Wed, Oct 31, 2007 page2

• Downgrading of cultural centers sparks opposition

  PROTEST The action is part of a government effort that officials have pursued while persistently blocking a draft amendment that would make museums independent

  • By Jenny W. Hsu / STAFF REPORTER
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  A group of museum and other cultural center directors yesterday expressed disapproval at the government's decision to downgrade more than 50 cultural centers across the country, saying that a museum must not be evaluated by the number of staff or its budget, but rather on the snowballing effect it has on the local community and the country.

  "A person's height and weight should not be a determining factor in whether he is a first or second class citizen so why should cultural centers be subject to the same scrutiny? The level of a museum must be measured according to its overall influence on the community," said National History Museum director Huang Yong-chuan (黃永川).

  Huang was among 12 museum directors that attended a public hearing held by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), who blasted the administration for "murdering" the country's arts and culture by threatening to downgrade the museums.

  Huang said just talking about downgrading his museum had already adversely affected it and he could not imagine what would happen after the downgrade.

  "Recently, two foreign museums decided to postpone becoming our sister museums because they heard we will be downgraded. Their reaction may just be the tip of the iceberg," he said.

  According to the Cabinet's Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission, the downgrade is part of an organizational re-structuring effort.

  Currently, all level 3 social cultural centers that do not meet certain staff levels or budget sizes are required to be downgraded to level 4.

  Cultural centers such as the National Museum of Natural Science, the National Science and Technology Museum, the National Museum of History and the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium are among those on the downgrade list.

  The government has persistently blocked a draft amendment to make museums independent, self-governing institutions, as is the case in the UK and the US.

  Museum scholars say that until museums are self-governing bodies, the government can appoint museum directors regardless of that person's qualifications or expertise in museum management.

  Many cultural centers that were under the Ministry of Education's jurisdiction have also been moved under the Council of Cultural Affairs.

  Museum of World Religions director Han Pao-teh (漢寶德) lambasted the government for violating an unwritten principle in modern democratic countries of never interfering in the arts or education.

  Han argued the government's role in the arts and education is to provide grants and funding to help institutions flourish and reach their maximum potential, not to dictate the direction of their growth.

  "Has the government conducted any evaluation on the residual effects that are bound to occur by downgrading these cultural centers?" he asked.

  Another academic, Chou Kung-shin (周功鑫), director of the Graduate Institute of Museum Studies at Fu Jen Catholic University, said downgrading the level of museums would directly affect the quality of the museums because it would be difficult for any "qualified talent to lead an unexpandable institution."
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