The National Palace Museum Southern Branch (NPMSB) will effect overall development of Yunlin and Chiayi counties as well as Tainan City, Premier Mao Chi-kuo stated at today's Cabinet meeting after a briefing on the NPMSB operations plan.
The branch will primarily exhibit ancient Chinese treasures that are rarely found anywhere else in the world, and then gradually expand to exhibiting the treasures of other parts of the world, the National Palace Museum (NPM) emphasized.
Aside from formulating rich and diverse educational events, the NPMSB will enhance services to disadvantaged and minority groups as well as children from remote areas, while providing a barrier-free environment.
In addition, the NPMSB will incorporate local specialty features to develop cultural and creative products. Through design competitions and exhibitions of products derived from national treasures, it will help cultivate cultural and creative industries in central and southern Taiwan.
The NPMSB will coordinate with the NPM in Taipei to produce two bright spots, one in northern and the other in southern Taiwan.
Premier Mao commended the construction teams' all-out efforts in completing the branch, which is scheduled to open on December 28 for a trial run.
The NPMSB will host a series of opening events starting Sunday, December 27, Mao pointed out. These include lighting up the main building and displaying 10 major exhibitions. The much-anticipated Jadeite Cabbage with Insects (commonly known as the Jade Cabbage) and the Tibetan Dragon Sutra will be among the exhibition pieces, the NPM stated. The branch expects to draw a huge crowd for its live webcast of the New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic on January 1, 2016.
The premier instructed the NPMSB and relevant agencies to appraise prospective situations and conduct drills while carrying out rolling reviews and real-time improvements in order to handle the large number of visitors expected.