Pioneers of Arts Education

This year's "Lifetime Achievement Award" was presented to four distinguished veterans in arts education: Mr. Lin Chih-hsin, Professor Hung Wei-chu, Professor Tsai Li-hua, and Professor Lo Chen-hsien. Mr. Lin Chih-hsin (89 years old) is an accomplished artist and educator. In his early career, he promoted children's art education while teaching at elementary schools. He later became a versatile artist skilled in engraving, painting, carving, and sculpting. His works, featuring Taiwanese folk themes, have earned widespread acclaim both domestically and internationally for their woodblock prints and oil paintings. His 100-meter woodblock print masterpiece Welcoming Mazu is world-renowned, and his advocacy for local aesthetics has earned him a distinguished reputation in the art world. Professor Hung Wei-chu (82 years old) of National Central University has devoted over 50 years to the study of traditional Chinese opera. He compiled the Kunqu Opera Dictionary and the Kunqu Opera Series, established a Chinese Opera Research Center and a Kunqu Opera Museum, and has dedicated himself to introducing traditional opera to young students and the general public. He is widely recognized as the "Pioneer of Kunqu Opera in Taiwan." Professor Tsai Li-hua (80 years old), formerly of Taipei Physical Education College, founded Taiwan's first professional folk dance company, the "Taipei Folk Dance Company," and launched the first professional dance publication, Taiwan Dance Magazine. Through fieldwork, she has preserved invaluable dance heritage. Under her leadership, the Taipei Folk Dance Company has represented Taiwan on tours across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa, establishing a significant presence in the international dance community. Her lifelong dedication to dance education, choreography, research, and cultural promotion has made a profound and comprehensive contribution to the field. Professor Lo Chen-hsien (79 years old) of National Taiwan University of Arts has nurtured countless talents over more than 50 years of teaching. He has devoted himself to ink wash painting creation and promotion, serving as a collection committee member for numerous museums and art galleries. He has also served as a judge and convener for the National Student Art Competition and has been invited to lecture abroad, extending arts education onto the international stage.

Schools Supporting Students Through Arts Education

Dapu Junior High and Elementary School in Chiayi County, located in a remote area, aims to revitalize the community through art by incorporating local characteristics into its curriculum. The school has formed a partnership with the community, which is renowned for crafting driftwood violins. The school supports this initiative by offering violin courses and organizing exhibitions, extending arts education into the broader community. New Taipei Municipal Fongzhu Junior High School focuses on supporting disadvantaged students and those in special circumstances. Through arts education, the school provides guidance and companionship to help students discover their potential and transform their lives. Dacheng Elementary School in Xinpi Township, Pingtung County, promotes the concept of "civic aesthetics" by bringing resources to rural students to help them appreciate beauty. The school has established itself as a hub for aesthetic education in rural areas, serving people of all ages and facilitating domestic and international exchange visits, allowing the power of beauty to continue spreading.

Private Organizations Fostering Arts Talent Through Art-Enterprise Collaboration

Radiant Opto-Electronics Education Foundation has long provided both hardware and software support for arts and cultural development. Through its shadow puppetry school residency program, the foundation offers students performance opportunities and cultivates successors to carry on this traditional art form. O-Bank Education Foundation sponsors arts and cultural groups through art-enterprise collaboration, nurturing artistic talent and promoting cultural accessibility. Tsai Yuan Arts and Culture Foundation has developed innovative programs such as "Choral Drama" and "Arts Education Express," putting cultural equity and educational collaboration into practice. Meishan Culture and Education Foundation has been deeply rooted in the local community for years. Through its "Youth Travel" program, the foundation promotes exchange between domestic and international young students and advances arts education for seniors, contributing to the grassroots development of arts education.

Innovative Teaching Enhances Arts Education Quality

Mr. Yeh Shih-yuan, a teacher at Kaohsiung Municipal Nanzi Special School, recognized the needs of students with special needs and developed an art education philosophy tailored specifically for them. His dedicated mentorship has successfully nurtured multiple artists. Ms. Hung Ching-ying, a teacher at Xiulang Elementary School in Yonghe District, New Taipei City, is committed to publishing works on local culture, revitalizing arts education materials in rural areas, and advocating for the artistic participation of students with special needs, promoting equity in arts education. Mr. Wang Yung-chih, a teacher at Wenfu Elementary School in Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City, has long been dedicated to visual arts education at the elementary and junior high school levels. Under his guidance, students have won numerous awards and achieved international recognition. His innovative teaching methods have received widespread acclaim. He also shares his arts curriculum on digital platforms, inspiring even more people.

Dedicated Efforts to Advance Arts Education Internationally

Ms. Yu Hsueh-o, Executive Director of the Republic of China Children's Art Education Association, has promoted arts education for over half a century, bringing art beyond schools, into society, and onto the international stage. Principal Chen Yu-fang of Ankeng Elementary School in Xindian District, New Taipei City, has devoted herself to creating aesthetically enriching campus environments. She has extended the campus into the community and promoted arts learning for all ages. Director Chang Su-ching of Taoyuan Municipal Yangming Junior High School has established arts communities both within and outside the school, facilitating collaborative lesson planning among teachers and resource sharing, while promoting international exchange in arts education. Mr. Wu Teng-hsing is a preserver of Yunlin County's intangible cultural heritage—the Dragon-Phoenix Lion Dance Formation—and a master of dragon and lion craftsmanship. Over 28 years of teaching in rural schools, he has provided students with over a hundred performance opportunities through the performing arts, dedicating himself to cultural preservation with admirable spirit.

NEWS source:https://www.edu.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=9E7AC85F1954DDA8&s=092183DB69590F6C