Taiwans cultural agency plans to set up footholds in China
Taipei, Nov. 26 (CNA) Taiwan’s Council for Cultural Affairs (CCA) plans to set up footholds in China in the form of semi-official or private organizations, Emile Sheng, head of the country’s top cultural agency said Thursday, less than two weeks after assuming his post.
Sheng told reporters at a tea party that the cultural agency has set up offices in Europe and the United States, but has not yet set up footholds in China where Taiwanese performers and artists most frequently show off their talent.
The agency is therefore considering making its presence big in China by collaborating with civic groups or the Tourism Bureau to gain access to the Chinese market.
Currently, the agency has liaison offices in New York, Paris and Tokyo and plans to collaborate with the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission to set up more overseas offices, according to Sheng.
The plan for the China market is aimed at removing obstacles and barriers for Taiwanese groups to perform or showcase their works there, Sheng said, noting that in the past, Taiwan’s performance arts groups have frequently fallen victim to fraud when they tried to make inroads into the Chinese market.
The cultural agency also hopes to help local performers and artists obtain more performance and exhibition opportunities in China and to promote Taiwan’s cultural and creative industries in the country.
Meanwhile, the agency will coordinate with top-notch local performance groups to stage performances to cater to tourists visiting Taiwan on a regular basis, Sheng added.
Sheng said the agency is also considering transforming the government-funded Formosa festival activities, which have been staged separately various cities and counties around the country, into a bigger, national one that combines tourism, arts and travel and could gain international exposure.
In an effort to help students at elementary and secondary schools to foster an appreciation for performance arts, Sheng floated an idea of issuing vouchers to the students to attend performances for free. (By Yulia Chen, Teresa Yeng and Y.L. Kao)
More Info: http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=172682&CtNode=39
Leave a Reply