Taiwan National Exhibition Committee for Arts founder and chairman of the board of the Kaohsiung-based Taiwan Artcci Co, Lin Fu-nan (林富男), over the weekend announced his decision to offer Taiwan Artcci shares on the over-the-counter market in the next few years to help promote local art in international markets.
According to Lin, Taiwanese artists have market value, but lack the confidence to connect with the international markets, adding that such lack of confidence directly affects the futures of Taiwanese art students.
The trade deficit for cultural items between Taiwan and China is NT$2 billion (US$65.3 million) per year, Lin said, adding that very few Taiwanese artists are brave enough to take their work to be sold in China.
Referring Tainan’s Chimei Museum, Lin said that foreign artwork made up the greatest proportion of its exhibits.
“My company seeks to put a value on Taiwanese art and to make it a more visible commodity internationally,” Lin said, adding that the company would be allocating billions of New Taiwan dollars for the purchase of local art and to give further depth to Taiwanese art.
Taiwan Artcci has a fund of NT$70 million and plans to inject NT$50 million more, Lin said, adding that it would be listed by 2017.
The company also plans to have the medical sector, steel industry and construction companies invest in shares, providing a strong foundation for the local art market, Lin said.
Taiwan Artcci plans to hold a press conference about its listing in July and aims to go public on Aug. 1, Lin added.
The company would be classified under visual culture creative stocks, Lin said.
Once the company is listed, it would focus only on art, Lin added.
Taiwan Artcci plans to construct a high-rise building in Kaohsiung, as well as renting out three areas in Kaohsiung’s Formosa Boulevard MRT Station to establish “artists’ villages,” Lin said, adding that it would also buy all art exhibited in the villages to help support local artists.
Lin said he hoped it would aid Kaohsiung in its transition from a cultural desert into a cultural oasis.
“We hope that Kaohsiung would, in the future, exceed the achievements of Taipei and become Taiwan’s foremost international city,” Lin said.
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