About Public Arts

The concept of public arts became highly popular in major cities around the world during the past decades. Not until 1992 when Culture and Art Support Statute was enacted in Taiwan did people grow familiar with this term and apply the concept in cityscape building islandwide. Through installations of public, the government, the creating artists and the general public are brought even closer.

The purpose of public art installations to enhance the sense of beauty of the public environment and to provide the public with living spaces rich in cultural contents and aesthetic perceptions. Only after the public become closer with arts and more willing to participate in art activities can the spiritual life of citizens in Taiwan be elevated and the national cultural construction promoted.

To improve the city's appearance, enrich its artistic resources and elevate the level of public arts, the Kaohsiung City Government established in 1998 the Kaohsiung City Public Art Review Committee in accordance with Article Four of the Regulations on Public Arts Installation. The committee is in charge of research and decision-making for the development of public arts, coordination and communications with counterparts in other counties and cities, monitoring the implementation of budgets for public buildings and the installation of public art works in some major constructions. The committee is also responsible for counseling, communication, evaluation and approval of public art installation projects in Kaohsiung city. The KMFA was assigned to serve as the execution team for the Public Art Evaluation Committee, participating in the evaluation of public art installation projects in all the major public buildings and constructions in Kaohsiung. Through the promotion of public arts, the cityscape and public living spaces in Kaohsiung could be beautified and local residents could also know more about arts and then appreciate arts in their daily life.

The Kaohsiung City Public Art Review Committee holds assembly meetings and task force meetings on a regular basis to discuss about the policy for public art development in Kaohsiung and to review projects of public art installations. From May to December in 2003, the committee has held totally two assembly meetings and four meetings to review public art installation projects. Up to date, the committee has approved 14 projects which are now installed in six different locations, including the Wen-fu Elementary School, National Kaohsiung University, Kaohsiung Juvenile Court, Kaohsiung Municipal Ding Jin Junior High School, Kaohsiung Municipal Nan-tze Senior High School and Sheng-li Municipal Primary School.

After the establishment of Bureau of Cultural Affairs in January 2003, under the leadership of the Bureau Director, Kuan Bi-ling, the museum took a more active role in integrating and promoting the public art installations in Kaohsiung and helped draft the four initiative regulations in promoting public arts in Taiwan: Autonomy Regulations on Public Art Installations in Kaohsiung City, Implementation Rules of Autonomy Regulations on Public Art Installations in Kaohsiung City, Autonomy Regulations on Public Art Fund Keeping and Application of Kaohsiung City Government, and Rules on Public Art Maintenance and Management in Kaohsiung City. In January 2004, the museum also completed the printing of the booklet, “Guide to Public Art Installations in Kaohsiung City,” providing citizens the guidebooks for public art appreciation. The promotion of public art in Kaohsiung is expected to add beauty to the living spaces of local residents, improving not only living standards but also cultural literacy.