Ministry of Culture

The foundation of the cultural and creative industries is rooted in the nation's culture. The development of the cultural economy must be centered on cultural content, and as such, the Ministry of Culture is committed to the creation of an environment conducive to the development of an industrial ecosystem that can boost the cultural economy. Into the future, the Ministry will continue to work with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency on the creation of production systems, a robust cultural financing system, the fostering of innovative entrepreneurship, and the development of market channels both at home and abroad, employing a "national team" concept to bring together resources and create a Taiwanese cultural brand that can drive cultural economic development. To promote the development of the cultural and creative industries, the Ministry organizes mentoring, brings in diverse investment and financing, holds the Creative Expo Taiwan, leads industry teams to major international expos, and works across agencies on the Cross-Industry Fashion Integration Flagship Project.

Key Initiatives

1. Promote Cultural and Creative Industries Mentorships and Diverse Investment and Funding Services

By providing guidance and assistance to entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries through a comprehensive suite of services to foster talent and encourage the development of cultural content. At the same time, using the National Development Fund to bolster investment in these industries and provide interest subsidies for financing loans, the Ministry helps entrepreneurs meet their financial needs, while continuing to study the mechanisms needed to create a robust financing system.

2. Support the Cluster Effect and the Development of Local Specializations

Through encouraging management, artists, and creators to join cultural and creative parks across Taiwan. The Ministry fosters clusters that help showcase the unique properties of locales around the nation, and promoting the development of such clusters has the additional effect of strengthening their productive and supportive synergies.

3. Coordinate the Cross-Industry Fashion Integration Flagship Project

By harnessing the resources of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and other agencies around Taiwanese designers and branding events. The Ministry is creating a culturally identifiably Taiwanese fashion brand and an ecosystem of cross-industry digital applications that will help the nation export its "Taiwan lifestyle."

Global Exchanges

1. "Fresh Taiwan" Pavilion 

Since 2012, the Ministry has led Taiwanese design brands under the "Fresh Taiwan" banner into the international market, not only coalescing their creative energies and linking government and private resources to help them gain a stable foothold in the global marketplace, but also enabling "Fresh Taiwan" to become the standard-bearer for Taiwanese cultural soft power.

This project has provided guidance in the development of some 350 representative Taiwanese design brand channels on globally, as well as leading entrepreneurs in participation in 37 of the biggest design shows in the world, including Maison et Objet Paris, NY NOW, Frankfurt’s Ambiente, Tokyo International Gift Show, STYLE Bangkok, Licensing Japan, Hong Kong International Licensing Show, China International Licensing Expo, and the Licensing Show in Las Vegas.

Official Website: https://freshtaiwan.org.tw/ 

2. Creative Expo Taiwan

Creative Expo Taiwan is an exposition held each year with a concept show at Huashan 1914 Creative Park and trade shows at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and Taipei Expo Park's Expo Dome. Those involved in both the branding and sales of cultural and creative products are invited to participate and buyers from abroad visit, helping Taiwan's cultural and creative brands get international exposure. In addition, the Talent 100 section showcases international rising stars, with the best from around the world invited to engage with counterparts in Taiwan.

Official Website: https://creativexpo.tw/ 

• Chinese Title:「文化創意產業國際拓展計畫」
• Site: https://ccimarketing.org.tw 

The Ministry of Culture-led "Fresh Taiwan" project was launched in 2012 to become the kind of backup designers dream of, helping Taiwanese brands take off globally and shine in international exhibitions and trade shows, and taking orders to new heights.

Every year, the project chooses around 20 outstanding cultural and creative brands to promote in the European, American, and Southeast Asian markets, including — to substantial success — the Ambiente international consumer goods show in Frankfurt; the New York home, lifestyle, and gift show NY NOW in August; and the Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair in October. 

The Fresh Taiwan trademark was approved by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in July 2018 and stands to become the international symbol of Taiwanese design and quality. The project is partnering for the first time with the National Palace Museum, with Fresh Taiwan creators working with the museum to develop co-branded products to be sold at the world-renowned institution. The NPM has also provided Fresh Taiwan participants with a small amount of funding in hopes of fostering potential joint creative endeavors and translating cultural heritage into commercial value.

With its new focus on museums as a potential sales channel, Fresh Taiwan is also visiting well-known museums around the world, with aims to negotiate with them to get top Taiwan-designed products in front of both the general public and visiting travelers from around the globe.

• Chinese Title:「臺灣文博會」
• Site: https://creativexpo.tw/en/ 

To aid Taiwan's cultural and creative industries in expanding market access domestically and globally, every year since 2010 the Ministry has organized Creative Expo Taiwan (formerly named the International Cultural and Creative Industry Exposition, ICCIE).

As a cultural and creative industry exhibition expansion platform, Creative Expo Taiwan helps Taiwan's industry stakeholders to interact with international ones, creating business opportunities for cooperation and trade.

The Ministry uses "Household items and gifts," "Museum products," "Cultural and creative exhibitions," and other similar ideas to invite retail channel contact, agents, and other types of international buyers and curators to participate in expositions.

In addition to helping cultural and creative industry parties to accumulate experience in market expansion and exports, in the long term the creative expo will help Taiwan establish channels for international interaction within the cultural and creative industry, thus improving Taiwan's output and internationalization.

Moreover, to facilitate medium-, small-, and even micro-industry actors to enter international markets, the Ministry uses the imagery of Taiwan and each year selects and collects outstanding works and people from the cultural and creative fields to participate in exhibitions in Europe, Japan, China, Hong Kong and other international destinations.

Arrangements are also made for participants with merchandise, boutique, retail and other channels as well as organizing partnerships, aiding industry expansion in overseas networks, and expanding the scale of Taiwan's local market.

In 2018, 559 companies from 23 countries participated, with 250 events held across three venues. More than 300,000 members of the public joined in as well, and the event generated some NT$600 million in financial value.

• March 2020 > 2020 Creative Expo Taiwan suspended over quality concerns 
• April 2019 > Taiwan's largest creative fair kicks off in Taipei
• April 2019 > Taiwan's tea culture, crafts to take center stage of creative expo
• April 2019 > 'Culture on the Move' — Creative Expo Taiwan opens on April 24 
• May 2018 >  300,000 people dived into design at 2018 Creative Expo Taiwan
• April 2018 > Creative expo returns with culture-driven design for daily life
• March 2018 > 2018 Creative Expo to reveal top cultural destinations of Taiwan

The Ministry of Culture has transformed unused sites or warehouses of the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation into cultural and creative parks in Taipei, Hualien, Taichung, Chiayi, and Tainan. By repurposing these spaces, the Ministry aims not only to highlight the burgeoning creative sector but also to forge vital connections between local industries. This initiative seeks to stimulate urban development, nurture emerging talent, and bolster cultural production. 

Introduction to the five major cultural and creative parks

1. Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山文化創意產業園區)

Recognized as a national-level cultural and creative park, Huashan 1914 Creative Park is located in the heart of Taipei City along its cultural innovation corridor. The park serves as a platform for showcasing international cultural content and as a national hub for Taiwan’s creative industries, including audiovisual media, art fairs, entertainment, performances, exhibitions, and educational programs.

Huashan 1914 Creative Park official website: https://www.huashan1914.com/

SPOT Huashan movie theater official website: http://www.spot-hs.org.tw/

2. Cultural Heritage Park (臺中文化資產園區, formerly known as the Taichung Cultural and Creative Industries Park) 

Managed by the Bureau of Cultural Heritage, the Cultural Heritage Park in Taichung is positioned as a venue that highlights Taiwanese architecture, design, and performing arts. It serves not only as a sanctuary for cultural heritage and creative expression but also as a versatile space that accommodates business-oriented events. The part aims to serve as a model for the revitalization of historic buildings and sites, while strengthening Taiwan’s ties with the global architectural and design community. Through these efforts, the park aspires to enhance public appreciation of spatial design and elevate Taiwan’s status as a design hub in Asia.

Cultural Heritage Park official website: https://www.boch.gov.tw

3. Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park (花蓮文化創意產業園區)

As outlined in the Ministry of Culture’s 2021 Cultural and Creative Park Policy White Paper, the Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park is envisioned as a center for promoting cultural diversity. The park fulfills three primary functions: “regional cultural policy platform” - integrates central and local government resources to organize thematic events and incorporate technology into cultural programming; “local arts and cultural support platform” - offers affordable spaces for local cultural and performing arts groups to present their work; and “cultural business and services platform” - provides venues for creative product designers, craftspeople, exhibitions, specialty shops, and restaurants.

Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park official website: https://hualien1913.nat.gov.tw/

4. Chiayi Cultural and Creative Industries Park (嘉義文化創意產業園區)

Aiming to become a hub for cultural innovation and incubation, the Chiayi Cultural and Creative Industries Park integrates its resources to promote creative culture and enhance its visibility. In recent years, the Ministry of Culture has actively organized various events in the park, incorporating immersive technologies to develop new intellectual properties. Through the application of digital technology, the park offers a wide range of services spanning performing arts, interactive media, and cultural tourism.

Chiayi Cultural and Creative Industries Park official website: https://www.g9cip.com/

5. Tainan Cultural and Creative Park (臺南文化創意產業園區)

The Tainan Cultural and Creative Park stands as a vibrant beacon for Taiwan’s creative lifestyle industry. Situated in the heart of Tainan City, the park is surrounded by rich historical and cultural treasures as well as popular tourist destinations. Although modest in size, the park enjoys a strategic location near Tainan Train Station and holds strong potential for future growth.

Tainan Cultural and Creative Park official website: https://www.b16tainan.com.tw/