Taichung Pop Music Center, Six Years In The Making, Nears Opening With New Cinema Plans

After six years of remaining shuttered since its completion, the Taichung Pop Music Center (TPMC) is finally poised to open its doors by the end of the year. The facility, which has faced criticism for becoming a "mosquito hall" due to its prolonged inactivity, is now set to launch under the management of Vieshow Cinemas.

Taichung's Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, in the final four months of her eight-year term, has faced scrutiny over the TPMC's delayed opening. Over her tenure, four different directors of the Information Bureau have overseen the project without its activation. This delay has drawn criticism from both ruling and opposition party councilors. For instance, Democratic Progressive Party councilor Chen Shu-hua questioned the lack of accountability for the administrative failures, while even Chinese Nationalist Party councilor Huang Hsin-hui urged the Information Bureau to strictly supervise the project and ensure its commitment to ACG (Animation, Comics, Games) and audio-visual content, warning against it becoming a soulless commercial shell.

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The Taichung Pop Music Center... has been certified by the audit office as a serious administrative violation, yet no one is responsible.

The Information Bureau announced that both the operating team and the city government are aiming for a year-end opening. The latest plans reveal the establishment of nine cinemas within the venue, offering a total of 1,628 seats. These will include Taiwan's largest Dolby Cinema, the newest Ultra 4DX theater, and an LED Screen cinema. Notably, two of these theaters are designated for art films, Taiwanese productions, or related community outreach programs. Additionally, the city government will utilize the venue for up to 150 animation film festivals and related cultural events annually.

The operating team's investment has significantly increased, from an initial commitment of NT$405 million to an estimated NT$650 million for the pre-opening phase. The TPMC is envisioned as more than just a cinema complex; it aims to be a comprehensive entertainment hub centered around "ACG + Double M (Movie + Music)." This concept integrates film, pop music, animation, performances, and lifestyle entertainment. The center's future operations will align with the city's existing film and television policies, further supporting the development of the film industry from creation and production to exhibition and market engagement.

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the Information Bureau must play its role of strict supervision and concretely implement the commitment to ACG... and audio-visual content, and absolutely cannot become a soulless commercial shell.