The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Art Museum (Director Lee Ae-sun, hereinafter referred to as the 'Provincial Art Museum') announced that it held a simultaneous exhibition of new acquisitions titled 'Research Project' at its main building and Seoul branch.

The Provincial Art Museum prioritizes openness and sharing in the operation of its collections. Unlike the common practice of restricting loans and exhibitions for the permanent preservation of a very small number of collection items, the Jeonbuk Provincial Art Museum is expanding opportunities for local residents to enjoy the collections. As a result, more than 25% of the entire collection is shared with public art museums in the Jeonbuk region.

The Provincial Art Museum is unveiling its collection acquired over seven years in the exhibition 'Research Project.' This initiative aligns with the maintenance of exhibition spaces such as the 1st and 2nd-floor lobbies and seminar rooms, as well as demands from local artists for the public disclosure of collection items. Through this exhibition, the museum aims to enhance transparency as a public institution by revealing the direction of its collection efforts and emphasizing that collection research is a crucial task of the Provincial Art Museum.

At the main building, a total of 484 items collected from 2018 to 2024 are classified into three periods based on the COVID-19 outbreak, with around 120 items being showcased. The first section in the 1st and 2nd exhibition rooms displays around 40 items out of the 86 collected before the pandemic in 2018 and 2019. The second section in the reference room and 3rd and 4th exhibition rooms features about 40 items out of the 329 collected during the pandemic period from 2020 to 2022. The final section in the 5th exhibition room presents around 40 items out of the 69 collected from 2023 to 2024. This exhibition has garnered attention for disclosing the current status of the museum's entire collection and the list of the Collection Recommendation Committee.

Various works from a wide range of periods and age groups, including calligraphy, installations, and crafts, are displayed in the lobbies of each floor and the 1st exhibition room at the main building. The 2nd exhibition room showcases works by local and senior artists from Jeonbuk, as well as pieces by major artists from Southeast Asia featured in the annual Asia Art Fair. The reference room displays early works by Han Woon-sung donated in 2021. The 3rd exhibition room focuses on photographs purchased for genre balance from 2020 to 2022 and Hanji works acquired through special exhibitions. The 4th exhibition room presents works obtained through programs supporting young artists in Jeonbuk, such as the Jeonbuk Youth Artist Studio, as well as pieces purchased at the Gunsan Art Fair and Art Jeonbuk Festival. The 5th exhibition room showcases works collected for the collection call and research on Jeonbuk art history.

At the Seoul branch, around 20 items are on display, focusing on works collected through the 2023 reopened call for submissions, as well as curated exhibitions and research on Jeonbuk art history. The Provincial Art Museum is making efforts to return its collection to 'common use.'

The exhibition 'Research Project' will be open for viewing until April 13 at the main building and until April 27 at the Seoul branch without prior reservation. Director Lee Ae-sun stated, "Through this exhibition, we aim to disclose the direction of the Provincial Art Museum's collection efforts, enhance transparency as a public institution, and establish the perception of the museum as a research institution."