The Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe initiative launched earlier this year is introducing Taiwanese culture across 26 European countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced today.
The campaign “would help the nations of Europe see a side of Taiwan other than technology,” the ministry said in a news release.
The Ministry of Culture, MOFA and the National Palace Museum have collaborated with 30 overseas missions to put on more than 70 events throughout the year, Department of European Affairs Director-General Eric Huang (黃鈞耀) told a news conference.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
This year’s slogan is “From Tech to Culture, Taiwan Leads the Future,” while the logo combines the word “Taiwan” with a Roman column and semiconductor chip motifs.
The event was formulated in February by MOFA and the Ministry of Culture, overseen by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Minister of Culture Li Yuan (李遠).
The cultural events are to showcase the nation’s rich cultural heritage and creative spirit, while reflecting its shared values with Europe, including democracy and diversity, Huang said.
"Through a series of cultural activities, Europe can gain a better understanding of Taiwan's rich culture, and allow more Europeans to see the richness of Taiwan through prisms other than technology, economic activity and security," Huang told today’s news conference.
Important events attended by Taiwanese representatives so far this year include Italy’s Venice Biennale, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and Napoli COMICON, he said.
The National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra embarked on a concert tour of Austria and Lithuania last month, while the Taiwanese Indigenous Children’s Choir — VOX Nativa — performed in the Vatican, Germany and Austria, and were granted an audience with the Pope, he added.
In the latter half of the year, pieces from the National Palace Museum are to be exhibited in the Czech Republic and France in September and November respectively, MOFA said.
Meanwhile, U-Theatre, a performance group combining Taoism, drumming and art, is to perform in Italy, Greece, France and Bulgaria in September and December, its Web site states.
The National Chinese Orchestra and Ju Percussion Group are to also be touring Europe in the coming months, Huang said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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