|
 |
|
|
|
News Correspondents News
 |
Asian Arts Theatre Appoints Belgian Artistic Director FRIE LEYSEN |
 |
2012.03.16 |
 |
2938 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Asian Arts Theatre Appoints Belgian Artistic Director FRIE LEYSEN
Renowned Artistic Director in Contemporary Performing Arts Called to lead the Asian Arts Theatre in Gwangju, Korea
Frie Leysen (Belgium, 60), a renowned artistic director in contemporary performing arts, has been appointed as an Artistic Director for the Asian Arts Theatre, a major venue for Asian arts currently under construction in Gwangju, Korea. Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the appointment of her on 12th of March, Monday. Leysen will be responsible for Asian Arts Theater’s programming for three years from next April.
Asian Arts Theatre is one of the five major agencies in Asian Culture Complex as a part of Hub City of Asian Culture Project. The project, aimed at forging cultural ties and establishing a forum for exchanges with various countries in Asia. The construction of the center is expected to be completed in 2014. Asian Arts Theatre is to be an Asian Contemporary Performing Arts Center which will be specialized for new productions and creations.
During the last 6 months, the Office for the Hub City of Asian Culture has been seeking for globally renowned artistic director in the field of performing arts. And total 80 candidates had been collected from the submitted applications and the proposals of recommendation from the domestic and international experts, and all candidates had been reviewed thoroughly. By the final interview with the panels of judges, Frie Leysen has been chosen for the position of Artistic Director.
Leysen has built a reputation throughout the European performing arts scene as an artistic director and also as a festival organizer since the late 1970s. She was the founder and artistic director of De Singel, a contemporary arts center in Antwerp, Belgium, and also led the Kunsten Festival des Arts in Brussels, which now has become a leading international contemporary festival. She was the artistic director of Meeting Points 5, an international contemporary festival designed to encourage young Arabic theater works. Currently she is in Spielzeit Europa in Berlin as an artistic director for the programming of performing arts. She participated in Asian Arts Theatre's Project Development Initiative and Residency Project in 2011 as an artistic advisory.
International Judging panels addressed that the evaluation process was based on candidates' Artistic Ability, Networking Ability, Leadership Ability, and Understanding of Asia & Asian Arts Theatre. The panels added that they highly evaluated Frie Leysen in her experiences as artistic director, distinctive artistic insight, and networking ability as well. They mentioned that she has diverse experiences in programming with cutting-edge approaches in contemporary performing arts. Also with such a wide perspective and higher understanding of cultural diversity, she has been leading the contemporary arts of the day.
Leysen will play a significant role in overall programming for Asian Arts Theatre's open in 2014. As she has life-long experience in developing and co-producing Asian art works, she has played a central role in introducing regional art into the world. In the press interview, she showed her willingness to work with the partnership with Korean assistant director and domestic artists. She will look at interesting artists and personalities who can visualize unique Asian Culture.
“I think it is a great, unique project for the region, Korea and Asia as a whole. Gwangju will become a regional hub where Asian artists and arts can be put into a center of attention,” Frie Leysen said.
Asian Arts Theatre, a new home for Asian performing arts, is having a closer look at the past, present and future of performing arts in Asia with new audiences and new approaches. Also by building collaborative relationship with wide range of domestic/international artists through co-production, residency project and workshops, it will keep preparing an artistic and creative environment for the Asian Culture Complex's opening in 2014 and its succeeding paths as a global arts center.
□ Appendix: Artistic Director Profile (with photo enclosed)
|
||||||
