore Korean traditions and culture through various classes, programs and events.

For information on the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago, 9925 Capitol Drive, Wheeling, visit https://kccoc.org.