SDG10
NCKU and Chengchen Foundation Bring Weekend Arts School to Chiachong Elementary, Enriching Rural Arts Education
To fulfill its commitment to university social responsibility and to bring arts into rural communities while deepening cultural education at the grassroots level, a team led by Associate Professor Wei-Chien Ma from the Graduate Institute of Art Studies and Master’s Program in Drama at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), in collaboration with the Chien-Chen Environmental Education Foundation and faculty and students from National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, organized the “Weekend Arts School” at Chiachong Elementary School in Siaying District, Tainan City.
Through diverse courses such as “Chinese Opera Creativity,” “Diabolo Experience,” “Body Movement and Rhythm,” and “Plate Spinning Skills,” the program introduced students to traditional opera and folk performing arts during their weekends. By engaging in hands-on experience, creative practice, and self-expression, students were encouraged to build confidence and creativity, enriching rural arts education with meaningful artistic learning experiences.
NCKU has long promoted the implementation of University Social Responsibility (USR), emphasizing talent cultivation and community engagement, and encouraging faculty and students to enter local communities to respond to regional needs. This activity was made possible with the support of the Chien-Chen Environmental Education Foundation, which has long been dedicated to environmental education and public arts initiatives, enabling artistic resources to reach rural school campuses.
Through the collaboration among NCKU, the Chien-Chen Foundation, National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, and Chiachong Elementary School, a cross-disciplinary and intergenerational arts education platform was jointly established. This not only provided rural children with opportunities to access the arts, but also fostered dialogue and exchange between art and the humanities.
Principal Chun-Lin Chou of Chiachong Elementary School stated that the Weekend Arts School is more than a skills-based learning program; it helps students build confidence, communication abilities, and aesthetic literacy through creation, performance, and teamwork. He expressed gratitude to all participating institutions for bringing high-quality arts resources into the campus, allowing students to broaden their horizons through joyful learning experiences.
Many students experienced professional traditional opera and folk performing arts performances for the first time. Through hands-on participation and interactive learning, they not only gained a deeper appreciation of traditional performing arts but also felt the emotional resonance and inspiration that art can bring, opening a broader cultural perspective for rural education.
Associate Professor Wei-Chien Ma noted that this program integrates university students’ professional practice with local educational needs. Through mentorship and teaching engagement, students are able to transform their academic learning into social contribution while gaining a deeper understanding of the value and responsibility of education through interaction.
She expressed gratitude to NCKU participants Yi-Ting Chen, Pei-Chen Tsai, Yi-Zhen Yang, Hong-Yu Yang, and Ying-Cheng Lin from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, as well as faculty members Ru-Wen Chen, Chun-An Chen, and Nong-Cheng Cheng from National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, together with their students Shu-Wei Chang, Han-Ya Tsai, Sheng-Chih Wang, and Wei-Hong Li, for their involvement in on-site teaching and arts engagement.
Through guidance in opera, folk performing arts, and artistic creation, elementary school students gradually developed a sense of cultural identity while exploring local traditions and recognizing the close connection between art and everyday life. Meanwhile, university students accumulated valuable experience through service learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Weekend Arts School is not only an educational initiative, but also a practice of intergenerational learning, resource sharing, and cultural co-creation—opening up new possibilities for rural education and the rooted development of the arts.
Through diverse courses such as “Chinese Opera Creativity,” “Diabolo Experience,” “Body Movement and Rhythm,” and “Plate Spinning Skills,” the program introduced students to traditional opera and folk performing arts during their weekends. By engaging in hands-on experience, creative practice, and self-expression, students were encouraged to build confidence and creativity, enriching rural arts education with meaningful artistic learning experiences.
NCKU has long promoted the implementation of University Social Responsibility (USR), emphasizing talent cultivation and community engagement, and encouraging faculty and students to enter local communities to respond to regional needs. This activity was made possible with the support of the Chien-Chen Environmental Education Foundation, which has long been dedicated to environmental education and public arts initiatives, enabling artistic resources to reach rural school campuses.
Through the collaboration among NCKU, the Chien-Chen Foundation, National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, and Chiachong Elementary School, a cross-disciplinary and intergenerational arts education platform was jointly established. This not only provided rural children with opportunities to access the arts, but also fostered dialogue and exchange between art and the humanities.
Principal Chun-Lin Chou of Chiachong Elementary School stated that the Weekend Arts School is more than a skills-based learning program; it helps students build confidence, communication abilities, and aesthetic literacy through creation, performance, and teamwork. He expressed gratitude to all participating institutions for bringing high-quality arts resources into the campus, allowing students to broaden their horizons through joyful learning experiences.
Many students experienced professional traditional opera and folk performing arts performances for the first time. Through hands-on participation and interactive learning, they not only gained a deeper appreciation of traditional performing arts but also felt the emotional resonance and inspiration that art can bring, opening a broader cultural perspective for rural education.
Associate Professor Wei-Chien Ma noted that this program integrates university students’ professional practice with local educational needs. Through mentorship and teaching engagement, students are able to transform their academic learning into social contribution while gaining a deeper understanding of the value and responsibility of education through interaction.
She expressed gratitude to NCKU participants Yi-Ting Chen, Pei-Chen Tsai, Yi-Zhen Yang, Hong-Yu Yang, and Ying-Cheng Lin from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, as well as faculty members Ru-Wen Chen, Chun-An Chen, and Nong-Cheng Cheng from National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, together with their students Shu-Wei Chang, Han-Ya Tsai, Sheng-Chih Wang, and Wei-Hong Li, for their involvement in on-site teaching and arts engagement.
Through guidance in opera, folk performing arts, and artistic creation, elementary school students gradually developed a sense of cultural identity while exploring local traditions and recognizing the close connection between art and everyday life. Meanwhile, university students accumulated valuable experience through service learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Weekend Arts School is not only an educational initiative, but also a practice of intergenerational learning, resource sharing, and cultural co-creation—opening up new possibilities for rural education and the rooted development of the arts.
A team led by Associate Professor Wei-Chien Ma from the Graduate Institute of Art Studies and Master’s Program in Drama at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), in collaboration with the Chien-Chen Environmental Education Foundation and faculty and students from National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, organized the “Weekend Arts School” at Jiachung Elementary School in Xiaying District, Tainan City.
Through diverse courses such as “Chinese opera creativity,” “diabolo experience,” “body movement and rhythm,” and “plate spinning skills,” students were guided to engage with traditional opera and folk performing arts during the weekends.
The Weekend Arts School is not merely a skills-based learning program, but one that helps children build confidence and enhance their communication skills and aesthetic literacy through the processes of creation, performance, and teamwork.
The Weekend Arts School integrates university students’ professional practice with local educational needs, enabling students to transform their learning into a force for social service while gaining a deeper understanding of the value and responsibility of education through interaction.
Through guidance in traditional opera, folk performing arts, and artistic creation, elementary school students gradually developed a sense of self-identity while exploring their local culture, and came to recognize the close connection between art and everyday life.
The Weekend Arts School is not only an educational initiative, but also a practice of intergenerational co-learning, resource sharing, and cultural co-creation, opening up greater possibilities for rural education and the rooting of arts education.
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