Taiwan Joins Global Museum Day: Discounts and Exhibitions Nationwide

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life 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 ticket discounts on May 18, the Kaohsiung Museum of Science and Technology will host a DIY solar car workshop, while the National Palace Museum is holding a photo contest where kids dress up as cultural relics—upload your pictures to win prizes. These creative activities help the public connect with museums in new ways. The Republic of China Museums Association is also running a "Check in Museums" campaign: check in at three different museums between the 18th and 27th to 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." For "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" vote, take photos, and upload them online for a chance to win prizes. The contest runs from May 18 to June 30, with entries and voting both accepted during this period.

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. This exhibit features six numbers closely tied to the daily operations of the museum: "1—Taiwan’s first large-scale modern art museum," "20｜50—temperature and humidity in the exhibition halls," "81—the number of staff required for daily opening procedures," "100—the number of volunteer citizens 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 March this year." These figures are transformed into a series of 3D digital sculptures, creating interactive public spaces for engagement with visitors.

 

Taiwan’s National Museum of Natural Science, besides offering free access to its exhibition halls, science center, botanical garden greenhouse, and the 921 Earthquake Education Park on International Museum Day, will also provide ticket discounts

The Kaohsiung Museum of Science and Technology will hold a series of events titled “The Encounter of Eco-Materials and Traditional Crafts,” “Green Museum Activities at Earth ‘Home’ – Green Films, Green Lectures, Eco-Warrior Battle, and DIY Solar Cars” from May 18 to June 10, including on World Museum Day and every Sunday, to help the public gain a deeper understanding of environmental protection and green energy concepts. The Lanyang Museum in Yilan is offering discounted admission tickets for just NT$30 on May 18 (Friday), and visitors who enter the permanent exhibition that day will receive a souvenir — a postcard featuring the Lanyang Museum architectural model — at the ticket gate. Children under the age of 6 who visit the museum will receive a “Lanyang Museum DIY Photo Frame and Sticker Set.”

The Museum Association of the Republic of China has also, for the first time this year, incorporated social media applications by organizing the “Check in Museums” campaign — a World Museum Day 518 check-in discount event. During the event period from May 18 to 27, the public can visit the campaign webpage via smartphone, check in at three or more different museums, and receive a beautifully crafted small gift. Participating museums in the check-in campaign include the National Palace Museum, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, New Taipei City’s Sanxia History Museum, Miaoli Wood Carving Museum, Taichung Science Museum, Kaohsiung Museum of Science and Technology, and Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. For the full list of participating museums, please visit the official event website of the Museum Association of the Republic of China.