TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's premier performing arts venue unveiled an ambitious environmental program Monday (April 14) as cultural institutions worldwide grapple with their carbon footprints. The National Theater and Concert Hall (兩廳院), Taiwan's iconic twin-venue cultural complex, announced its dual carbon reduction initiative during the fourth annual "Borderless Sustainability 2025 NTCH Sustainable Theater Conference x STAGES Forum," emphasizing audience engagement in sustainability efforts.
This year marked a significant milestone as the conference joined forces with the European STAGES Sustainable Theatre Alliance (STAGES永續劇場聯盟) forum, creating an unprecedented international dialogue among performing arts leaders from Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, South Korea, and Singapore. Artistic Director Liu i-ju (劉怡汝) highlighted the post-pandemic cultural renaissance as a catalyst for sustainability initiatives. "The arts industry has thrived after the pandemic," Liu stated, describing the institution's comprehensive approach to environmental responsibility "from service to stage."
European arts leaders emphasized Taiwan's growing influence in the global cultural sustainability movement. Serge Rangoni, director of Belgium's Liège Theatre, explained that including Taiwan's National Theater and Concert Hall in the alliance represented a deliberate effort to integrate Asian perspectives into predominantly European conversations. Rangoni praised the Taiwanese institution as a source of inspiration while acknowledging financial limitations facing European venues. Despite these constraints, he underscored the cultural sector's responsibility to champion environmental values. ★