"There are festivals like DMZ Music Festival that were originally funded by the government and initiated by a group of people. However, after a change in leadership, the government withdrew its funding. The community still wanted the festival to continue, so they took it upon themselves to raise funds through donations. Remarkably, they managed to collect enough money to keep the festival alive. This year, it will take place in September, marking the first time a festival like this has been sustained by the people after losing government support. Typically, when government funding stops, a festival ends, but in this case, it survived because the community truly wanted it. 

From my own experience, I wanted to create something similar. I organized a one-week personal diversity forum, which was a project close to my heart. I served as the director, and the event was supported by the government. We invited artists from various countries, including Japan, China, and South Asia, to engage in discussions about cultural diversity. The event featured workshops, concerts, and a large forum, emphasizing artists whose work is deeply connected to their communities. My goal was to create a space that genuinely respects cultural diversity, not just in name. For example, we invited foreign workers who had been living there for 15 years but had never felt respected by the government. 

This festival was the first time they felt truly respected, and that was the most significant aspect of the event for me. I believe it’s crucial to consider whether the people you serve genuinely want the festival. If they do, that’s what gives the festival its legitimacy. "