Taipei City-based National Palace Museum unveiled an expanded exhibition and licensing program for 2018 as part of efforts to promote awareness of the institution’s priceless artifacts and foster ties with Southeast Asia in line with the government’s New Southbound Policy.
 
In October, the institution will organize a new media art show in Thailand, marking its first-ever exhibition in the region. The same month, the museum’s Southern Branch will spotlight Singapore as this year’s theme nation at the NPM Asian Art Festival, one of the largest annual cultural events at the Chiayi County-based facility.
 
The 2018 exhibition schedule at NPM’s main branch in Taipei includes events showcasing local museum publications, the diversity of Taiwan’s museums and their efforts to strengthen cultural preservation, and the traditional attire of the country’s indigenous tribes. Also in the works is a solo show commemorating late Taiwan comic artist Chen Uen.
 
On the licensing front, plans are underway for collaborations with 10 fashion brands, restaurants and technology companies to produce goods including clothing lines, merchandise and instant messaging stickers inspired by the museum’s treasures, the institution said.
 
According to NPM Director Lin Jeng-yi, such crossover products will help further the museum’s goal of attracting more young visitors by highlighting diverse aspects of its antiquities through creative approaches.
 
The exhibition and licensing plans come hot on the heels of the museum’s new six-year development plan. Unveiled earlier this year, the NT$10.1 billion (US$343.8 million) project comprises measures to expand and renovate NPM headquarters, establish an exhibition and restoration facility for national treasures at the Southern Branch and create a national museum network to coordinate international promotional campaigns.
 
By 2024, these efforts are expected to raise visitor numbers to 8 million annually and generate tourism-related revenues topping NT$134.7 billion per year, according to NPM. (CPY-E)