National Sun Yat-sen University has launched a matchmaking project to assist the development of local arts and humanities and attract sponsorship from the industry. From now until mid-October, NSYSU is seeking submissions for charitable activities related to arts and culture. Selected candidates will receive an award of NT$50,000 and will be included in the annual social responsibility project by NSYSU and the participating enterprises to turn ideas on social welfare into practical actions.
Executive Director of NSYSU Social Engagement Center Ching-Li Yang emphasized that this matchmaking support project calls for teams and individuals with artistic expertise to apply if they are planning to hold any form of social welfare art activities between October this year and June next year, such as a charity performance, community creation event, art education, or support for the disadvantaged. NSYSU hopes to involve universities, enterprises, and arts and cultural organizations to let art fulfill its functions also in the times of the pandemic and even expand its possibilities to support arts education and social welfare for local communities and disadvantaged groups.
In many advanced countries, the promotion of CSR (corporate social responsibility) is no longer limited to donating funds but also includes art-enterprise cooperation – a cultural aspect of social responsibility. Associate Dean of NSYSU College of Management Professor Jui-Kun Kuo pointed out that arts and culture are the first to be forgotten in the times of instability, despite being an important spiritual force for social stability. Many arts and cultural performances were postponed or suspended due to epidemic prevention restrictions and this not only affected the efforts of arts and culture organizations in the long run but also the livelihood of their workers. Chair of the Graduate Institute of Arts Management and Entrepreneurship Associate Professor Jasper Hsieh said that this project is not only about social responsibility but also cultural accessibility, this is to say, redistributing resources through administrative mechanisms.
This project was conceived by the University’s Social Engagement Center and launched together with the Graduate Institute of Arts Management and Entrepreneurship, and the USR Project of the College of Management – Cooperative Empowerment and Extension Service. The project is supported by the corporate world: Quanta Group – Quanta Arts Foundation, Test-Rite – Hola Cultural Foundation, and the local Kaohsiung-based Frank C. Chen Culture and Education Foundation that hope to encourage artists to combine their artistic profession with social welfare activities and work together for greater social benefits. Executive Director of Quanta Arts Foundation, Chung-Heng Yang mentioned that the Foundation has been supporting art and culture development in Taiwan for a long time and that this project launched in southern Taiwan encourages collaboration to combine arts and public welfare, diversify art, and build local connections to advance social values.
Applications for the project involving social welfare activities related to arts and culture can be submitted until October 15th. The results are scheduled to be announced by the end of October. More information: https://engage.nsysu.edu.tw/news/artscharity/