Introduction

In response to the local and international trend of cultural policy development, after 31 years since the establishment of the School of Cultural Resources of Taipei National University of the Arts, we advocated for the establishment of the PhD. Program in Cultural Heritage and Arts Innovation Studies.

In 2013, the preparation committee of the PhD. Program was established. The committee members included Professor Lin, Hui-Cheng, then Dean of the School of Cultural Resources and a teacher in the Graduate Institute of Architecture and Cultural Heritage concurrently, Professor Lin, Shaw-Ren, Director of the Graduate Institute of Arts and Humanities Education, Professor Chen, Chia-Li, Director of the Graduate Institute of Museum Studies, Professor Tseng, Jieh-Horng, a teacher in the Graduate Institute of Arts Administration and Management, and Professor Lu, Hung-Hui, a teacher in the Graduate Institute of Arts Administration and Management and the International MA Program in Studies of Arts and Creative Industries. The Dean served as the convener of the committee.

After numerous preparatory meetings and being supported by the school, the PhD. Program was finally approved by the Ministry of Education in 2013, becoming the first PhD. program in Taiwan with “Cultural Heritage” in the name. The first batch of PhD students were admitted in 2014.

The PhD. Program focuses on “Cultural Heritage” and “Arts Innovation”, aiming to cultivate talents with expertise in tangible cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage, museum studies, cultural policy, arts administration and management, arts and humanities education, and cultural and creative industries. The Program aims to establish a teaching and research atmosphere that is free, diverse, and emphasizes social care. The Program also emphasizes international perspective and local engagement, aspiring to become a key research center for cultural resources in Taiwan.

The teaching staff of the PhD. Program mainly comes from the five teaching units within the School of Cultural Resources: the Graduate Institute of Architecture and Cultural Heritage, the Graduate Institute of Arts Administration and Management, the Graduate Institute of Museum Studies, the Graduate Institute of Arts and Humanities Education, and the International MA Program in Studies of Arts and Creative Industries.

Since the establishment, the PhD. Program has had four directors: Professor Lin, Hui-Cheng (2014-2015), Professor Chang, Wan-Chen (2015-2018), Professor Lin, Shaw-Ren (2018-2019), and Professor Lin, Cheng-Wei (2019-present). Under the leadership of the directors and the efforts of the staff and students, the PhD. Program has matured gradually and systematically cultivated professional talents in the fields of cultural heritage and arts.