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| Regional Revitalization Stories from Taitung – Remote but Rich in Culture and Passion |
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What would a place look like if it showcased the beauty of life and cultural charm that has been meticulously crafted on this land?
This February, over 20 local innovators from Hualien and Taitung gathered at Junyi School of Innovation, an internationalized school located in Taitung (referred to as Junyi School). The workshop, initiated by Chair Stanley Yen of The Alliance Cultural Foundation (ACF) and Junyi School, along with Chair Mei-Ling Chen of the Taiwan Regional Revitalization Foundation (TWRR), focused on regional collaboration and site revitalization. In this workshop, participants, divided into groups, took turns presenting their creative ideas. Among them were young people returning to their hometowns, food experts, hotel managers, entrepreneurial women committed to innovative
food education, and teams applying design thinking to address social issues. Some had returned to their hometowns for three years, while others had been deeply rooted in their communities for 30 years. Despite their diverse industries, they shared a common dedication to a refined experience economy, not only pursuing commercial success but also striving for a harmonious coexistence with the land of Taitung. Read more.
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The Alliance Cultural Foundation:
August Island Life Gathering – A Feast of Austronesian Cultures
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On August 14th, Sung-en Lin from the National Museum of Prehistory, Nini (Yi-ning Kao) from the Hunter School, and A-Vi (Ching-ju Chang) from 9 Dulan Soap shop were invited to share their experiences attending the Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture with over 20 members of the Island Life co-learning group. The event began with a traditional Hawaiian hula dance led by Shu-hui Yang. Hula is not just a physical expression; it is a language of the heart that narrates stories and deeply conveys emotions of love, respect, and gratitude.
Lin shared how Hawaiian indigenous people use art as a form of action to connect with their history, demonstrating appreciation for their cultural roots and reminding future generations of its importance. Nini noted that during the Festival's opening, teams from various countries entered the venue to pay their respects with dance or brief speeches. Though these may be small nations, they serve as guardians of the ocean. Meanwhile, A-Vi observed the eagerness of Hawaiian store owners to share the meanings behind their products. Her visits to farmers’ markets and participation in weaving activities reinforced the belief that, with courage, we too can transform local resources into powerful expressions of culture.
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The Alliance Cultural Foundation:
TC Music Festival Debuts – Hu's Sharing & Concert Tour
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Taiwan Connection (TC) celebrates 20 years! This isn’t a celebration of fireworks or monumental achievements, but rather 20 years lived in every second of music. On August 31st and September 1st, TC Chamber Orchestra performed in Kaohsiung and Taipei, with over 40 musicians playing Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 “The Great” in a conductor-less chamber music format. As described on TC’s Facebook, “There are many moments that gradually build up to a grand, expansive sound, and everything feels so natural.” The final note dropped, and the audience erupted with
applause, shouting, “Bravo!”
This year, TC invited 16 internationally renowned musicians from 9 countries to perform alongside outstanding Taiwanese musicians. Among them was Robert Levin, a distinguished Harvard emeritus professor and authority on Classical-era works. During the upcoming international chamber music tour, audiences will hear Levin and Taiwanese pianist Ya-fei Chuang perform four-hand piano pieces.
In addition to 9 concerts across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, the early August “Hu’s Talk” series took audiences on a journey through TC’s history. Led by Violinist and TC Director Nai-Yuan Hu and musicians, fans reminisced on milestones, including TC’s temporary departure from the stage in 2014 and its return in 2017. Hu noted that when TC performed Schubert’s “The Great” during their hiatus year, “Ten years ago, we didn’t fully understand the composer’s language.” Reperforming it a decade later serves as an example of how musicians strive to convey deeper thoughts and emotions in pursuit of perfection.
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The Alliance Cultural Foundation:
“When We Harmonize with the World” Season 3 Now Airing!
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Since 2022, Taiwan Connection (TC) has been collaborating with “Mirror Voice” to produce “When We Harmonize with the World.” This year, the show not only discusses music but also reflects on TC’s 20-year journey. The first two episodes feature host Yuan-Pu Chiao, TC Director Nai-Yuan Hu, and TC’s co-founder, Chair Stanley Yen, discussing TC’s vision and mission. Behind the applause at concerts is the collective effort of supporters including entrepreneurs, musicians, and fans.
Episodes 3 and 4 invite pianist Yi-Chih Lu and Hu to share insights on Mozart’s music. “If Mozart’s music were a language, Robert Levin would be someone who mastered the grammar of that language and then used it to express his own ideas.” Hu’s vivid description of pianist Levin captivated the audience during TC’s chamber orchestra tour last weekend, where Levin’s improvisational performance featured a variety of improvised cadenzas in the style of Mozart. In the final two episodes, Professor Yih-Fen Hua from National Taiwan University’s Department of History and Hu discuss Schubert’s music and how the music capital Vienna influenced Schubert’s story.
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Junyi School of Innovation:
New Middle School Students’ Summer Camp
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To help new students of the 2024 academic year quickly adapt to the learning environment and dormitory life, the school held a summer camp from August 5th to 16th. In addition to diverse knowledge acquisition, Junyi places significant emphasis on practical experience. The 7th grade “Media Literacy” course involves students exploring various scams in Taiwan. Students are asked to collect local cases, discuss how to identify scam techniques, and analyze media information to develop independent critical thinking skills.
For physical activities, students travelled to National Taitung University Affiliated Physical Education Senior High School to learn swimming and enhance their self-rescue skills. On the last day of the course, they took their practice to Flowing Lake. Although some students did not go into the water, they remembered the teacher’s words, “Even if we cannot swim, we should learn how to rescue others on the shore. Each of us can contribute!”
In the evenings, dormitory teachers led students in sports and group activities. Additionally, senior students from the high school’s hospitality program made cinnamon rolls as a welcome treat. Over the ten-day camp, students gradually adapted to school life in the dormitories.
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