About Taishin Arts Award

The Taishin Arts Award was founded in 2002 by the Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture, sponsored and supported by the Taishin International Bank. The Award acknowledges creative achievements in works of visual, performing and inter-disciplinary arts, a pioneering idea among arts awards at home and abroad. Its unique selection process includes nominations year-round by professionals, release of observations and art reviews, as well as yearly involvement of international jurors. In addition to its importance in recognizing the professional creative achievements in Taiwan, the Taishin Arts Award is also dedicated to establishing a platform enabling international networking for contemporary Taiwanese artists.

During its first decade, the Taishin Arts Award was bestowed on visual arts exhibitions and performing arts productions demonstrating the most outstanding creativity, or which best display the professional achievements of the arts community in a given year. Annual awards included the Performing Arts Award, Visual Arts Award and the Jury’s Special Award selected from works of either category. From the 12^th to the 14^th Taishin Arts Award (2013 to 2015), responding to the interdisciplinary trend in contemporary art as well as reflecting upon the present social phenomena and the vibrant forces that drove these phenomena, the Award was selected and given in an unclassified manner, and five prizes were awarded, including one "Annual Grand Prize." From the 15^th Taishin Arts Award onward, in view of the inherent distinction of different arts, the Award judges and selects winners per category while choosing one "Annual Grand Prize" winner from all categories in order to accommodate greater potential and future development in artistic creation.

The selection of the Taishin Arts Award includes the system of appointed nominators, an internet channel for public involvement and discussion, a regular process of announcing nominations, semi-selection, and international jury selection, as well as the award ceremony. With the participation of specialists and the efforts and supports from all sectors, the Award also improves the cultural environment and bridges the distance between arts and the general public so that creative activities and elements of beauty are blended naturally into daily lives.