2025 Taiwan-France Cultural Award accepts applications until May 31
The Taiwan-France Cultural Award, launched by the Ministry of Culture (MOC) and the French Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, is now accepting applications until May 31. The award was established in 1996 with the purpose of awarding every year two prizes for artistic or literary works that shed light on relations between Taiwan and Europe and/or contribute to the enhancement of cultural exchange between Taiwan and Europe. Each prize is worth €25,000. Applications may be submitted by any natural or legal person from mainland Europe or Taiwan who meets the Foundation’s objectives. Candidates must be able to demonstrate that their research work, cultural programs, reports, publications, artistic creations, etc. have been completed or are in progress, and are directly related to Taiwan. The MOC stated that entries will be examined by the Foundation’s jury, made up of French and Taiwanese academics, in Paris or Taipei. The winners, informed by the Academy, will be invited to attend the award ceremony at the Institut de France. For more information, visit the Taiwan-France Cultural Award official website.

2025 Taiwan-France Cultural Award accepts applications until May 31

2025-03-07
The Taiwan-France Cultural Award, launched by the Ministry of Culture (MOC) and the French Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, is now accepting applications until May 31. The award was established in 1996 with the purpose of awarding every year two prizes for artistic or literary works that shed light on relations between Taiwan and Europe and/or contribute to the enhancement of cultural exchange between Taiwan and Europe. Each prize is worth €25,000. Applications may be submitted by any natural or legal person from mainland Europe or Taiwan who meets the Foundation’s objectives. Candidates must be able to demonstrate that their research work, cultural programs, reports, publications, artistic creations, etc. have been completed or are in progress, and are directly related to Taiwan. The MOC stated that entries will be examined by the Foundation’s jury, made up of French and Taiwanese academics, in Paris or Taipei. The winners, informed by the Academy, will be invited to attend the award ceremony at the Institut de France. For more information, visit the Taiwan-France Cultural Award official website.
Taipei Fashion Week AW25 reveals key visual ‘Endless Fashion’
The Taipei Fashion Week AW25, set to take place from Mar. 27 to 30, revealed its key visual design. Centering around the idea of “Endless Fashion,” the event aims to collaborate with Taiwan’s top designers from the textile industry to advocate for sustainable fashion with full circularity. The Ministry of Culture (MOC) noted that fashion has the unique ability to capture the essence of the present while shaping the future. As climate change and environmental crises become everyday concerns, Taiwan’s fashion industry is responding with concrete action, striving to set a new standard for sustainability. The MOC stated that in the key visual, young men and women dressed in sustainability-driven garments are surrounded by various “circular” symbolic objects that represent different steps in the fashion production process. These objects—pattern-making templates, cutting boards, sketches, fabric swatches, thimble rings, stitches, and pin cushions—each symbolize an important detail of the process, all sharing the subtle mission of sustainable circulation. From textiles and designers to models bringing these visions to life, the entire visual narrative of “Endless Fashion” represents a cyclical journey—from zero, back to zero—a cycle of fashion sustainability that returns to zero waste. The Taipei Fashion Week AW25 will kick off at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park on Mar. 27. For more information, visit the Taipei Fashion Week AW25 official website, Facebook, and Instagram page.

Taipei Fashion Week AW25 reveals key visual ‘Endless Fashion’

2025-03-07
The Taipei Fashion Week AW25, set to take place from Mar. 27 to 30, revealed its key visual design. Centering around the idea of “Endless Fashion,” the event aims to collaborate with Taiwan’s top designers from the textile industry to advocate for sustainable fashion with full circularity. The Ministry of Culture (MOC) noted that fashion has the unique ability to capture the essence of the present while shaping the future. As climate change and environmental crises become everyday concerns, Taiwan’s fashion industry is responding with concrete action, striving to set a new standard for sustainability. The MOC stated that in the key visual, young men and women dressed in sustainability-driven garments are surrounded by various “circular” symbolic objects that represent different steps in the fashion production process. These objects—pattern-making templates, cutting boards, sketches, fabric swatches, thimble rings, stitches, and pin cushions—each symbolize an important detail of the process, all sharing the subtle mission of sustainable circulation. From textiles and designers to models bringing these visions to life, the entire visual narrative of “Endless Fashion” represents a cyclical journey—from zero, back to zero—a cycle of fashion sustainability that returns to zero waste. The Taipei Fashion Week AW25 will kick off at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park on Mar. 27. For more information, visit the Taipei Fashion Week AW25 official website, Facebook, and Instagram page.
Taiwan's Campus Aesthetic Revamp Shines on the Global Stage, Garnering Awards and Media Praise
To create more aesthetically pleasing learning environments, the Ministry of Education commissioned the Taiwan Design Research Institute to implement the "Design Movement on Campus Program". This initiative employs design thinking to address campus issues, proposing innovative redevelopment plans to transform schools into immersive ones that cultivate aesthetic appreciation. Since its launch in 2019, the program has completed aesthetic transformations for 91 schools, earning accolades, awards and attention from major domestic and international media outlets. Recently, many projects under the program have achieved even further success. For instance, the redesign of Chung Feng Elementary School in Puli, Nantou County, emerged victorious among 5,773 entries to win the prestigious 2024 Good Design Award in Japan. Additionally, Taipei Municipal Fuxing High School and Hudong Elementary School in Changhua County(which received the same Good Design Award in 2023), have also drawn significant attention from global media outlets such as Japan's NHK television channel and Thailand's influential creative magazine, art4d. Chung Feng Elementary School features old mahogany trees that survived the devastating 921 Earthquake. An outdoor platform built around three ancient trees had deteriorated due to years of weathering. The design team collaborated with craftsmen to weave climbing nets and create multi-level steel structures with organic forms, offering students a layered space for ecological exploration. This innovative platform extends the seasonal ecology teaching courses within the School-based Course, giving children new perspectives to connect with nature. The 2024 Good Design Award jury in Japan lauded the project for its soft landscape design that harmoniously blends with nature. They highlighted how it fosters hands-on, interactive learning experiences with the trees while unlocking new possibilities for site exploration. Taipei’s Fuxing High School, which prioritizes life education, sought to provide its adopted stray cats and dogs with a safe and behaviorally appropriate living space. This area also serves as a platform for teachers and students to interact with teaching and sharing experiences in life education. The design team utilized the semi-outdoor space between two buildings and created an extended fan-shaped platform to provide a suitable environment for the school’s rescued stray animals, fostering interaction and learning opportunities. This newly designed entrance area not only allows for the observation of animal behavior and habits to create a safer, sheltered living space but also serves as a base for the school's animal welfare club to promote life education. The fan-shaped platform, built around trees, incorporates water and electrical facilities for a showering area while also serving as an open space for teachers and students to interact with the animals outside of class hours. Recently, this project caught the attention of Japan’s NHK program, “Embracing Cats and Dogs Worldwide: Taiwan Edition,” which featured actress Yuriko Ishida visiting the school to document its harmonious coexistence with the animals. The rhythm classroom at Hudong Elementary School in Changhua County previously suffered from poor visibility, inadequate lighting, and a confined layout. Its structure and interior design limited the effective use of this teaching space. The design team focused on "creating an inspiring and creative learning environment" as their core concept, incorporating it into four main design areas: linear lighting, spot lighting, display systems, and projection systems. These elements guided various dynamic and static activities, transforming the space into a versatile rhythm classroom and multifunctional display area. This renovation not only enhances students' interest in learning but also provides diverse opportunities for parents and community groups, turning the space into a creative hub connecting the school and the community. This project has received recognition through the 2023 Golden Pin Design Award, the Japan Good Design Award, and the 2024 Taiwan Interior Design Award. It has also garnered attention from numerous domestic and international media. Throughout this process, the school has placed greater emphasis on campus aesthetics, actively pursuing related projects to gradually transform the overall learning environment. The magazine art4d noted that this project goes beyond renovating an old classroom; it integrates beauty into campus life, allowing students to develop in a space imbued with thoughtful design. This approach not only enhances their learning experience but also extends the influence of aesthetics beyond the school grounds. The Design Movement on Campus Program recently gained international recognition through an interview with the UK’s authoritative design magazine, Wallpaper. The article highlighted Taiwan's accomplishments in enhancing campus aesthetics, showcasing examples such as the renovation of a music rehearsal room at Kuang Jen Catholic High School in New Taipei City and a sensory training classroom for special education students at Tainan Municipal Sinhua Elementary School. The program’s mission, described as "redefining campus spaces through creativity and design to create more attractive and impactful educational environment", shows that Taiwan's aesthetic education is within sight of all eyes through worldwide education promotion. The Design Movement on Campus Program will continue to embrace user-centered design thinking, further integrating innovative content within teaching and course approaches with environmental transformation. Establishing benchmark cases for the future campus learning environments, and gradually expanding and applying these to the professional development spaces for teachers, will enhance the environmental aesthetic capabilities of educational administrators and in-service teachers. The initiative aims to promote the overall aesthetic literacy of campus environments. This program has pioneered new concepts for learning spaces beyond traditional themes, highlighting innovative teaching environments that respond to evolving learning trends. These are key concerns for both frontline educators and parents who are investing in their children's learning environments.

Taiwan's Campus Aesthetic Revamp Shines on the Global Stage, Garnering Awards and Media Praise

2025-03-07
To create more aesthetically pleasing learning environments, the Ministry of Education commissioned the Taiwan Design Research Institute to implement the "Design Movement on Campus Program". This initiative employs design thinking to address campus issues, proposing innovative redevelopment plans to transform schools into immersive ones that cultivate aesthetic appreciation. Since its launch in 2019, the program has completed aesthetic transformations for 91 schools, earning accolades, awards and attention from major domestic and international media outlets. Recently, many projects under the program have achieved even further success. For instance, the redesign of Chung Feng Elementary School in Puli, Nantou County, emerged victorious among 5,773 entries to win the prestigious 2024 Good Design Award in Japan. Additionally, Taipei Municipal Fuxing High School and Hudong Elementary School in Changhua County(which received the same Good Design Award in 2023), have also drawn significant attention from global media outlets such as Japan's NHK television channel and Thailand's influential creative magazine, art4d. Chung Feng Elementary School features old mahogany trees that survived the devastating 921 Earthquake. An outdoor platform built around three ancient trees had deteriorated due to years of weathering. The design team collaborated with craftsmen to weave climbing nets and create multi-level steel structures with organic forms, offering students a layered space for ecological exploration. This innovative platform extends the seasonal ecology teaching courses within the School-based Course, giving children new perspectives to connect with nature. The 2024 Good Design Award jury in Japan lauded the project for its soft landscape design that harmoniously blends with nature. They highlighted how it fosters hands-on, interactive learning experiences with the trees while unlocking new possibilities for site exploration. Taipei’s Fuxing High School, which prioritizes life education, sought to provide its adopted stray cats and dogs with a safe and behaviorally appropriate living space. This area also serves as a platform for teachers and students to interact with teaching and sharing experiences in life education. The design team utilized the semi-outdoor space between two buildings and created an extended fan-shaped platform to provide a suitable environment for the school’s rescued stray animals, fostering interaction and learning opportunities. This newly designed entrance area not only allows for the observation of animal behavior and habits to create a safer, sheltered living space but also serves as a base for the school's animal welfare club to promote life education. The fan-shaped platform, built around trees, incorporates water and electrical facilities for a showering area while also serving as an open space for teachers and students to interact with the animals outside of class hours. Recently, this project caught the attention of Japan’s NHK program, “Embracing Cats and Dogs Worldwide: Taiwan Edition,” which featured actress Yuriko Ishida visiting the school to document its harmonious coexistence with the animals. The rhythm classroom at Hudong Elementary School in Changhua County previously suffered from poor visibility, inadequate lighting, and a confined layout. Its structure and interior design limited the effective use of this teaching space. The design team focused on "creating an inspiring and creative learning environment" as their core concept, incorporating it into four main design areas: linear lighting, spot lighting, display systems, and projection systems. These elements guided various dynamic and static activities, transforming the space into a versatile rhythm classroom and multifunctional display area. This renovation not only enhances students' interest in learning but also provides diverse opportunities for parents and community groups, turning the space into a creative hub connecting the school and the community. This project has received recognition through the 2023 Golden Pin Design Award, the Japan Good Design Award, and the 2024 Taiwan Interior Design Award. It has also garnered attention from numerous domestic and international media. Throughout this process, the school has placed greater emphasis on campus aesthetics, actively pursuing related projects to gradually transform the overall learning environment. The magazine art4d noted that this project goes beyond renovating an old classroom; it integrates beauty into campus life, allowing students to develop in a space imbued with thoughtful design. This approach not only enhances their learning experience but also extends the influence of aesthetics beyond the school grounds. The Design Movement on Campus Program recently gained international recognition through an interview with the UK’s authoritative design magazine, Wallpaper. The article highlighted Taiwan's accomplishments in enhancing campus aesthetics, showcasing examples such as the renovation of a music rehearsal room at Kuang Jen Catholic High School in New Taipei City and a sensory training classroom for special education students at Tainan Municipal Sinhua Elementary School. The program’s mission, described as "redefining campus spaces through creativity and design to create more attractive and impactful educational environment", shows that Taiwan's aesthetic education is within sight of all eyes through worldwide education promotion. The Design Movement on Campus Program will continue to embrace user-centered design thinking, further integrating innovative content within teaching and course approaches with environmental transformation. Establishing benchmark cases for the future campus learning environments, and gradually expanding and applying these to the professional development spaces for teachers, will enhance the environmental aesthetic capabilities of educational administrators and in-service teachers. The initiative aims to promote the overall aesthetic literacy of campus environments. This program has pioneered new concepts for learning spaces beyond traditional themes, highlighting innovative teaching environments that respond to evolving learning trends. These are key concerns for both frontline educators and parents who are investing in their children's learning environments.
Application for NTSO International Youth Orchestra Camp 2025 opens
The National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (NTSO) has announced that its International Youth Orchestra Camp will take place at its headquarters in Taichung City from Aug. 15 to 21 this year. In addition to inviting internationally acclaimed Taiwanese conductor Brian Liao (廖元宏), the NTSO will bring a lineup of outstanding domestic and overseas instructors to the camp, aiming to cultivate top-notch musical talents. Following the intensive camp, the participants will have the opportunity to perform at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) on Aug. 22 and at the Hualien County Taiwan Indigenous Cultural Center on Aug. 24. From now on until Mar.6, applications are open to students born between 2002 to 2011. Lin Li-ju (林麗如), acting director of NTSO, highlighted this camp aims to provide professional training and performance opportunities for young musicians in Taiwan, helping to inspire and foster their musical development. She noted that top international musicians have been invited to facilitate the camp, including members of Orchestre de Paris in France, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin in Germany, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway, RTVE Symphony Orchestra in Spain, and Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra in Croatia. Brian Liao, winner of the second International Conducting Competition “Llíria City of Music” in Spain, shared that the camp created lasting memories for him as a teenager, which is why he committed to passing his knowledge to the next generation. For more information or to register, visit NTSO website.

Application for NTSO International Youth Orchestra Camp 2025 opens

2025-02-26
The National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (NTSO) has announced that its International Youth Orchestra Camp will take place at its headquarters in Taichung City from Aug. 15 to 21 this year. In addition to inviting internationally acclaimed Taiwanese conductor Brian Liao (廖元宏), the NTSO will bring a lineup of outstanding domestic and overseas instructors to the camp, aiming to cultivate top-notch musical talents. Following the intensive camp, the participants will have the opportunity to perform at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) on Aug. 22 and at the Hualien County Taiwan Indigenous Cultural Center on Aug. 24. From now on until Mar.6, applications are open to students born between 2002 to 2011. Lin Li-ju (林麗如), acting director of NTSO, highlighted this camp aims to provide professional training and performance opportunities for young musicians in Taiwan, helping to inspire and foster their musical development. She noted that top international musicians have been invited to facilitate the camp, including members of Orchestre de Paris in France, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin in Germany, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway, RTVE Symphony Orchestra in Spain, and Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra in Croatia. Brian Liao, winner of the second International Conducting Competition “Llíria City of Music” in Spain, shared that the camp created lasting memories for him as a teenager, which is why he committed to passing his knowledge to the next generation. For more information or to register, visit NTSO website.
Annual grand APEC sports event the 2025 ASPN Round Table Meeting & Forum held in Japan
The prestigious annual APEC sports event, the "2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Sports Policy Network Roundtable Meeting and Forum (2025 ASPN Roundtable Meeting & Forum)," took place in Japan February 6th to 7th. During the two-day event, discussions on specialized sports topics, a display of sports innovations, and sports event observer activities featured 25 speakers from 13 countries, seven sports innovation teams, and nearly 100 local sports practitioners. The Sports Administration (SA) promoted the first-ever World Masters Games 2025 in Taipei & New Taipei City (WMG 2025) and the 2026 Hualien International Children's Games (ICG) at the meeting. Taiwan’s ambassador-at-large, Sophiyah Liu, was also invited to attend the event for the first time to share her exemplary contributions to sports diplomacy, including her long-standing advocacy for women’s equality in sports, working alongside the U.S. State Department and the American Institute in Taiwan. The Japanese side also placed significant emphasis on this event. Both the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games Organizing Committee and the World Masters Games 2027 Kansai Organizing Committee sent representatives to share the latest progress in preparations and enhance international promotion. The ASPN delegation also made a special visit to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Bureau of Citizens, Culture and Sports, as well as the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics Organizing Committee, to learn about the Bureau's event development blueprint and the recent progress of the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, which will mark the 100th anniversary of the event and be held in Tokyo this November. The 2025 APEC Sports Policy Network (ASPN) is sponsored by the SA and hosted by the IAPS (Center of Industry Accelerator and Patent Strategy of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University). Established in 2016 under the framework of the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG), it is now entering its 10th year. The initiative has received widespread support and recognition from sports officials across APEC economies, particularly the New Southbound Countries. Last year, it was included in the annual results declaration of the APEC HRDWG. This year, the APEC Secretariat also continued to send personnel to participate, showing the great importance it attaches to this project. This year, official representatives from 11 APEC economies participated, including the Australian Sports Commission, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Indonesia), the Japan Sport Council, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Malaysia), the Sports Authority of Thailand, the Sports Authority of Vietnam, and the SA from Taiwan. The "2025 ASPN Roundtable Meeting & Forum" put emphasis to the cultivation of sports innovative talents and the application of sports technology in events. It hoped to drive the innovative growth of events through technology and use this to market Taiwan's brand events and let the world see Taiwan. This forum brought together seven sports innovation teams from six countries, including NeuinX and Fortune AI from Taiwan, Talnets AG from Switzerland, Providential Media Group from the United States, and Wave Company from South Korea. They hoped to use this chance for business opportunity matching to expand their international market. Former Taiwan biathlon Olympian Lin Ting-Fang, now the Director of the Fun Sports in Taiwan Program and an executive member of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, joined the delegation to promote Taiwan's sports events to international representatives. He invited attendees to Taiwan for WMG 2025- the first to be held in Asia- emphasizing the opportunity to “compete against the world” while enjoying a diverse lineup of cultural, sports, and sightseeing activities in Taiwan. Representatives from Japan’s WMG 2027 Kansai Organizing Committee will also visit Taiwan to receive game flag and deliver a keynote at the 2025 Sport Event Taiwan (SET) Workshop Series Forum, held at the Ximen Red House in Taipei on May 14. Additionally, the SA introduced the 2026 Hualien ICG, encouraging cities across the Asia-Pacific region to form teams for participation. ICG was established in Europe and has been frequently hosted in European cities. Its mission is to foster international friendship and celebrate sports. This year, it will be held in Tallinn, Estonia, and 2026 will be held in Hualien, which presents a unique opportunity for local competitors to experience the event close to home. Although the meeting and related visits were short, they were rich in content and achieved the purpose of exchange and promotion of Taiwan. We also look forward to continuing to interact with various economies through the ASPN platform and improve Taiwan’s ability to host sports events. Ultimately, we will use sports to let the world see Taiwan.

Annual grand APEC sports event the 2025 ASPN Round Table Meeting & Forum held in Japan

2025-02-25
The prestigious annual APEC sports event, the "2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Sports Policy Network Roundtable Meeting and Forum (2025 ASPN Roundtable Meeting & Forum)," took place in Japan February 6th to 7th. During the two-day event, discussions on specialized sports topics, a display of sports innovations, and sports event observer activities featured 25 speakers from 13 countries, seven sports innovation teams, and nearly 100 local sports practitioners. The Sports Administration (SA) promoted the first-ever World Masters Games 2025 in Taipei & New Taipei City (WMG 2025) and the 2026 Hualien International Children's Games (ICG) at the meeting. Taiwan’s ambassador-at-large, Sophiyah Liu, was also invited to attend the event for the first time to share her exemplary contributions to sports diplomacy, including her long-standing advocacy for women’s equality in sports, working alongside the U.S. State Department and the American Institute in Taiwan. The Japanese side also placed significant emphasis on this event. Both the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games Organizing Committee and the World Masters Games 2027 Kansai Organizing Committee sent representatives to share the latest progress in preparations and enhance international promotion. The ASPN delegation also made a special visit to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Bureau of Citizens, Culture and Sports, as well as the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics Organizing Committee, to learn about the Bureau's event development blueprint and the recent progress of the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, which will mark the 100th anniversary of the event and be held in Tokyo this November. The 2025 APEC Sports Policy Network (ASPN) is sponsored by the SA and hosted by the IAPS (Center of Industry Accelerator and Patent Strategy of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University). Established in 2016 under the framework of the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG), it is now entering its 10th year. The initiative has received widespread support and recognition from sports officials across APEC economies, particularly the New Southbound Countries. Last year, it was included in the annual results declaration of the APEC HRDWG. This year, the APEC Secretariat also continued to send personnel to participate, showing the great importance it attaches to this project. This year, official representatives from 11 APEC economies participated, including the Australian Sports Commission, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Indonesia), the Japan Sport Council, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Malaysia), the Sports Authority of Thailand, the Sports Authority of Vietnam, and the SA from Taiwan. The "2025 ASPN Roundtable Meeting & Forum" put emphasis to the cultivation of sports innovative talents and the application of sports technology in events. It hoped to drive the innovative growth of events through technology and use this to market Taiwan's brand events and let the world see Taiwan. This forum brought together seven sports innovation teams from six countries, including NeuinX and Fortune AI from Taiwan, Talnets AG from Switzerland, Providential Media Group from the United States, and Wave Company from South Korea. They hoped to use this chance for business opportunity matching to expand their international market. Former Taiwan biathlon Olympian Lin Ting-Fang, now the Director of the Fun Sports in Taiwan Program and an executive member of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, joined the delegation to promote Taiwan's sports events to international representatives. He invited attendees to Taiwan for WMG 2025- the first to be held in Asia- emphasizing the opportunity to “compete against the world” while enjoying a diverse lineup of cultural, sports, and sightseeing activities in Taiwan. Representatives from Japan’s WMG 2027 Kansai Organizing Committee will also visit Taiwan to receive game flag and deliver a keynote at the 2025 Sport Event Taiwan (SET) Workshop Series Forum, held at the Ximen Red House in Taipei on May 14. Additionally, the SA introduced the 2026 Hualien ICG, encouraging cities across the Asia-Pacific region to form teams for participation. ICG was established in Europe and has been frequently hosted in European cities. Its mission is to foster international friendship and celebrate sports. This year, it will be held in Tallinn, Estonia, and 2026 will be held in Hualien, which presents a unique opportunity for local competitors to experience the event close to home. Although the meeting and related visits were short, they were rich in content and achieved the purpose of exchange and promotion of Taiwan. We also look forward to continuing to interact with various economies through the ASPN platform and improve Taiwan’s ability to host sports events. Ultimately, we will use sports to let the world see Taiwan.