The arts community came together to welcome the Year of the Snake in a festive celebration of cultural prosperity. On February 9, the Taichung City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau hosted the Taichung Arts and Culture New Year Gathering at the 4th-floor assembly hall of the Taichung City Municipal Building on Taiwan Boulevard, bringing together nearly 300 artists and representatives from various cultural and artistic organizations for a joyful tea reception. Representing Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, Deputy Mayor Huang Kuo-jung attended the event, personally extending New Year's greetings to the city’s esteemed cultural figures and reaffirming Taichung’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and culturally rich city for a “Happy Taichung, Prosperous Taiwan.”

Deputy Mayor Huang highlighted recent recognitions of Taichung’s stellar governance, with the city securing four top rankings in public satisfaction surveys conducted by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation, ETtoday, Economic Daily News, and TVBS. He emphasized that 2025 will be a landmark year for the city, with the inauguration of major projects, including the Green Museumbrary, Hsu Liang-Yu Library, Taichung International Convention and Exhibition Center, Taichung Aquarium, and the Taichung Comprehensive Rehabilitation Hospital for the Elderly. In addition, the Taichung MRT Blue Line has officially broken ground, accompanied by the establishment of the Taichung Rapid Transit System Bureau, underscoring the city’s unwavering commitment to advancing urban transportation and metro connectivity. The Taichung Dome, another highly anticipated project, is progressing rapidly, with plans already in motion for the construction of a second national-level sports and entertainment dome, further elevating Taichung’s global competitiveness.

As Taiwan’s second-largest city, Taichung is known for its rich history and culture while continuing to embrace innovation in the arts. With the vision of “A Happy Taichung with Cultural Sustainability”, the city government, alongside the arts community, will witness the completion and grand opening of the Green Museumbrary by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, signature cultural events such as the Taichung Mazu International Festival, Taichung Jazz Festival, and the Taichung Children's Art Festival will continue to shape the city's artistic identity, blending local cultural heritage with diverse creative expressions to further enhance Taichung’s cultural appeal.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau expressed its gratitude to the city’s dedicated artists and cultural advocates, reaffirming its commitment to fostering the arts through the annual Taichung Arts and Culture New Year Gathering. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the tea reception was held with eco-friendly, reusable tableware, and attendees were gifted handmade eco-friendly soaps crafted by local disability support organizations, symbolizing the city's commitment to sustainability and social inclusion. Adding to the festive spirit, this year’s event featured a special cross-disciplinary performance by the award-winning Chiung Jung Dance Troupe and the Big Heart Theater Group, blending traditional artistry with contemporary creativity to showcase Taichung’s rich cultural heritage and innovative spirit. In a delightful moment, Big Heart Theater Group’s director Tsai Yi-ling donned the persona of a vibrant village grandma, leading the deputy mayor and Cultural Affairs Bureau team to personally visit each table, extending warm New Year greetings and celebrating with the city's artistic luminaries. With the theme “New Year, New Culture – The Golden Serpent Dances in Taichung”, the city looks forward to another year of cultural prosperity and artistic excellence!