This is my first time living abroad, having come to the UK to study for a Master's in Fine Art. Could you offer any advice?

I've come to the UK from Korea to pursue a master's degree in contemporary art.

I'm curious about the UK's art scene and cultural landscape, but as this is my first time living abroad, I'm unsure where to begin or how to proceed.

(Truthfully, I'd only ever heard about Reddit through Korean YouTube videos; this is my first time actually using it.)

I graduated from art college in Korea and spent about seven years working as an artist and cultural activist (primarily organising community cultural events and researching cultural policy). I then decided I wanted a turning point and chose to come to the UK for my master's.

However, during that period, I didn't do much artistic work myself, only holding about two solo exhibitions. In Korea, I did receive project grants a few times.

After studying in the UK for a year and graduating, I think I'll either return to Korea or continue my PhD studies in theory in countries with lower tuition fees.

This explanation has been lengthy, but how can I better understand the UK art scene and participate in it? What would you recommend in my situation?

Also, during my two months in the UK, I noticed that, much like Korea, there seems to be a clear distinction between fully commercial galleries and community-based cultural activities (which, in art historical or critical terms, might be termed “participatory art”) and the independent scene. Beyond commercial galleries, how might I engage with these diverse scenes?