Deputy Culture Minister Lee Ching-hwi (李靜慧) announced that the National Comics Museum (NCM), which is anticipated to be located at the site of the former Taichung Prison (台中刑務所), will kick off eight thematic exhibitions in December.
In the press conference held at the Bureau of Cultural Heritage, Deputy Minister Lee said that, even though the main building of the NCM is still under planning, it will commence with the exhibitions instead, showing the determination of the Executive Yuan and the Ministry of Cultural (MOC) to establish the museum.
Lee pointed out that, since Culture Minister Shih Che revealed the location of the NCM in Taichung, the MOC has been working hard on the aspects of funding, manpower, and environmental transformation through the administration process, moving step by step towards what the Ministry had initially promised.
She also mentioned that the upcoming exhibitions will demonstrate the potential of the museum and the role it plays in the future. The MOC aims to open the museum during the Christmas season, hoping to attract visitors from Taiwan and beyond.
Deputy Culture Minister Lee expressed gratitude to the comic community as it shows its support by working with the MOC since April. The NCM aspires to be the home of Taiwanese comics, as well as the incubator to push Taiwanese comics to the international stage, she added.
The MOC said that, including the exhibition of the 14th Golden Comic Award, eight thematic exhibitions will be staged at the NCM in December this year. The museum covers a total area of 2.75 hectares, containing 19 historical buildings which cover 0.28 hectare, with a newly-built main building taking up 2.15 hectares. The main building is currently in the planning stage and is expected to be completed in five years.
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