Taiwan Joins Global Museum Day Celebrations with Discounts and Events Nationwide

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, Reported by Chen Guanxin

In 2012, over 30,000 museums and art galleries around the world participated in International Museum Day. Major museums across Taiwan also launched a series of promotions and events. In addition to free admission or discounted tickets on May 18, the Kaohsiung Museum of Science and Technology will host a DIY solar car workshop, while the National Palace Museum is running a photo contest where kids dress up as artifacts—upload your pictures to win prizes. These unique activities aim to bring the public closer to museums. Furthermore, the Republic of China Museums Association introduced the “Check in Museums” check-in promotion: visit three different museums between May 18 and 27 and receive a small gift.

The National Palace Museum in Taipei will host two themed events: “Museums in Times of Change” and “Museums and Spiritual Growth.” As part of “Museums in Times of Change,” the museum has partnered with a local parent-child community to run the “National Treasure Doll Costume Contest.” Participants can dress up children under 12 in costumes inspired by popular artifacts from the museum’s “Top 100 National Treasures Voting Campaign,” take photos, and upload them online for a chance to win great prizes. The contest accepts entries and votes from May 18 to June 30.

On May 18, the Taipei Fine Arts Museum will offer free admission all day and host the “OPEN Museum” exhibition from May 18 to 27. The exhibit features six numbers closely tied to the museum’s daily operations, including: “1—the first large modern art museum in Taiwan,” “20|50—the temperature and relative humidity in the exhibition halls,” “81—the number of staff required for daily opening procedures,” “100—the number of citizen volunteers supporting the museum daily,” “11,741—the total area of the museum’s exhibition spaces,” and “16,631,631—the cumulative number of visitors up to the end of March this year.” These numbers are transformed into a series of three-dimensional sculptures, creating an interactive and engaging public space. ⟦8

In addition to offering free access to its exhibition halls, science center, botanical garden greenhouses, and the 921 Earthquake Education Park on World Museum Day, Taichung’s National Museum of Natural Science also provides ticket discounts for the public from May 19 to 27. Furthermore, the museum will host a series of science dialogue lectures titled “Big Questions in Science” on May 23, 30, and June 6 (Wednesdays) from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. The sessions will focus on the themes “Crossroads of Energy,” “Crossroads of Land Planning,” and “Crossroads of Medical Philosophy,” allowing scholars to share their academic insights and engage in dialogue with the audience.

Kaohsiung’s National Science and Technology Museum will hold a series of events from May 18 to June 10, including “The Encounter of Eco-Materials and Traditional Crafts” and “Green Museum Activities at Home – Green Films, Green Lectures, Eco-Warrior Challenges, and DIY Solar Cars” on World Museum Day and every Sunday. These activities aim to deepen public understanding of environmental protection and green energy concepts. Meanwhile, Yilan’s National Museum of Prehistory will offer discounted admission at NT$30 on May 18 (Friday), and visitors who present their tickets at the entrance will receive a souvenir — a postcard featuring the museum’s architectural model. Children under 6 years old visiting on that day will also receive a “Lan Yang Museum Building DIY Frame and Sticker Set.”

This year, the Chinese Association of Museums has also incorporated social media applications for the first time by launching the “Check in Museums” campaign — a World Museum Day check-in discount event. From May 18 to 27, participants can use their smartphones to visit the campaign webpage and check in at different museums three or more times to redeem a small, exquisite gift. Participating museums include the National Palace Museum, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, New Taipei City’s Sanxia History Museum, Miaoli Wood Carving Museum, Taichung’s National Museum of Natural Science, Kaohsiung’s National Science and Technology Museum, and Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. For the full list of participating venues, please visit the official event website of the Chinese Association of Museums.