Taiwan Arts World Erupts Over "Retaliatory" Ministry of Culture Budget Cuts

Taiwan's arts and cultural sector is reeling after the Legislative Yuan approved the national budget, slashing and freezing over NT$1.3 billion from the Ministry of Culture's allocations. This move has ignited widespread anger, with figures in the arts community condemning the decision as "retaliatory" and demonstrating a profound "lack of understanding and contempt" for cultural endeavors.

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The wholesale deletion, carried out in a manner he described as 'retaliatory and humiliating,' reveals a lack of understanding and contempt for cultural work.

Cultural Minister Lee Yung expressed his dismay, stating that the "wholesale deletion" of funds, carried out in a manner he described as "retaliatory and humiliating," reveals a disregard for the value of cultural work. He highlighted that the media promotion budget, entirely cut, is crucial for advancing Taiwanese culture internationally. Lee lamented that after lengthy discussions in the education and culture committee, a consensus to freeze NT$8 million was overturned, leading to the complete elimination of the media budget.

Arts leaders voiced strong opposition. Hsieh Nien-tsu, head of the All-Star Entertainment Group, urged voters to "punish them at the ballot box," referencing past political events and criticizing the use of cultural budgets for personal vendettas. Lin Chia-feng, chairman of the Performing Arts Alliance, emphasized that while culture should be subject to oversight, it should not be sacrificed. He pointed out the precarious position of cultural workers who face risks when budgets are drastically cut or frozen midway through projects, especially after the legislative year is well underway.

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We urge people to punish them at the ballot box.

Concerns extend beyond immediate funding. Lin argued that constantly restarting cultural policies due to political disputes hinders Taiwan's ability to build a globally competitive cultural industry. He stressed that the fight is not just about the NT$29.6 billion budget but about Taiwan's capacity to generate its own stories, artistic works, and cultural identity over the next decade or two, and its ability to share these narratives on the world stage. The cuts also affected public broadcasting, with the Public Television Service budget reduced by NT$21.85 million and Taiwan Plus funding slashed by NT$200 million.

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Culture can be supervised, but it cannot be sacrificed.