Advancing Taichung’s global presence! The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Taichung City Government visited Seoul, South Korea, from September 24 to 30 to promote Taichung’s cultural and artistic scene. Their trip featured Taiwan’s largest public art exhibition at Dongduk Art Gallery(同德美術館). Art students and professors from Korean universities were invited to the opening ceremony on the 25th, with nearly 30 attendees, including the director of Dongduk Art Gallery, professors and students from Kyung Hee University(慶熙大學), and three Taiwanese artists. The event sparked engaging discussions, with many Korean representatives expressing admiration for Taichung’s dedication to investing resources in various art exhibitions.

At the forum, Director Chen Chia-Chun introduced the Taichung City Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition. Director Chen highlighted that it’s Taiwan’s largest publicly hosted art exhibition with the highest prize pool nationwide, attracting artists from over 40 countries. The artworks that win the highest honor, the Da Dun Prize, will be collected by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and may have the opportunity to be exhibited internationally in the future. Director Chen also encouraged the attending Korean artists to participate in the Taichung City Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition next year.　

Dean Jong-Gab Park (朴鐘甲) from Kyung Hee University shared the latest trends in modern art in South Korea and urged new Korean artists to venture abroad and engage in international art competitions and exhibitions. He stressed that the Taichung City Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition is an excellent opportunity for cultural exchange. The artists present also asked practical questions about the submission, such as shipping logistics and size requirements for their works. An artist traveling with the delegation, who is also a judge for the Taichung City Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition, explained that the selection process is divided into three stages, emphasizing its openness and fairness in selecting the finest pieces.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau mentioned that the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute(文化觀光研究院), a key agency for South Korea's cultural policies, recently visited Taichung. Director Chen welcomed their delegation and introduced Taichung's policies for developing the performing arts. The ongoing 2024 Da Dun Fine Arts Exchange Exhibition in Seoul aims to foster interaction with local political and academic figures, laying a strong foundation for future collaboration between Taichung and South Korea. The Bureau anticipates more opportunities for partnership in varied artistic endeavors and cultural development between the two cities moving forward.