Under the “Art Bank” project, the Ministry of Culture will purchase artworks from the Taiwanese artists and sell or loan the pieces to companies, government agencies and the public to give the artists more exposure. The project also aims to improve the environment in public spaces and promote appreciation and support for Taiwanese art.
So far, 855 artists have submitted over 3,200 works for review. The selected works will be announced in July and displayed in public spaces as soon as August. Culture Minister Lung Ying-tai said the concept of "art banks" has been implemented in other countries such as Australia, Canada and South Korea for years and will finally be launched in Taiwan. "Artists need to be seen by society," she stressed.