National Film and Audiovisual Center Phase 2 Budget Increased, Executive Yuan Approves and Hopes New Taipei City Will Expedite Land Transfer

(CNA, Taipei, July 6) The Executive Yuan officially approved the revised "National Film and Audiovisual Culture Collection Professional Facilities Improvement and Museum Construction" project today. The revised total budget has increased from the original NT$4.51 billion to NT$8.30494 billion. It is hoped that the New Taipei City Government will expedite the gratuitous transfer of land.

The Ministry of Culture issued a press release today stating that the second phase of the National Film and Audiovisual Center project has been officially approved by the Executive Yuan. Although the process involved coordination with the New Taipei City Government on the construction method for expanding parking spaces, leading to a significant budget increase, the Executive Yuan still fulfilled its commitment and agreed to approve the revised project and budget in full.

The Ministry of Culture stated that unlike the first phase of the Film and Audiovisual Center, which focused on administrative and exhibition spaces, the core of the second phase project is to address the issue of accumulating approximately 20,000 film reels and over 600,000 audiovisual artifacts since the establishment of the National Film Library in 1978. To date, there is no dedicated collection space, forcing the materials to be stored in various rented premises, even in industrial zones.

The Ministry of Culture said that the second phase project will focus on audiovisual collection and museum service spaces that leverage the value of the collection, including artifact exhibitions, a multi-functional performance hall, talent cultivation, and public services.

The Ministry of Culture pointed out that the revised project primarily accommodates the New Taipei City's urban planning needs, requiring the construction of a total of 830 parking spaces for cars and motorcycles and two skybridges. It also responds to the New Taipei City Government's suggestions regarding urban landscape by evaluating the construction of underground parking facilities and accounting for price adjustments.

The Ministry of Culture stated that although the budget has nearly doubled after the adjustment, and parking spaces will occupy 54% of the total building area, the Executive Yuan, considering the concrete results of the joint cooperation between the central and local governments in the first phase project that has prospered the local area, and in order to continue the mutual benefit and create a win-win situation for the preservation of the nation's important audiovisual cultural heritage and local development, the Executive Yuan still agreed to approve the revised project budget in full.

Regarding the New Taipei City Government's request to establish a film shooting support center, the Ministry of Culture and the New Taipei City Government have reached a consensus under the coordination of the Executive Yuan. The New Taipei City shooting support center will be incorporated into an appropriate space within the second phase project during the design and planning stage. It is hoped that in addition to the museum and collection functions of the second phase, the shooting support center will be added to provide dynamic exhibitions and services that connect with the industry, serving as a hub for the development of New Taipei City's film and television industry and a key role in connecting Taiwan's audiovisual industry with the international community.

The Ministry of Culture emphasized that since the original second phase project was approved, it has continuously carried out project management outsourcing and various preparatory work for the engineering phase. With the revised project now officially approved by the Executive Yuan, it signifies that the long-awaited second phase construction project of the Film and Audiovisual Center by the central and local governments can move forward.

The Ministry of Culture will continue to communicate closely with the New Taipei City Government to make this preservation of the nation's important audiovisual cultural heritage the next significant cultural landmark for Taiwan and New Taipei City. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150706

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