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MINISTER TO VISIT CLOSED 'LIVE HOUSE' IN TAIPEI

  • Date:2012-07-19
MINISTER TO VISIT CLOSED 'LIVE HOUSE' IN TAIPEI

Culture Minister Lung Ying-tai has promised to visit a recently closed 'live house' in Taipei, saying she will hold discussions with local governments to ensure that independent musicians have a place to perform.



After a short conversation on Thursday with Ho Tung-hung, spokesman for the live house Underworld, Lung promised to visit the establishment that was one of Taipei's most prominent venues for indie music performances.



Ho and close to 100 supporters of Underworld gathered outside Huashan 1914 Creative Park, where a national cultural forum was being held, to protest the closure of the venue on July 15 after 16 years in business.



Ho said the establishment was closed because it could not withstand the repeated inspections by the Taipei City government and the resulting fines for safety issues and violations of business permits.



At the opening of the forum, Lung said places such as 'live houses' nurture talent and are part of the 'charm' of a city. They represent an approach of embracing different and non-mainstream values, she said.



The Ministry of Culture is already taking steps to review the regulations to ensure that independent musicians have a place to perform.



In a statement on the previous day, Lung said she had already asked cultural officials to compile information about the relevant regulations in other countries and to mull the possibility of revising the current laws in Taiwan.



Ho, who was invited by Lung to speak at the forum, urged the Minister to visit Underworld next week and meet with live house operators to discuss setting up regulations for such establishments.



In response, Lung said a law revision will take time and needs to be taken 'step by step.'



Meanwhile, Liu Wei-gong, commissioner of the Taipei City government's Department of Cultural Affairs, said Underworld is not the only live house facing such problems and that the city government will deal with the issue 'in the quickest possible time.'