Four Seoul cultural foundations launch joint youth arts festival '7-ling Festa'

The Dobong Cultural Foundation, in partnership with the cultural foundations of Gwangjin-gu, Nowon-gu and Jungnang-gu, will hold the "2026 Arts for Attractive Seoul — 7-ling Festa" from Nov. 3 to 15.

The festival is part of the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture's "Arts for Attractive Seoul" project and was jointly organized by the four district cultural foundations connected along Seoul Metro Line 7.

Under the theme "Tense Peace, Intense Chill," the festival reinterprets former military facilities and the historical character of each district through the lens of peace and regeneration, aiming to bring new cultural vitality to northeast Seoul.

The festival is structured around two projects: "N.E.W 1" (North East Wave 1), a series of exhibitions held separately in each of the four districts, and "N.E.W 2," a joint performance project.

N.E.W 1 features 16 young artists — four from each district — exploring the meaning of peace and rest. The exhibitions run from Nov. 3 through Nov. 15 at cultural venues across the four districts.

At Dobong-gu's Pyeonghwa Munhwa Jinji, artists Ssikssik, Yoo Hae-na, Yoon Sang-geon and Park Jun-ho will present "Shape of a Gap" — an exhibition set in a cultural space converted from a former military base. The works explore the "gaps" between movement and stillness, happiness and pain, and the unfamiliar and the familiar, capturing moments of rest and balance found in everyday life.

At Gwangjin-gu's Naru Art Center, artists Lee Hyeon, Jeong Hae-gang, Lee Se-bin and Yoo Hye-seon will present "Intermission," inspired by the pauses between acts in a performance. At Nowon-gu's cultural space Jeongdam, artists Jo Su-yeon, Ki Ju-yeon, Kim I-pureun and Shin Hyeon-ji will show "Displaced Plants," themed around urban flora. At Jungnang-gu's Jungnang Art Center, artists Park Mi-seo, Kang Seong-eun, Hong I-ka and Seung Ji-wan will present "No Explanation."

In addition, a process-sharing exhibition titled "N.E.W: Chilling Festa 2026" will document the participating artists' work journals and rehearsal footage throughout the project.

The performance project N.E.W 2, themed "Chilling Street — Four Neighborhoods, One Stage," will feature four street dance crews on a joint touring program: Gwangjin-gu's MB Crew, Nowon-gu's N.W.A, Dobong-gu's Just Be Crew and Jungnang-gu's Personal Trick.

Performances begin at 2 p.m. at each venue: Nov. 7 at the outdoor plaza of Naru Art Center in Gwangjin-gu; Nov. 8 at Danghyeon Maru along Danghyeoncheon stream in Nowon-gu; Nov. 14 at Mangwoo Station Plaza in Jungnang-gu; and Nov. 15 at the plaza of Pyeonghwa Munhwa Jinji in Dobong-gu.

Following individual and joint crew performances, the program includes an audience participation dance segment open to all ages, as well as a "Clean Performance" in which cast members and audience members tidy up the surrounding area together.

The four foundations have been holding joint planning meetings and workshops since February to build a collaborative framework for the festival, which serves as a platform for young artists to connect and collaborate across district boundaries.

The foundations plan to continue their partnership beyond this festival to expand creative opportunities for young artists and broaden access to arts and culture in residents' daily lives.