TAINAN (TVBS News) — In a move to elevate the Tainan Art Museum (台南市美術館) to national prominence, City Councilor Chen Yi-chen (陳怡珍) on Wednesday (May 1) advocated for the museum's operation to be transferred to the central government.
Highlighting the museum's significance as a key policy achievement of President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) during his tenure as Tainan mayor, Chen aims to secure its status as a national museum of modern and contemporary art.
A Beacon of Culture and Fashion
Chen praised the Tainan Art Museum for its successful marketing efforts, including notable exhibitions like "Ghosts and Hells: The Underworld in Asian Art" and a recent collaboration with Gucci on a fashion art exhibit.
These initiatives have drawn public interest and transformed the museum into a popular social media spot.
As Taiwan's first administrative corporation museum, the Tainan Art Museum faces financial challenges, relying on annual city government subsidies and self-raised funds to maintain operations.
Seeking Central Support
Chen emphasized the museum's foundational role in Lai's mayoral policy, which was marked by a grand groundbreaking ceremony in December 2015.
Chen hopes to alleviate the financial burden on the Tainan city government by advocating for central government funding, ensuring the museum's sustainable development and broader recognition.