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THE MINISTRY PLANS FOR A TOTAL OF 12 OVERSEAS CENTERS

  • Date:2012-11-06
THE MINISTRY PLANS FOR A TOTAL OF 12 OVERSEAS CENTERS

The Ministry of Culture will open cultural centers in Latin America and Central Europe, Culture Minister Lung Ying-tai said on Tuesday, urging overseas officials to join efforts to promote Taiwanese culture abroad.


The urgency for Taiwan to promote its culture and ramp up its cultural presence around the world 'should be 10 or a 100 times greater than other countries,' Lung told government officials responsible for overseas Taiwanese affairs at a meeting.


Taiwan has to deal with tension with China and 30 to 40 years of relative isolation from the international community and culture is the only thing that is able to 'transcend political fences,' she said.
Taiwan currently has overseas cultural offices in Paris, New York and Tokyo, and it will establish one in Moscow and another in London next year.


It is looking to expand the total to 12, with some taking the form of salon-like Taiwan Academy centers, said Chang Hui-chun, a section chief at the ministry.


Lung said in her speech that an ideal Taiwan Academy center would be like the Literaturhaus Berlin — a facility in Berlin that holds literary events like readings, symposiums and writing workshops. It also houses a coffee shop, garden and outdoor area for concerts.


It would also be like the SPOT-Taipei Film House, the former residence of the U.S. ambassador that was remodeled into an art and cultural center housing a film theater, restaurant, coffee shop and bookstore, Lung added.


The film house was set up during Lung's term as director of the Taipei City government's Department of Cultural Affairs from 1999 to 2003.


She urged the officials to recommend good locations for centers in the countries where they are stationed and to assist the Ministry in promoting Taiwanese culture abroad.


Meanwhile, Lung said Taiwan's overseas centers do not need to compete with China's Confucius Institutes in terms of size or in representation of authentic Chinese culture.


Taiwan's centers should promote the country's freedom and democracy, its unique blend of modern and traditional Chinese, and the Taiwanese, aboriginal and Hakka cultures, as well as influences from its former colonizers, including the Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese, Lung said.


The Minister also urged officials to encourage overseas Taiwanese to 'adopt' historic sites in Taiwan to support their repair and preservation.