This project seeks to bring Gwangju’s unique cultural heritage and local identity into the present by combining digital technology with artistic expression. It aims to provide creators with the tools and opportunities they need to connect with and participate in the global digital ecosystem.

By developing a smart exhibition environment and a metaverse-based art platform, the project will foster a vibrant, citizen-driven digital cultural community and explore new, sustainable ways for art and technology to come together.

(The Careable Gwangju) Miro Meta Art Open Lab aims to create new forms of artistic experiences by merging art with cutting-edge digital technologies. Its mission is to support local creators in adapting to today’s rapidly changing digital landscape and to help them thrive within it.

By integrating smart technologies, such as AI-powered exhibition guide robots, augmented reality (AR) features, and light sculptures powered by eco-friendly energy harvesting, into exhibitions, the project envisions a forward-looking ecosystem where technology and art converge. This initiative will serve as a model for sustainable digital transformation in Gwangju’s art scene while providing a foundation for local artists to engage with the global digital art market.

At its core, this project takes an experimental approach grounded in the concept of “digital geopolitics.” Gwangju is both a hub of Asian culture and a city deeply tied to Korea’s history of democratization, giving it a symbolic position within the cultural landscape of East Asia. The Open Lab reinterprets this cultural heritage through digital media and explores new intersections between the physical and virtual through on-site showcases and metaverse-based 3D virtual exhibition spaces. In this process, citizens become active participants and collaborators, engaging directly with creators and experiencing a new cultural platform for digital interaction.

Ultimately, (The Careable Gwangju) Miro Meta Art Open Lab seeks to reinterpret Gwangju’s cultural heritage and sense of place for a contemporary context. It empowers local creators to build resilience and competitiveness in the digital ecosystem, increases public access to digital art, and supports regional artists in reaching international audiences. In doing so, it strengthens the city’s cultural identity while driving growth in the digital arts industry, creating new opportunities and fostering a sustainable future where technology and art grow together.

• Miro Center

  Opened on November 1, 2019, the Miro Center serves as an anchor facility dedicated to realizing the vision of Culture × City × Regeneration. Located in Gwangju’s historic Art Street, the center provides cultural and artistic services for a “new generation and a new era.” The original four-story art academy building was renovated and connected to a newly constructed wing, creating a versatile complex that includes a gallery, theater, library, workshops, lounge, and an outdoor garden for events. The name “Miro” combines the Korean characters for beauty (美) and path (路). It reflects both the identity of Art Street itself and the center’s mission to discover social value through artistic activities. Through this dual meaning, the Miro Center symbolizes the search for new directions in art and culture. By fostering collaboration with local art groups, the Miro Center drives the unique growth of the region’s cultural and artistic community. It also plays a key role in revitalizing Gwangju’s original downtown Art Street, serving as a hub for cultural urban regeneration.

• Urban Art Lab in Seoul

  Urban Art Lab in Seoul is a company dedicated to planning, developing, and operating art and cultural content through research-driven initiatives. Its work encompasses exhibitions, interdisciplinary art projects, and educational programs. Bringing together experts from a wide range of fields, the organization has led numerous projects both in Korea and internationally, including exhibitions, festivals, workshops, forums, and education programs based on interdisciplinary content. The project planning team focuses on cross-disciplinary collaboration and active engagement with local communities, fostering meaningful interaction and dialogue. Through these efforts, Urban Art Lab in Seoul strives to continuously practice and share art and culture while delivering fresh ideas that inspire new ways of living.

• EXMURO

  Founded in 2007, EXMURO is a non-profit organization dedicated to curating, producing, and promoting contemporary art in public spaces. Through its diverse projects, EXMURO seeks to enrich urban experiences, create provocative encounters, foster dialogue, and raise challenging questions, ultimately building new connections between the city and art. Moving beyond the walls of the gallery, EXMURO brings thought-provoking public art to outdoor spaces across Quebec and around the world. It views art as a force that guides people beyond the everyday, installing works in the streets so that everyone can encounter art in their daily lives. By doing so, EXMURO opens minds, sparks wonder, and inspires creativity while transforming the way people experience their cities.