Support the Arts Society
FENC has supported the development of domestic culture
FENC believes that cultural literacy, serves as a vital foundation and driving force for the country. Through sponsoring non-governmental organizations and actively participating in art and cultural activities, FENC aims to enhance the cultural force, making it a significant soft power for the country. The support methods and outcomes are disclosed as follows:
Sponsoring various art and cultural activities through the Far Eastern Memorial Foundation
In recent years, FENC has sponsored various art and cultural activities through the Far Eastern Memorial Foundation, providing ample resources to arts and culture groups and unleashing boundless influence of art. In 2023, FENC invested approximately NT$8.3 million, and the main sponsored activities are detailed as follows:
- For the promotion of the architectural culture aspect, to foster environmental aesthetics, and to elevate the concept of architectural art, FENC invested a total of NT$1.7 million in 2023 to hold “Historical Site Tours”. By inviting architectural experts and scholars to visit historical sites, the tour started from the first stop at Taipei Confucius Temple and Dalongdong Baoan Temple and explored the historical sites in Dadaocheng. These events drew nearly 600 participants, making it a significant success.
- For the organization of cultural lecture forums, FENC invested NT$ 1 million in 2023 to host “The Sino-Japan Art in My Eyes” forum. The event featured a dialogue and demonstration lecture between Japanese artist Ms. Ikuko Sakawaki and Taiwanese artist Mr. Shen Jhen. Nearly 300 people attended this forum, which received extensive support and positive feedback.
- Long-term sponsor performances of Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Culture Group, FENC sponsored NT$1.6 million in 2023. In recent years, Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Culture Group has creatively integrated traditional Chinese opera with modern stage technology, creating a unique form of performing arts. It has breathed new life into traditional Chinese opera, delivering a fresh and vibrant experience to the audience. The aim is to promote Taiwanese Opera to a broader audience and inspire the younger generation to carry forward this cultural heritage and prevent its disappearance.
- Valuing the cultivation of arts and culture, FENC sponsored the Rong-Shing chorus NT$100 thousands for their annual performance in the year. By supporting the Rong-Shing chorus, FENC promotes music education for children in Taiwan to enhance the overall musical and cultural enrichment domestically.
- Cultivating artistic talent, FENC sponsors the Asian Cultural Council annually to award outstanding artists in Asia and support their artistic research which allows young and promising artists to plan international exchanges and educational programs. In 2023, FENC sponsored NT$2.6 million, for operational expenses and assisting winners of the “ACC sponsorship program (Taiwan Region)-FE art creation Award” to visit New York for research and exchange with local musicians and performing artists.
Promoting film and television culture through subsidiary companies
A subsidiary of FET that provides services- friDay Video, launched its "original intellectual property investment" strategy in 2020 and invested more than NT$7 million to complete its first original multi-viewpoint reality show, "Extreme Wonderland". During the program's premiere, it surpassed the Korean variety show "Running Man" to become the top-rated variety show and also drove a 30% growth in new registered users. In 2021, friDay Video collaborated with Public Television Service to co-produce " On Marriage," investing NT$30 million to present the story of a "semi-happy" marriage with a combination of new technology and science fiction style. The show received a tremendous response and positive reviews after its release, with the leading segment " Wishful Syncing" attracting nearly 350,000 viewers during its debut on Public Television Service and becoming the most-watched drama on friDay Video.
With this momentum, we have partnered to establish Mission International, which is dedicated to producing and investing in high-quality Taiwanese film and television content and promoting cultural content such as Taiwanese film and television, literature, etc. The goal is to make Taiwan the center of Asian film and television trends. In 2023, Mission International invested a total of NT$12 million, persistently supporting original intellectual properties to venture into the international market, launching the first Taiwan-Japan collaborative film titled "Seishun 18x2 tw" scheduled to be released in March 2024. Additionally, Mission International also invested in producing "Extreme Forest 2", an original reality variety show, featuring real-life exploration and experiences related to forests, flora and fauna, and ecological conservation issues. The show is set to air in November 2023.