Tainan: The Ming Hwa Yuan arts and cultural group has inaugurated the Xi Chao Art Museum with a ceremony on Saturday, positioning it as a new cultural hub in Tainan aimed at integrating traditional opera into contemporary society.

According to Focus Taiwan, the nearly century-old troupe emphasized that the museum’s purpose is not merely to rejuvenate an empty space but to envision the next century by blending traditional opera with modern life and establishing a theater base that harmonizes with the city. The Tainan City government highlighted the museum’s role as a crucial venue for nurturing talent and systematically advancing Taiwanese opera, thus exposing more young people to the traditional art form.

The ceremony was attended by Tainan deputy mayors Yeh Tse-shan and Chiang Lin-huang, alongside Ming Hwa Yuan Director Chen Sheng-fu, to promote the museum and outline significant future dates. Although labeled as an opening ceremony, the museum will begin trial operations on May 30 and is set to officially
open on August 1.

The site of the museum was formerly a weightlifting hall, acquired by the city in 2014 and initially repurposed for elderly use. The operating rights were subsequently transferred to Ming Hwa Yuan, which undertook renovations. Established in Tainan in 1929, Ming Hwa Yuan is recognized as a leading troupe of Taiwanese opera, a unique theatrical style developed in Taiwan.