The Ministry of Culture in 2015 set up the Southeast Asian (SEA) Advisory Committee to promote cultural interaction with Taiwan's neighbors in the region. Over the years, members of the committee, representing different Southeast Asian countries, have generated considerable awareness and interest in Taiwan's cultural development.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry expects that members of the committee continue to contribute to the exchange, and is inviting members of committee to submit proposals of Taiwan-themed exchange projects or topic studies.
The Ministry remarked that the SEA Advisory Committee is an important platform for promoting cultural exchanges and collaborative projects under the government's new southbound policy, and members of the committee are renowned artists and cultural advocates in the region.
While the pandemic hinders the meeting of international members in Taiwan this year, the ministry has decided to invite them to submit proposals, and the idea has received warm responses.
This year, the Ministry approved 11 project proposals submitted by members from Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan, with extended participation from countries including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, and New Zealand. The various projects will be exploring cultural activities of aboriginal and new inhabitants, art history, film art, bio-art, and musicology themes, showcasing the diversity of the cultural and historical connections between Taiwan and Southeast Asian countries.
The Ministry explained that the projects will include exploring the exquisite classical music of Southeast Asia, the history of folk song performances, the experience and frustration of Taiwan's new residents in introducing their culture and art, art and culture of Taiwan and Southeast Asian aborigines, as well as the application of new media podcasts to introduce the concept of "bio-art," overcoming the limitations set upon by the pandemic. Besides, a project, focused on the exploration of connections between the history of Austronesia migration and transition, can provide an approach to writing art history books and curating contemporary art exhibitions. "Bangsokol: A Requiem for Cambodia (南國悲歌)," a 2017 internationally collaborated multi-disciplinary stage production, will be presented online.
Research projects under the "Cultural Exchanges and Collaborative Projects between (the Regions of) South East Asia and Taiwan (新南向海外交流專題計畫)" will be presented at the Fourth SEA Advisory Committee Meeting next year. The Ministry will continuously uphold the principles of respecting cultural differences of various countries, appreciating the diversities, and promoting cultural exchanges and understanding.
(Source: Ministry of Culture)
Source: Ministry of Culture
