Ministry of Culture launches NT$1,200 voucher for young adults

Ministry of Culture launches NT$1,200 voucher for young adults

2023-06-06

The Ministry of Culture has launched a NT$1,200 voucher for young adults. Starting Tuesday, 18- to 21-year-olds can use their voucher at arts and culture events and venues, such as bookshops and cinemas. To mark the start of the program, the ministry organized an unofficial graduation party, where a surprise guest made an appearance.

The party kicks off with a show, starring Zhongshan Girls High School’s sign language club. President Tsai Ing-wen made a surprise appearance at her alma mater, to convey her good wishes to graduating teens.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Back in our day, the biggest shows were put on by the honor guard and the marching band. We didn’t have cool dance routines like the one just now by the Jianguo High School students, or hip performances like the one by Zhongshan Girls High School. It would’ve been unimaginable then.

Tsai was visiting her high school for the first time in seven years. She remarked that the historic building didn’t feel too different from her current workplace.

The event also featured a quiz, and the top three scorers received a certificate from the president. Because of the pandemic, three cohorts of high-school seniors missed out on their graduation ceremonies, as well as various cultural and community experiences. In a bid to compensate for that, the Ministry of Culture will grant a NT$1,200 voucher to all young adults aged 18 to 21. About 1 million people will be eligible to collect the vouchers, which can be spent at arts and cultural events and venues, including bookshops and cinemas.

Student
Zhongshan Girls High School
I think this is great. It’s like getting NT$1,200 extra in pocket money that I can spend on arts and culture.

Shih Che
Minister of Culture
We’re following in the footsteps of Europe, giving young people this first resource with which they can participate in cultural experiences, as part of their coming-of-age ritual – that is to say, their transition into an adult.

The Ministry of Culture says it hopes at least 60% of the vouchers will be used. If the program proves popular, the ministry says it may issue annual vouchers in the future, to give youth the gift of cultural experiences as they come of age.

"大學姊"蔡總統返中山女高 "成年禮金"應景發放

2023-06-06

專屬18-21歲青年1200元文化成年禮金，今日開始領取使用，適逢畢業季，文化部特別在在台北市立中山女高舉辦一場聯合建國中學、師大附中的畢業派對。總統蔡英文以大學姊身份出席，為全台總計近100萬符合資格的年輕人，送上這個台灣首次發放的文化成年禮。

中山女高手語社為畢業派對揭開序幕，總統蔡英文更以大學姐身份驚喜現身，為畢業生送上祝福。

[[總統蔡英文]]
“我們那時代最大的表演，不就是儀隊跟樂隊，哪有今天建國中學的那種帥舞，還有我們中山女高的這種勁舞，都是以前很難想像的”

睽違7年沒回母校，蔡英文笑說走在歷史建築裡，感覺學校跟她上班地方沒差多少。

現場還進行快問快答，前三名還能上台領獎和小英學姊合照。有感於疫情讓3屆18歲青年失去象徵成年的畢業典禮，更錯過文化和社群體驗，文化部今年特別發給18到21歲青年，每人1200元禮金，總計近100萬人可領取，可用在藝文相關活動和場所，包括書店、電影院等。

[[中山女高畢業生]]
“我覺得很不錯，因為零用錢的部份，等於加了1200元，然後可以自由發揮在一些藝文的產業上面”

[[文化部長史哲]]
“我們跟上歐洲的腳步，能夠在年輕人身上，給予他人生第一筆的資源，能夠用文化參與文化體驗，來做為成年的儀式，就是我們說的轉大人”

文化部表示，希望成年禮金能達到6成的使用率，只要反應熱烈有望每年都發放，透過文化體驗送給青年最棒的成年禮物。

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More than 30 years after its founding, Transworld University will stop recruitment and close its doors by July of next year.

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I’ve spent a large chunk of my life at this school, so of course, upon hearing this news, I can’t help but feel reluctant to say goodbye.

Transworld University had a NT$230 million shortfall in its books, which it failed to make up within a government deadline. The Ministry of Education convened a review committee to decide the school’s fate. With the agreement of more than half the members present, the committee ruled to close its doors.

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The Ministry of Education has a fixed protocol for student placement. But our students have certain rights that we want to remind them of.

Another school soon to be shuttered is Mingdao University in Changhua. The school expressed regret but said it respected the committee’s decision.

Student
I’m a little nervous. After all I will have to go from a familiar environment to an unfamiliar one.

These schools will see their board of directors restructured by the Ministry of Education as early as this July. After that, they will continue to exist for a year. During this year, faculty salaries and severance payments will be made from a government fund. However, previously unpaid salaries, such as those owed by Mingdao University, will need to be paid by the school itself.

Kuo Chiu-shun
Mingdao University president
The Ministry of Education has a school discontinuation fund. After the ministry takes over, salaries will be paid from that fund. But unpaid salaries from February, March, April, and May will be paid by the original board of directors.

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NTCH Summer Jazz Outdoor Party to kick off in August

Since 2003, the National Theater and Concert Hall has delighted music lovers with its Summer Jazz Outdoor Party. This year’s festival will kick off again in August, featuring artists from Taiwan and abroad. FTV reporter Stephany Yang gives us a preview.

Taiwanese jazz musicians Rich Huang, Stacey Wei, Hsu Yu-ying, Shawna Yang, and Vincent Hsu take the stage at a media preview of the upcoming NTCH Summer Jazz Outdoor Party.

Renowned trumpeter Stacey Wei will perform romantic jazz songs with international jazz musicians Michael Mossman, Aubrey Johnson, Cliff Almond, and Antonio Hart.

Stacey Wei
Trumpeter
Four musicians from abroad plus seven local musicians will come together for a performance. This year we’ll use the theme of jazz love songs. We will perform some famous songs such as Santana’s “Black Magic” and Stevie Wonder’s "I Just Called to Say I Love You."

This year’s jazz party, themed “Play it Forward!” will feature local and international heavyweights in a diverse jazz showcase.

Rich Huang
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There will be Latin, jazz, tango, flamenco, big band, and international performances. There will also be local musicians who bring some surprise performances.

Hsu Yu-ying
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I will combine the use of electronics, playing the piano and synthesizer myself. The musicians I invited will play electric bass, but there will also be traditional jazz instruments like drums. I created new compositions for this event.

Shawna Yang
Saxophonist
I will be performing at the outdoor jazz party. We will have three programs this time, each with a different direction. I will perform with a piano trio from Sweden.

Vincent Hsu
Jazz bassist
I planned a program that will be held at the experimental theater. Two bands are invited to perform different performance styles on the same stage. So even as two bands play the same song, they showcase different musical styles.

Since 2003, the National Theater and Concert Hall has delighted music lovers with its Summer Jazz Party. During the worst of the pandemic, the festival was not able to bring musicians from abroad. This year, international artists are returning to the annual jazz festival, which will be held at the NTCH’s main plaza and indoor spaces such as its experimental theater.

Liu Yi-ruu
NTCH general and artistic director
Since the borders have finally opened, we have invited renowned international musicians to come to Taiwan. We’ve also got equally talented local jazz musicians. Every year we have performances at several venues. Besides multiple performances in the concert hall, there are shows in the experimental theater and there are outdoor jazz parties.

The NTCH Summer Jazz Outdoor Party will be held from Aug. 18 till Sept. 2.

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It’s summer – time to up your water intake. Not drinking enough water increases your risk of kidney stones.

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Tsai Shu-wei
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Bright paintings marked by soft, flowing lines bring a feeling of peace to viewers. This is the work of Miru Hayung.

Miru Hayung
Artist
I’ve been interested in painting since I was a child. But after my studies, the work I’ve done hasn’t been connected to painting. But I’ve always been trying to paint.

The name “Miru” means “write” or “draw” in the Atayal language. He’s always loved drawing, and studied commercial design in high school. In those days he favored a realistic drawing style. But in 2007, he started using bright blocks of color and bolder lines.

Miru Hayung
Artist
Some indigenous topics don’t have to be so concrete. I hope that through creative expression I can attract people’s attention.

But Hayung’s creative work isn’t just on canvas. He also creates large-scale installation art and murals. His favorite work is this depiction of Atayal fishing traps and seafaring culture, entitled “Flourishing On and On.”

Miru Hayung
Artist
“Flourishing On and On” was the very first thing that touched me. So I hope that future works can also “flourish on and on.”

Hayung’s unique style has been fed by attending many exhibitions and studying many other artists’ work. And indigenous life is a major source of inspiration.

Miru Hayung
Artist
Things belonging to the Atayal, both the natural world and things we use at home in daily life.

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