The National Museum of Modern Art Tainan Preparatory Office formally opened on March 25. The start of the new museum’s preparatory work was jointly announced by a number of guests, including Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che, Minister of Culture Li Yuan, Deputy Minister of Culture Wang Shi-si, newly appointed Tainan Art Museum Chair You Wen-mei, Director Gong Jow-jiun, and Chen Cheng Po Cultural Foundation Chair Chen Li-bo. Family members of veteran artists as well as people from the art circle were also present to witness the event.
The construction of Tainan Art Museum Building 2, for which the city had to independently seek funds, was finished during President Lai Qing-de’s tenure as the Mayor of Tainan, according to Mayor Huang Wei-che. The building is now a significant local icon and a must-visit destination for domestic and overseas visitors in Tainan. Since its operation, Tainan Art Museum Building 2 has consistently displayed exceptional achievements. The City Government aims to improve Tainan’s art museums and further promote art from Tainan and Taiwan worldwide with the opening of the National Museum of Modern Art Tainan Preparatory Office today.
The Taiwanese Art History Reconstruction project was launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2018, said Minister of Culture Li Yuan. The objective is to reconstruct our own local historical perspective and system for art museums through thorough research and curation activities. From 2018 to 2024, the project collected 867 art pieces by local masters and 90,000 historical documents and materials, and restored 8,000 pieces of artwork and cultural relics. The public’s enthusiastic response prompted the launch of the Taiwanese Art History Reconstruction 2.0 project in 2025. In addition to showing past results, this new edition also includes organizing permanent exhibitions of artwork by Taiwanese masters as well as the establishment of the National Museum of Modern Art Tainan Preparatory Office.
The Ministry of Culture said that the art scene has long been anticipating another national-level art museum in Taiwan to display the evolution of Taiwan’s art history comprehensively and systematically. After extensive consultations, discussions, and cross-unit coordination, the Ministry of Culture ultimately selected the Tainan Art Museum Building 2 as the site for the future National Museum of Modern Art Tainan. The building, which is provided by the Tainan City Government without any fee, will host permanent exhibitions of modern Taiwanese artwork between 1895 and 1960. The Ministry looks forward to launching a second national-level art museum that is in harmony with the evolution context of the city and local art museums.