Cheongju International Craft Biennale

The Cheongju International Craft Biennale is the largest of many visual arts events taking place in South Korea. It has described as the "Cannes Film Festival of Craft", with over half a million visitors attending each year.

Cultural amenities abound in Cheongju city, with programs all year round; but the most significant is the Cheongju International Craft Biennale (CICB). This six million dollar international event runs throughout the month of October every second year. The 2007 Biennale, themed “Creative Evolution – Deeply and Slowly”, featured the work of 1100 craft artists from over 40 countries. Since the Biennale’s inaugural event in 1999, attendance and participation has steadily grown.

The event goes beyond the exhibition experience, including an upscale opening ceremony, live performances and craft demonstrations, numerous quality catalogues, a four-language web site, competition prizes worth up to $30,000 each, an international conference, and much more.

The CICB is a unique, world class festival, dazzling visitors with an overwhelming variety of fine craft in both sculptural and functional forms. The level of quality in both the work presented and the production values of the entire event is fabulous. There are opportunities for exchange that allow artists and visitors to network with international museums, galleries, curators, collectors, and other craft-focused specialists. The Biennale is truly a world-class event.

For more information on the Biennale, and to see images from years past, see the Cheongju International Craft Biennale’s main website.