TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese youth above 18 years old will likely receive NTD1,200 worth of Arts Fun vouchers as early as next year to encourage them to spend on arts and culture, according to the Ministry of Culture.
"We are planning for each person to receive NT1,200. During the initial stages, our government will put aside NTD200 million, and the private sector will raise at least NT100 million," Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te said at the Legislative Yuan.
"We are taking references from Italy and France which have something similar to our Arts Fun vouchers. The vouchers can be used to buy books, and go to performances and libraries," he added.
TVBS asked the public how they will likely be using these vouchers.
"I might spend it on a concert," said one student. "I will use it to buy books, informational books, I am more interested in these," said another, while a third student said, "I might not apply for the vouchers. I am not interested in (arts and cultural) activities."
Yang Yuan-ching, vice president of the Taiwan Street Arts and Culture Development Association, said: "I think this policy can further encourage the public, even teenagers to buy tickets to watch performances in theaters."
Whether and when the youth will be receiving the Arts Fun vouchers has yet to be confirmed, members of the public can spend some time looking into the activities they might be interested in, and see how they will make good use of their NTD1,200 vouchers.