On Thursday, The Taiwanese government announced an expansion of its ambitious “Project of Reconstructing the History of Art in Taiwan.” Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) unveiled plans for the 2.0 version that will entail collecting, researching, and promoting different arts, including visual art, crafts, literature, architecture, and Taiwanese opera.
Launched in 2018, the project’s goal is to preserve and research Taiwan's valuable artistic assets while uncovering compelling stories from the nation's cultural past. The project continues to deepen local collaboration and private investment and implements President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) vision of the National Hope Project. The Culture Ministry will oversee the collection, research, and promotion of artifacts and knowledge across these five cultural domains.
Premier Cho emphasized the importance of both government and private sector involvement in this project. He noted that nearly 5,000 valuable artworks have already been donated by private citizens, demonstrating strong public support for the initiative.
Cho also said the government plans to support local art museums. Additionally, collaboration with the National Science and Technology Council will aid in developing Taiwan-specific generative AI tools. These efforts aim to promote the spread of Taiwan's art historical discourse to a global audience using digital technologies.