一個安定又充滿創意與活力的文化社會，無疑是企業維持恆常和進步的最佳要件。有鑑於此，台新集團領航人吳東亮先生於2001年5月成立了「財團法人台新銀行文化藝術基金會」，以「提昇文化生活品質，健全藝術發展環境」為創會宗旨，矢志發揮「播種‧灌溉‧分享」的淑世精神，落實民間企業的社會責任與文化使命。本基金會自許為專業藝術文化活動的支持與贊助機構，展望二十一世紀多元而快速發展的社會趨勢，全球化與在地化的平行並進，決定以推動台灣當代藝術文化為首要目標，致力於本土藝術的觀察、評論與獎助。除了協助台灣當代藝術躍升為世界創意文化的一個發光體，也希望藉由藝術的推廣，讓國人的生活充滿更多創意的活力與感性的想像。
2002年開辦的「台新藝術獎」，為基金會業務主軸，涵括了視覺、表演及跨領域藝術活動之關照，其主動提名及跨領域評選機制，均為國內首創。為兼顧此一獎項的廣度、深度與國際能見度，提名過程中專責提名觀察人的設置
、觀點的互動討論與跨域對話、ARTalks專網建立公眾討論的管道，繼而邀請國際具影響力之藝文人士參與決選；打造這個國產藝術桂冠的過程中，除了不斷向大眾推介具有創新視野的優秀藝術創作，也希望藉由綿密的觀察論述和相關的推廣教育活動，回應藝術本身並非以獎項為標準或終極成果，台新藝術獎是台灣多元文化的重要折射，讓優秀作品再度與社會共鳴互振，而基金會在藝術家與大眾之間，希望能稱職地擔任溝通與跨越的橋樑，以及企業回饋社會的使者。
台新銀行文化藝術基金官方網站：
www.taishinart.org.tw
台新藝術獎ARTalks平台：
http://talks.taishinart.org.tw
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Engendering a solid foundation for a vibrant cultural community is the Taishin Foundation’s greatest priority. With a mission “to raise the quality of cultural life by cultivating a healthy environment for artistic development,” Chairman Thomas T.L. Wu established the non-profit Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture in May 2001. His vision was to inspire, nurture, and spread the spirit of the times through the corporate social commitment in support of the contemporary arts, for it is the arts that capture the diverse social trends and rapid evolution of the twenty-first century. Positioned amid globalization and localization, the Taishin Foundation aims to encourage Taiwanese contemporary arts and culture through the assessment, evaluation and underwriting of local arts. Through expanding Taiwanese arts and stimulating cultural creativity worldwide, the Taishin Foundation seeks to enrich the lifestyle and imagination of the Taiwanese people. In 2002, the Foundation established the Taishin Arts Award, which became the center of the Foundation’s work. With focus on events of visual, performing and trans-disciplinary arts, the Award has developed a selection procedure including proactive nomination and cross-disciplinary review, both pioneering initiatives in Taiwan. To ensure wide spectrum, depth and international visibility, the nomination process includes specially invited nominators, interactive discussions and inter-disciplinary dialogue, a channel for public discussion through the ARTalks website, as well as the involvement of international, influential arts and cultural specialists in the final selection. In establishing this local arts award, the Foundation continues to introduce innovative, excellent arts creations to the public, and attempts through frequent observation, discourse, as well as relevant events of promotion and education, to achieve the ultimate goal of responding to art itself. The Taishin Arts Award is a reflection of the cultural diverseness of Taiwan, an important means through which remarkable works may interact again with the society and create mutual inspirations. It is the aspiration of the Foundation to serve as a means of communication between artists and the public, and as a missionary for corporate contribution to the society. Website of the Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture: http://www.taishinart.org.tw/
The Taishin Arts Award ARTalks Website:
http://talks.taishinart.org.tw/
