Taichung City "Performing Arts Support PLUS" relief program begins accepting applications on 6/1 ⟦4 In response to the escalating domestic COVID-19 outbreak, performances, workshops and outreach activities of performing arts troupes have been cancelled or postponed one after another as everyone joins forces to fight the pandemic. To help performing arts troupes get through these difficult times, the Taichung City-Cultural Affairs Bureau has launched the "2021 Performing Arts Support PLUS" relief measures, offering four major measures: "free venues," "relief application intake," "relaxed schedules" and a "consultation platform." The second wave of this year's relief program will begin accepting applications on June 1, with a maximum approved amount of 200,000 yuan per troupe, to strongly support local performing arts troupes and the development of the arts and cultural environment. ⟦5 The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that Taichung City brand performing arts troupes cancelled or postponed more than 190 events from May to June, affecting many performances and outreach plans and leaving arts and cultural workers facing livelihood difficulties. The Cultural Affairs Bureau has upgraded and launched the four major relief measures of "2021 Performing Arts Support PLUS." First, "free venues": from January to December this year, registered performing arts groups in Taichung City may use the performing arts spaces of the Bureau's various centers free of charge. ⟦6 As for "relief application intake," in response to the ongoing impact of the severe special infectious pneumonia (COVID-19) pandemic, the first wave this year approved 48 plans from registered performing arts groups in Taichung City in May, with total funding of 6 million yuan. Troupes may adjust their plans to online or outdoor performances in response to the pandemic. The Cultural Affairs Bureau will begin accepting applications for the second wave of the relief program on June 1. "Relaxed schedules" means that performing arts activities subsidized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau may be postponed until the end of the year in response to the pandemic. The "consultation platform" continues to provide professional consultation and guidance, and through the "Taichung City Performing Arts Groups Platform TCGPA" official Line account, promptly releases arts and cultural relief information from the Ministry of Culture and the Cultural Affairs Bureau. ⟦7 The Cultural Affairs Bureau pointed out that the second wave of the performing arts relief plan will open for applications starting June 1, encouraging troupes to continue accumulating creative energy during the pandemic. Any registered performing arts group in Taichung City may apply. Proposed plans may include score, script and choreography creation, craft inheritance, teaching material development, lecture courses and other types. The maximum approved amount per troupe is 200,000 yuan, and the first installment payout ratio can reach 80%, reducing troupes' upfront expenses for their plans. ⟦8 The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that since last year, in response to the pandemic, it launched the "Arts and Culture Relief 3+2" and "Arts and Culture Relief 2.0" measures, and in February this year initiated the "2021 Arts and Culture Relief" plan. Now, in response to the escalating pandemic, it will expand the arts and cultural relief measures and extend their implementation to the end of the year to help performing arts troupes get through these difficult times. For more information, please visit the Taichung City-Cultural Affairs Bureau website at http://www.culture.taichung.gov.tw.

In response to the escalating domestic COVID-19 outbreak, performing arts groups' performances, workshops, and promotional activities have been cancelled or postponed one after another as everyone joins forces to fight the pandemic. To help performing arts groups get through these difficult times, the Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau has launched the "2021 Performing Arts Support PLUS" relief measures, offering four major measures: "free venues," "relief project submissions," "relaxed schedules," and a "consultation platform." The second round of this year's relief program will begin accepting applications on June 1, with a maximum approval of 200,000 yuan per group, to strongly support local performing arts groups and the development of the arts and cultural environment.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that Taichung City brand performing arts groups cancelled or postponed more than 190 events from May to June, affecting many performances and promotional plans, and arts and cultural workers are also facing livelihood difficulties. The Cultural Affairs Bureau has upgraded and launched the four major relief measures of "2021 Performing Arts Support PLUS." First, "free venues": registered performing arts groups in Taichung City will enjoy free venue rental at performing arts spaces of all Cultural Affairs Bureau centers from January to December this year.

As for "relief project submissions," in response to the ongoing impact of the severe special infectious pneumonia pandemic, the first round this year approved plans for 48 registered performing arts groups in Taichung City in May, with total funding of 6 million yuan. Groups may adjust their plans to online or outdoor performances in response to the pandemic, and the Cultural Affairs Bureau will begin accepting applications for the second round of relief plans starting June 1. "Relaxed schedules" means that performing arts activities subsidized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau may be postponed until the end of the year in response to the pandemic. The "consultation platform" will continue to provide professional consultation and guidance, and will use the "Taichung City Performing Arts Groups Platform TCGPA" official Line account to release arts and cultural relief information from the Ministry of Culture and the Cultural Affairs Bureau in real time.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau pointed out that the second round of performing arts relief program will open for submissions starting June 1, encouraging groups to continue accumulating creative energy during the pandemic. Any registered performing arts group in Taichung City may apply. Proposed projects may include types such as score, script, and choreography creation, craft inheritance, teaching plan development, and lecture courses. The maximum approval per group is 200,000 yuan, and the first installment payment ratio can reach 80%, reducing groups' early-stage expenditure burden for their projects.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that since last year, in response to the pandemic, the Bureau launched the "Arts and Culture Relief 3+2" and "Arts and Culture Relief 2.0" measures, and in February this year launched the "2021 Arts and Culture Relief" plan. Now, in response to the escalating pandemic, the arts and culture relief measures will be expanded and extended through the end of the year to help performing arts groups get through these difficult times. For more information, please visit the Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau website at http://www.culture.taichung.gov.tw.