To commend 15 cultural workers for their efforts in promoting Taiwanese arts and culture, the Ministry of Culture (MOC) held an award ceremony to honor them with the Cultural Association Medal (文協獎章) on Oct. 16. The ceremony was attended by Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), Culture Minister Shih Che, Director of National Palace Museum Hsiao Tsung-huang (蕭宗煌), and Taiwanese opera actor Tang Mei-yun (唐美雲).
Out of 224 candidates who were recommended by cultural associations and groups across Taiwan, 15 winners were selected. These awardees have long dedicated themselves to passing down Taiwan’s culture and arts through advocacy, education, operation, research, and organization, helping foster the cultural development on the island.
Vice Premier Cheng stated that one’s culture is one’s own badge, noting that our culture presents our characteristics through continuous innovation. He thanked these medal winners for their contribution to the cultural community, adding that they have played an important role in making Taiwanese culture thrive.
The Vice Premier said that the Executive Yuan strives to ensure MOC’s budget accounts for 1% of the total budget, stressing that the central government strongly supports restoration projects on cultural assets, plans that focus on Taiwanese contents in the entertainment industry, and new incentives for additional investment in the cultural and creative industries. He hopes that, through the collaboration between the government and the private sector, Taiwan’s culture will shine on the world’s stage.
Culture Minister Shih explained that, inspired by the spirit of the Taiwanese Cultural Association (臺灣文化協會), which was an important organization during the Japanese rule of Taiwan, MOC created the Cultural Association Medal in recognition of endeavors made by Taiwanese culture promoters. The 15 winners are all Taiwanese cultural practitioners and pioneers in constructing Taiwan’s cultural identity, Shih said, hoping that Taiwanese culture will be perpetuated.
The following are the winners of the 2023 Cultural Association Medal:
1. Chen Li-po (陳立栢), CEO of the Chen Chengpo Cultural Foundation (陳澄波文化基金會)
2. Liao Wu-jyh (廖武治), president of the Dalongdong Baoan Temple in Taipei (臺北保安宮)
3. Tang Li-fang (唐麗芳), founding president of the Yunlin Storyteller Association (雲林故事人協會)
4. Tsang Cheng-hwa (臧振華), director of Institute of Anthropology at National Tsing Hua University (國立清華大學)
5. Lin Pang-soong (林磐聳), chair professor of Asia University
6. Chen Ching-lin (陳景林), dye artist and director of Tennii Studio (天染工坊)
7. Chen Li-yu (陳立育), playwright and director of Deaf Dragon EAr Films of National Association of the Deaf, ROC (中華民國聾人協會聾影隊編導)
8. Yeh Chwei-ching (葉垂青), recording engineer and founder of Platinum Studio (白金錄音室)
9. Cheng Jye-Renn (鄭捷任), music director of Tiehua Music Village (鐵花村音樂聚落)
10. Yeh Bu-jung (葉步榮), manager of Hung Fan Bookstore (洪範書店)
11. Liao Lu-lee (廖祿立), chairman of Taiwan Reading and Culture Foundation (台灣閱讀文化基金會)
12. Chang Shiu-kim (張秀琴), leader of Shiu-Kim Taiwanese Opera Troupe (秀琴歌劇團)
13. Huang Tsai-lang (黃才郎), artist and former director of the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
14. Yoko Shioya (塩谷陽子), artistic director of Japan Society
15. Elizabeth Zeitoun, research fellow of Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica