Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Cultural & Educational Foundation

SKM is committed to promoting the development of art in Taiwan. The Company works with SKM Cultural & Educational Foundation each year to organize regular exhibitions and performances for craft design, image art, and children's art education. The Company also sponsors awards of contests to cultivate high-quality art creators in Taiwan and invites domestic and foreign companies and brands, experts and artists to work together in various exhibitions and events. Lantern festivals and charity art auctions are organized each year and the proceeds are donated to schools and social welfare institutions in remote areas to support art and culture in the environment. The Company also actively supports international art initiatives such as the Elephant Parade® sculpture art charity exhibition in 2016. However, many events could not be organized in due to the pandemic in 2020-2021. We will continue to support the development of art in Taiwan and make Taiwan a world-famous land of art.

 

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Cultural & Educational Foundation

 

SKM embraces the ideal of giving back to society, becoming a role model enterprise, and creating a new era for art in Taiwan. SKM established the "Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Cultural & Educational Foundation" in 1995. The Foundation upholds the motto of "Art in Life and Living in Art" and embraces the ideal of "enhancing the aesthetics of the society, promoting cultural development, and creating a high-quality living environment". It dedicates itself to cultural promotion, dialog in art, cultivation of art talents, preservation of Taiwanese craftsmanship and culture, and development of children's art at an early age. The Foundation organizes a diverse range of exhibitions and performances in department stores and opens the gateway to culture for the general public.

 

SKM Cultural & Educational Foundation Development milestones and highlights of activities in past years

   

Regular annual art and charitable activities

 

SKM upholds the motto of giving back to society and uses its operating income for units related to photography art, children's art education, and craft design, including EPSON (photography art), Pentel (children's art education), and National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (craft design) to sponsor contest rewards and work exhibition venues. The Company provides event units with actual support and increases the venues with which the public can enjoy art by converting SKM into a unique shopping environment that embodies both art and aesthetics.

   

Statistics on related activities

 

The Dream of Craft

 

The event was collaborated with National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute since 1994 and has been organized 29 times. We collaborate in the "Taiwan Craft Competition" each year to reward outstanding craftsmen and creators in Taiwan with a NT$500,000 sponsorship for 1 winner of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Special Award each year. The events have accumulated more than 14,000 entries (with an average of 500 entries each year) and SKM has provided NT$10.2 million in sponsorship (benefited 29 winners of the SKM Award). We organize "The Dream of Craft" special exhibition at the end of each year with themed exhibition plans and event packaging. We invited Taiwanese and foreign craft designers to jointly participate in the exhibition and set up the "Shin Art Store" during the exhibition to provide local craft designer brands in Taiwan and social innovation brands with sales channels. We continue to promote the positive cycle of SDGs, corporate sustainability, and social inclusion, and the events have accumulated 1.58 million visitors.

   

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Summer Art Festival

 

The event has been organized 22 times since its creation in 2002. Each year, we use awards set up for the "Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Children's Art Competition" to encourage school children in elementary school or younger to express themselves through drawings. We provide rewards and gifts for approximately 120 winners each year and opportunities to participate in actual exhibitions and international contests. We have accumulated more than 237,000 entries (with an average of approximately 11,000 entries each year) and provided sponsorship for 15,000 awards. SKM organizes the "Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Summer Art Festival" in summer each year with themed touring exhibition plans and event packaging. We invited Taiwanese and foreign specialists in painting and art to take part in the exhibition and shed light on issues in domestic energy, environmental protection, and education for children living in remote rural areas. The events have helped support the development of children's art at an early age, and have accumulated more than 1.78 million visitors. (However, the in-person exhibitions were canceled due to the epidemic in 2021 and online exhibitions were organized instead).

 

• The in-person exhibitions were canceled due to the epidemic in 2021 and online exhibitions were organized instead.

   

SKM PHOTO Shin Kong Mitsukoshi International Photography Exhibition Events

 

The event was created in 2007 and has been organized 17 times. Each year, we set up awards in the "Shin Kong Mitsukoshi International Photography Contest" to reward and cultivate talented photographers. We provide 20-30 winners with rewards, gifts, and opportunities to participate in exhibitions each year. We have accumulated more than 100,000 entries (with an average of 1,200 sets / 6,226 entries each year) and provided sponsorship for 500 awards. We organize the "SKM PHOTO Shin Kong Mitsukoshi International Photography Exhibition Events" in February to April each year with themed touring exhibition plans and event packaging. We invited Taiwanese and foreign photographers to take part in the exhibitions with the aim of communicating issues in the international society, global warming, and animal protection through photography. The events have accumulated 1.3 million visitors.

 

• The exhibitions entries decrease due to epidemic regulations of crowd control and preventative measure in 2020.

     

Fnac 24-Hour Marathon Digital Photography Contest

 

It is a wonderful tradition for photographers to travel through the city together each year, transcending the limitations of day and night. Regardless of age or gender, people connect through photography, communicating through the lens, testing their physical endurance, and pushing their creative boundaries. Only by experiencing it yourself can you truly understand your passion for photography.

 

 

2023 Beauty of Japan: Kiln - Arita ware

 

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi has long been committed to promoting Taiwan’s craftsmanship and facilitating international exchange exhibitions, earning widespread acclaim. This year, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi teamed up with Mitsukoshi (Japan), with a 350-year history, and the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Cultural and Educational Foundation to co-host the "Beauty of Japan: Kiln Arita Ware Exhibition." The exhibition features nearly 170 exquisite pieces from the renowned "Imaemon" and "Kakiemon" kilns in Arita, Saga Prefecture, Japan. These pieces, including rare classic works from the Edo period, were airlifted to Taiwan with a total value of nearly NT$50 million, showcasing the finest of Japanese craftsmanship to the Taiwanese public. The exhibition also featured interactions with two internationally distinguished masters, Imaizumi Imaemon XIV and Sakaida Kakiemon XV, marking their first visit to meet with people in Taiwan.