Taipei City Government

On December 14, Mayor Ko Wen-je presented awards to the three winners of the 21st Taipei Culture Award. He also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the 58 individuals recognized by the Award over the years.

This year’s winners include writer Chung Chiao, singer Ayugo Huang, and Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group.

During his address, Ko pointed out that this year’s award seeks to honor individuals who “dedicate themselves to cultural work, possess an innovative spirit, excel at interdisciplinary projects, and contribute to promoting Taiwan on the global stage.”

Writer Chung Chiao strives to raise social awareness through the medium of “People’s Theatre.” Singer Ayugo Huang’s renditions of Hakka folk songs pull the heartstrings of many people. Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group, one of the most recognized Taiwanese opera troupes which have made its name globally, demonstrates that culture is the best means to connect the world.

Despite the diverse backgrounds and expertise of the 58 Taipei Culture Award winners over the past 21 years, they share something in common – their devotion to a particular profession. Noting that success requires an extreme level of concentration, he congratulated the award winners and thanked them for their contributions in helping to create a vibrant cultural scene for the island.

In tribute to both the late founder of Eslite Bookstore Robert Wu and deceased documentary filmmaker Chi Po-lin, the award ceremony also featured a film screening session. Videos on how Wu successfully built the reputation of Eslite as Taipei’s source of pride and how Chi managed to shed light on environmental facotors shaping Taiwan’s development through aerial photography paid tribute to the two giants of Taiwan’s cultural scene.