President Tsai Ing-wen said July 1 that the Republic of China (Taiwan) government is committed to strengthening the country’s soft power and expanding cultural exchanges with other nations.
The efforts of General Association of Chinese Culture in achieving these goals is particularly praiseworthy, Tsai said at a GACC event attended by over 700 officials, representatives of local cultural and creative industries and invited guests in Taipei City.
Since taking over as head of the nonprofit GACC in March, Tsai said the Taipei-based organization has played a key role in promoting local culture abroad. It has taken the lead in a number of important projects such as launching the 2017 Art Truck Shows Taiwan, producing a series of documentary short films and resuming the print edition of a long-running arts magazine.
The art truck show is the ideal vehicle for promoting Taiwan abroad while fostering cultural exchanges, Tsai said, adding that its first stop is to be in Malaysia—one of the 18 countries covered by the New Southbound Policy. A key plank in the government’s national development strategy, the policy seeks to deepen agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade links between Taiwan and Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
According to GACC, the show involves one of Taiwan’s signature stage trucks replete with four groups of Taiwan performing artists and singers touring Penang in northwest Malaysia Sept. 22-23. Typically used for cabaret shows, religious celebrations and village karaokes, the vehicles are famed for their large stages, flashing neon lights, eardrum-shattering sound systems and garishly colored set decorations.
Less ostentatious, GACC said, is the series of shorts documenting the unique talents and skills of local artisans. One film per month will be released online beginning in August, with the goal of raising international awareness of Taiwan’s distinctive crafts and time-honored production techniques.
Equally significant is restarting publication of the bimonthly Fountain of Creativity, GACC said, adding that magazine ceased publication last year after a decadelong run. The new edition is set to highlight the 30-year achievements of the country’s art fields spanning film, music and theater after the lifting of martial law in 1987.
Founded in 1967, GACC aims to support the deepening of Taiwan culture, foster cultural exchanges with other countries and facilitate the development of local cultural and creative industries. (CPY-E)
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