Taiwan Culture Minister Promotes Public-Private Partnerships to Boost Rural Arts in Paris

Minister of Culture Li Yuan arrived in the European cultural capital of Paris on the 12th to visit the Gonesse Cube, a cross-disciplinary digital arts innovation center located in the city's northern suburbs. The primary purpose of the visit was to observe the international cutting-edge digital arts ecosystem and understand the operational models of cross-disciplinary creation and exhibition. As a public platform combining visual arts, sound design, and interactive technology, the Gonesse Cube has long collaborated with local artists, technology companies, and academic institutions to launch diverse exhibitions and workshops, creating a cultural space that embraces both experimental spirit and public engagement. During the visit, Minister Li was deeply impressed by how the center manages to attract joint investment from both the government and the private sector in a relatively resource-scarce suburb, demonstrating a high degree of synergistic benefits.

The observation in Paris was not only a visual and sensory experience but also a deep reflection on the implementation methods of cultural policies. The operational model of the Gonesse Cube demonstrates that when local governments are willing to provide infrastructure and policy support, private capital can be flexibly injected through sponsorships and cooperative development, forming a virtuous cycle of resource sharing. This "public-private partnership" model has become a key strategy for promoting cultural innovation and enhancing urban image in many European cities. Minister Li pointed out that Taiwan can also reference such cooperation frameworks when promoting cultural infrastructure, particularly for remote areas with fewer resources, by leveraging diverse funding sources and local community participation to enhance the accessibility and quality of cultural services.

For Taiwan, the most direct point of reference is the transformation and operation of the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (Taiwan C-Lab). Since its transition into a public art and performance space, the C-Lab has become an important cultural hub in Taipei, yet its spatial scale and funding sources remain constrained. What Minister Li witnessed in Paris served as a reminder that introducing a cross-disciplinary curatorial mechanism similar to that of the Gonesse Cube to the C-Lab—combining digital interaction, immersive experiences, and collaborations with local creators—would help boost audience engagement and attract more international exhibitions and art exchanges. This move would not only expand the functional scope of the C-Lab but also provide an emerging development pathway for Taiwan's cultural industries.

In addition, Minister Li also paid attention to the effectiveness of the Gonesse Cube in educational outreach. The center regularly holds workshops tailored for schools and communities, allowing young people to experience the possibilities of artistic creation through hands-on practice, ranging from basic programming to advanced visual coding. This "art plus technology" educational model represents the current trend in global cultural policy, aimed at cultivating innovative talent with cross-disciplinary thinking. If Taiwan's cultural authorities can incorporate such educational resources into public budgets in future cultural developments and cooperate with universities and vocational schools, it is expected to nurture more creators with digital art capabilities locally, further enhancing Taiwan's visibility on the international art map.

Finally, Minister Li's trip also symbolizes a strategic adjustment by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture under a global vision. Cultural policies previously dominated by exhibitions, performances, and traditional arts are gradually transitioning toward digitalization, cross-disciplinary cooperation, and public participation. Through on-site inspections and international exchanges, the ministry can more accurately grasp the pulse of global cultural development and bring appropriate experiences back home to drive policy iteration and innovation. In the future, combining Paris's successful cases with Taiwan's local cultural resources will help build a more resilient and vibrant cultural ecosystem, injecting new momentum into Taiwan's cultural industries. (Source: Central News Agency)