TAOYUAN (TVBS News) — The Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts (TMOFA, 桃園市立美術館) construction has faced significant delays, with only 56.86% completion as of Wednesday (April 30). The city's Department of Cultural Affairs (桃園市政府文化局) aims to secure an occupancy permit by March 2026 and complete inspections by July 2026.
Originally set to finish in June 2024, the project has encountered setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, labor and material shortages, and a major workplace safety incident in August 2022. Architect Riken Yamamoto criticized the construction quality during the opening of the Taoyuan Children's Art Center (兒美館), urging better communication between the cultural affairs department, architects, and construction teams.
City Councilor Peng Chun-hao (彭俊豪) expressed concerns over the prolonged construction, highlighting its impact on the surrounding Chintan Park(青塘園) scenery. Councilor Hsieh Mei-ying (謝美英) compared the project to the recently opened New Taipei City Art Museum (新北美術館), which cost NT$3 billion and attracted 100,000 visitors on its first day. She emphasized that Taoyuan's NT$5.8 billion investment should ensure quality in construction, design, and collections.
Local councilors also highlighted the insufficient budget for art collections, with only NT$25 million allocated annually, second only to Taipei's NT$40 million among the six municipalities. The department plans to seek additional funding to enhance the diversity and quantity of the museum's collections.