Ministry of Culture-Performance Venues & Architectural Heritage

Tasked with cultivating culture as an instrument of national power, the Ministry's main policy objectives are:

1. Ensuring the cultural rights of citizens

Cultural rights, like political, economic and social rights, are basic human rights to be enjoyed by every citizen. Administering and allocating resources to the cultural sector therefore requires paying attention to ensuring that grassroots organizations and disadvantaged groups are catered for. It also requires that resources be divided fairly between urban and rural areas.

All citizens must be empowered to participate in the cultural life of the nation, as inclusion is what creates bonds within communities, society and the nation at large. While cultural rights are the property of every citizen, society and the nation as a whole become the beneficiaries, as social cohesion is founded on having citizens engaged in their country's cultural life.

2. Creating an environment that fosters creativity

Cultural policies can more effectively shape a nation and help it achieve a higher ranking on cultural indexes. Cultural policies must be aimed at creating an environment supportive of artists and creators, such that they will be able to realize their full potential.

3. Building and maintaining cultural values

Cultural policies must make allowance for the preservation of cultural artifacts, heritage, and national memories. They also play a key role in promoting democratic values such as freedom, open-mindedness, and diversity. This must be true for every area of culture; from publishing negotiations, community development, and arts education, to international exchanges and cross-strait talks. All of these must be pursued with the enrichment of Taiwanese values in mind.

4. Bolstering the cultural and creative sector's competitiveness

Even as they train more personnel in the art of operating and managing a business, the cultural and creative sector must keep culture at the heart of all activities. Tapping into the commercial value of culture with the aim of bolstering the country's soft power and international influence brings a number of challenges. These include commercializing cultural and creative goods, developing new markets, cultivating talented individuals, and establishing the necessary mechanisms for global deployment.

To help the nation achieve these objectives, the Ministry will adhere to the following three fundamental objectives when developing cultural policies:

• Staying true to the roots of culture
• Building the nation's international image
• Harnessing the power of technology

Cultural policy and its implementation must serve the people by helping to expand culture into the international realm and build the nation's soft power. Policies should also employ the latest technology to more effectively spread the knowledge of Taiwan's unique culture and customs both domestically and internationally.

Read more about our latest cultural directives here.