Skip to main content

Cultural Heritage | Overview

The five policy areas of cultural heritage are:
1) Community empowerment
2) Museums
3) Cultural facilities and venues
4) Taipei Railway Workshop (to be upgraded to a National Railway Museum)
5) Preservation and revitalization of old private buildings

Key Initiatives


1) Community Building Phase III and Project for Village Cultural Development (2016–2021)
i. Strengthen grassroots art and culture while building cultural value
ii. Promote diverse participation in innovative urban and rural development
iii. Guidance at different levels to cultivate stronger administrative momentum

2) Preparation of Museum Specialization and Environments
By enacting museum guidance, talent building, and marketing efforts, the Ministry of Culture aims to strengthen the foundation upon with Taiwanese museums develop. The guiding focus is on the advancement of the particular characteristics of museums in pace with the community, making Taiwan into a true "island of museums," while also fostering greater exchange and cooperation with museums abroad, strengthening international participation, and boosting the visibility and influence of Taiwan in this sphere.

3) Project for Development of Museums and Local Cultural Centers
Through the use of a streamed counseling strategy, the Ministry brings together cultural resources, strengthens local ties, and plants deeper roots in localities, while through a cross-domain value-add strategy, develops integrated collaboration platforms and conducts resource integration, facilitating the repair and reuse of existing buildings without the need for new construction. Additionally, through the invigoration of performance content and linking local residents and groups, the Ministry is able to harness community energy and develop high-quality regional cultural environments that address the needs of local residents.

4) Development of Taipei Railway Workshop (National Railway Museum)
i. Restoration of cultural resources and environmental regeneration of the Taipei Railway Workshop, a registered national historic site
ii. Establishing resources and, through thematic research and collection policies with a comprehensive view, creating a multifaceted railway resource center
iii. Interpreting system architecture; integrating various exhibits, educational activities, and publishing plans; and presenting railway cultural heritage in a dynamic way
iv. Operational planning and public services, including museum PR, resource integration, and community liaison

5) Project for Preservation and Revitalization of Old Private Buildings
Making older private buildings a target of subsidies, the Ministry intends to provide buildings with historical, cultural, artistic, or preservational/regenerational value constructed prior to 1971 with opportunities for renovation and repair through application for subsidies.

Global Exchanges


i. Recommending Outstanding Veteran Community Building Teams for Participation in International Activities and Planned Exchanges:
Since the 1994 launch of Taiwan's Community-Building Policy, a number of outstanding veteran community-building teams have arisen, shining brightly locally and demonstrating powerful energy. To help them extend the reach of this energy internationally and share Taiwan's community-building experience on the world stage, the Ministry actively recommends communities and individuals for participation in international conferences and forums such as the Social Enterprise World Forum. Additionally, in accordance with current government policy, the Ministry plans exchange visits and study groups to share Taiwan's accomplishments in local culture and community-building with the international community and to train front-line cultural workers and core contractors from cities and counties nationwide.

ii. Museum Exchanges: Subsidized venues and related communities participate in international professional organizations and conferences, organize museum exhibitions, touring exhibitions, and more to promote Taiwanese culture and reach out to the world both across the Taiwan Strait and further afield to share in common cultural issues and foster cooperation and exchanges founded on equality and mutual benefit. These will additionally boost the global renown of Taiwanese museums, concretely communicate their professional performance, and, through prioritizing curated international touring exhibitions of museum collections, promote the development of localized international cooperation and internationalized local culture.

iii. Taipei Railway Workshop Railway Museum Preparatory Group: Establish a world-class railway museum and cultural heritage center: Through planned cooperation with diverse communities and linkage with Taiwan's network of railway cultural heritage, this group aims to move toward the establishment of a world-class railway museum and cultural heritage center. To promote international exchange and better market Taiwan, it will showcase the diversity of Taiwan's railway cultural heritage and, in the context of globalization, present the localized development experience underpinning Taiwan's railways.