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Taiwan strengthens ocean accessibility for elderly and disabled people
At the Cabinet's weekly meeting Thursday, Premier Cho Jung-tai received an Ocean Affairs Council briefing on the current status and future plans of a policy aimed at promoting welcoming, accessible ocean environments. The premier said Taiwan is a maritime nation, shaped by the openness, freedom and diversity the sea provides. He emphasized that comprehensively strengthening equal access to the ocean for elderly and disabled people reflects the civil values of Taiwanese society. Premier Cho thanked the Ocean Affairs Council for paying attention to the real mobility needs of elderly and disabled people, and for enhancing the ability of the elderly, disabled and their companions to connect with and enjoy the ocean, thereby fostering a virtuous cycle in Taiwanese society.

Taiwan strengthens ocean accessibility for elderly and disabled people

2024-12-20
At the Cabinet's weekly meeting Thursday, Premier Cho Jung-tai received an Ocean Affairs Council briefing on the current status and future plans of a policy aimed at promoting welcoming, accessible ocean environments. The premier said Taiwan is a maritime nation, shaped by the openness, freedom and diversity the sea provides. He emphasized that comprehensively strengthening equal access to the ocean for elderly and disabled people reflects the civil values of Taiwanese society. Premier Cho thanked the Ocean Affairs Council for paying attention to the real mobility needs of elderly and disabled people, and for enhancing the ability of the elderly, disabled and their companions to connect with and enjoy the ocean, thereby fostering a virtuous cycle in Taiwanese society.
MOC announces 28th Taiwan-France Cultural Award recipients
The Ministry of Culture (MOC), in collaboration with the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences under the Institut de France, has announced the recipients of the 28th Taiwan-France Cultural Award. This year’s laureates are Jean-Marc Therouanne, co-founder and artistic director of the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema (FICA), and Benson Tsai (蔡博丞), artistic director of the dance company B.DANCE. In 1995, Jean-Marc Therouanne and his wife founded FICA, which has since become the longest-running film festival in Europe dedicated to Asian cinema. Throughout his 30 years as the general manager and artistic director of FICA, Therouanne has handpicked 80 Taiwanese films and spotlighted significant cultural figures at the festival. Benson Tsai established B.DANCE in 2014 and has since served as the group’s artistic director. His works have received international acclaim, including “Floating Flowers (浮花),” which won the Audience Award at the International Competition for Choreographers Hanover 2014, and “Rage (怒),” which earned him the title of “Best Emerging Choreographer of the Year” from the France National Board of Performance Arts in 2020. The 28th Taiwan-France Cultural Award committee was chaired by Culture Minister Li Yuan and Perpetual Secretary Jean-Robert Pitte of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.

MOC announces 28th Taiwan-France Cultural Award recipients

2024-12-16
The Ministry of Culture (MOC), in collaboration with the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences under the Institut de France, has announced the recipients of the 28th Taiwan-France Cultural Award. This year’s laureates are Jean-Marc Therouanne, co-founder and artistic director of the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema (FICA), and Benson Tsai (蔡博丞), artistic director of the dance company B.DANCE. In 1995, Jean-Marc Therouanne and his wife founded FICA, which has since become the longest-running film festival in Europe dedicated to Asian cinema. Throughout his 30 years as the general manager and artistic director of FICA, Therouanne has handpicked 80 Taiwanese films and spotlighted significant cultural figures at the festival. Benson Tsai established B.DANCE in 2014 and has since served as the group’s artistic director. His works have received international acclaim, including “Floating Flowers (浮花),” which won the Audience Award at the International Competition for Choreographers Hanover 2014, and “Rage (怒),” which earned him the title of “Best Emerging Choreographer of the Year” from the France National Board of Performance Arts in 2020. The 28th Taiwan-France Cultural Award committee was chaired by Culture Minister Li Yuan and Perpetual Secretary Jean-Robert Pitte of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.
Taiwan International Student Design Competition: Taiwanese Students Win Grand Prix
Organized by the Ministry of Education (MOE) of the Republic of China (R.O.C., Taiwan), the 2024 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC), the largest international student design competition in the world, has announced its winners. Students from the R.O.C., Taiwan achieved remarkable success, securing the competition’s highest honor, the Grand Prix as well as gold and silver awards in the Product Design and Digital Animation categories. A total of 43 entries from the R.O.C., Taiwan have received awards, showcasing the exceptional talent and creativity of local students. The 17th TISDC is one of the MOE’s key initiatives for cultivating artistic and design talents. Over the years, it has nurtured countless young design professionals and significantly enhanced the R.O.C., Taiwan’s international visibility. The theme of this year's competition, “Equality,” echoes the United Nations’ 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim is to encourage participants to design with the principles of “Equal Respect”, “Universal Love”, “Embracing Diversity” and “Fostering Harmony” creating designs that contribute to a better human society. This year, the competition received 19,667 entries from 1,138 schools and departments in 64 countries and regions, marking a post-pandemic high. The enthusiastic response to the competition demonstrates that the R.O.C., Taiwan’s design education has been widely recognized and affirmed by the international community for its excellence and standards. The final jury, composed of 70-80% foreign judges recommended by international design organizations, conducted evaluations with a fair, objective, and diverse approach. Out of 567 finalist entries, only 90 succeeded in winning awards, with an award rate of just 0.5%, reinforcing this competition’s status as a globally recognized and reputable event. The Grand Prix was awarded to “BLOT” by SHEN PEI-TING, LEE CHIA-YEE, HUANG TZU-FANG, CHEN YU-TAO, and LUO YI-JUAN from the National Taiwan University of Arts. The story describes the difficulties and challenges a man faces during his reintegration into society after being imprisoned for theft in his youth. It delicately portrays the emotional struggles of a rehabilitated person, earning unanimous praise from the judges and a prize of NT$400,000. Billy Shevriyanto from the Ming Chi University of Technology earned the Gold Prize in the Product Design category for his creation, “One for All Bench.” This adjustable bench is designed with ergonomic principles, catering to users of all ages and genders. Made from high-performance concrete and aluminum, it combines aesthetics with sustainability, aiming to foster inclusivity across generations and communities. The Gold Prize in the Digital Animation category was claimed by HUANG HSIAO-I, LAI GUAN-LING, LIN HSIU-FANG, HSUEH CHU-YUN from the Chaoyang University of Technology for their work, “The Last”. The animation begins with a funeral, exploring the unfair treatment of a daughter-in-law in her husband's family and the pressures imposed by traditional societal norms. Drawing from real-life experiences of older generations, the heartfelt narrative resonated deeply with the judges. The Gold Prize in the Visual Design category went to Hasti Ghobakhloo from the Semnan University in Iran for the work, “It's Not a Garbage”. The design features a lifelike whale crafted from black garbage bags, highlighting the devastating impact of marine debris on ocean life. Its powerful visual message serves as a poignant reminder of the urgency of environmental conservation. In addition to awards provided by the MOE, several organizations contributed special prizes. The iSee Taiwan Foundation and the Sayling Wen Cultural & Educational Foundation jointly sponsored 21 International Design Association Special Prizes. The TPCA Environment Foundation sponsored 3 Environmental Sustainability Awards and 6 Special Regional Awards. The Chiayi City government established 3 Chiayi City Special Prize Excellence awards and 6 Chiayi City Special Prize Honorable mentions. These collective efforts aim to inspire students to unleash their creativity and boldly take on the global stage.

Taiwan International Student Design Competition: Taiwanese Students Win Grand Prix

2024-12-11
Organized by the Ministry of Education (MOE) of the Republic of China (R.O.C., Taiwan), the 2024 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC), the largest international student design competition in the world, has announced its winners. Students from the R.O.C., Taiwan achieved remarkable success, securing the competition’s highest honor, the Grand Prix as well as gold and silver awards in the Product Design and Digital Animation categories. A total of 43 entries from the R.O.C., Taiwan have received awards, showcasing the exceptional talent and creativity of local students. The 17th TISDC is one of the MOE’s key initiatives for cultivating artistic and design talents. Over the years, it has nurtured countless young design professionals and significantly enhanced the R.O.C., Taiwan’s international visibility. The theme of this year's competition, “Equality,” echoes the United Nations’ 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim is to encourage participants to design with the principles of “Equal Respect”, “Universal Love”, “Embracing Diversity” and “Fostering Harmony” creating designs that contribute to a better human society. This year, the competition received 19,667 entries from 1,138 schools and departments in 64 countries and regions, marking a post-pandemic high. The enthusiastic response to the competition demonstrates that the R.O.C., Taiwan’s design education has been widely recognized and affirmed by the international community for its excellence and standards. The final jury, composed of 70-80% foreign judges recommended by international design organizations, conducted evaluations with a fair, objective, and diverse approach. Out of 567 finalist entries, only 90 succeeded in winning awards, with an award rate of just 0.5%, reinforcing this competition’s status as a globally recognized and reputable event. The Grand Prix was awarded to “BLOT” by SHEN PEI-TING, LEE CHIA-YEE, HUANG TZU-FANG, CHEN YU-TAO, and LUO YI-JUAN from the National Taiwan University of Arts. The story describes the difficulties and challenges a man faces during his reintegration into society after being imprisoned for theft in his youth. It delicately portrays the emotional struggles of a rehabilitated person, earning unanimous praise from the judges and a prize of NT$400,000. Billy Shevriyanto from the Ming Chi University of Technology earned the Gold Prize in the Product Design category for his creation, “One for All Bench.” This adjustable bench is designed with ergonomic principles, catering to users of all ages and genders. Made from high-performance concrete and aluminum, it combines aesthetics with sustainability, aiming to foster inclusivity across generations and communities. The Gold Prize in the Digital Animation category was claimed by HUANG HSIAO-I, LAI GUAN-LING, LIN HSIU-FANG, HSUEH CHU-YUN from the Chaoyang University of Technology for their work, “The Last”. The animation begins with a funeral, exploring the unfair treatment of a daughter-in-law in her husband's family and the pressures imposed by traditional societal norms. Drawing from real-life experiences of older generations, the heartfelt narrative resonated deeply with the judges. The Gold Prize in the Visual Design category went to Hasti Ghobakhloo from the Semnan University in Iran for the work, “It's Not a Garbage”. The design features a lifelike whale crafted from black garbage bags, highlighting the devastating impact of marine debris on ocean life. Its powerful visual message serves as a poignant reminder of the urgency of environmental conservation. In addition to awards provided by the MOE, several organizations contributed special prizes. The iSee Taiwan Foundation and the Sayling Wen Cultural & Educational Foundation jointly sponsored 21 International Design Association Special Prizes. The TPCA Environment Foundation sponsored 3 Environmental Sustainability Awards and 6 Special Regional Awards. The Chiayi City government established 3 Chiayi City Special Prize Excellence awards and 6 Chiayi City Special Prize Honorable mentions. These collective efforts aim to inspire students to unleash their creativity and boldly take on the global stage.
Minister Li visits community organizations in Hualien
Following the Ministry of Culture’s (MOC) launch of the “100 Cultural Bases” project on Dec. 3, Culture Minister Li Yuan visited local community organizations and cultural attractions in Hualien County on Dec. 9 to evaluate the project implementation. The cultural organizations included Akay Playlife (阿改玩生活：耕吧．園區), ShanDongYe Theater (山東野表演坊), and NiuLi Community Interchange Association (牛犁社區交流協會) under the umbrella of “Mount County (山下線)” that aims to create a cultural corridor for regional revitalization in Hualien, offering the chance for young people to return to their hometowns. In addition, Minister Li also visited Haihao Bookstore (孩好書屋), a shop focusing on books about marine environment and works by local authors, with the goal of preserving memories of bygone cultural scenes to pass them on to the next generation. Minister Li noted that the diverse cultural attractions of Hualien have immense potential, and that through collaboration with public sector cultural parks such as the Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park and the Hualien Railway Culture Park, the MOC can greatly enhance the visibility of these unique local cultures.

Minister Li visits community organizations in Hualien

2024-12-11
Following the Ministry of Culture’s (MOC) launch of the “100 Cultural Bases” project on Dec. 3, Culture Minister Li Yuan visited local community organizations and cultural attractions in Hualien County on Dec. 9 to evaluate the project implementation. The cultural organizations included Akay Playlife (阿改玩生活：耕吧．園區), ShanDongYe Theater (山東野表演坊), and NiuLi Community Interchange Association (牛犁社區交流協會) under the umbrella of “Mount County (山下線)” that aims to create a cultural corridor for regional revitalization in Hualien, offering the chance for young people to return to their hometowns. In addition, Minister Li also visited Haihao Bookstore (孩好書屋), a shop focusing on books about marine environment and works by local authors, with the goal of preserving memories of bygone cultural scenes to pass them on to the next generation. Minister Li noted that the diverse cultural attractions of Hualien have immense potential, and that through collaboration with public sector cultural parks such as the Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park and the Hualien Railway Culture Park, the MOC can greatly enhance the visibility of these unique local cultures.
9th Public Art Awards ceremony takes place in Taipei
The 9th Public Art Awards ceremony took place at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei on Dec. 4, presenting 11 awards to 32 winners. Held once every two years, the Public Art Awards is the most prestigious and representative award for public art in Taiwan. The event was attended by Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), Minister of Culture Li Yuan, and other distinguished guests. At the ceremony, Premier Cho expressed his hopes to promote art and bring it into daily life, while Minister Li noted that with the completion of law revision on public art regulations in August, the Ministry of Culture is encouraging aspiring artists to create more public artworks. The grand prize of the event, the Excellence Award, was presented to the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, Taipei City Government (臺北市政府捷運工程局) for the public art project featured throughout the Circular Line of the Taipei Metro. Designed by French architect Emmanuelle Moureaux and French artist Daniel Buren, the art installations utilize distinctive colors and geometric shapes, integrated into the metro system itself, such as the design of the trains, the walls in the stations, and the colorful columns of the viaducts, breaking the boundaries of art. A list of all the winners of the 9th Public Art Awards can be found on the website.

9th Public Art Awards ceremony takes place in Taipei

2024-12-06
The 9th Public Art Awards ceremony took place at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei on Dec. 4, presenting 11 awards to 32 winners. Held once every two years, the Public Art Awards is the most prestigious and representative award for public art in Taiwan. The event was attended by Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), Minister of Culture Li Yuan, and other distinguished guests. At the ceremony, Premier Cho expressed his hopes to promote art and bring it into daily life, while Minister Li noted that with the completion of law revision on public art regulations in August, the Ministry of Culture is encouraging aspiring artists to create more public artworks. The grand prize of the event, the Excellence Award, was presented to the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, Taipei City Government (臺北市政府捷運工程局) for the public art project featured throughout the Circular Line of the Taipei Metro. Designed by French architect Emmanuelle Moureaux and French artist Daniel Buren, the art installations utilize distinctive colors and geometric shapes, integrated into the metro system itself, such as the design of the trains, the walls in the stations, and the colorful columns of the viaducts, breaking the boundaries of art. A list of all the winners of the 9th Public Art Awards can be found on the website.