Greater Washington D.C. Taiwan Culture Center

Author: Tai-lang Huang

The Greater Washington D.C. Taiwan Culture Center was established thanks to the donations of Taiwanese community members in the Greater Washington D.C. area. It is located on the outskirts of the U.S. Capital, Washington D.C., near the Shady Grove Metro station in Derwood, Maryland. Founded in 2003, the Taiwan Culture Center is 501(c) non-profit organization officially registered with the Maryland State government.

A Short History of the Center

Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States and its political center; it receives attention from every country across the globe. By establishing a Taiwan Culture Center here, we are not only able to introduce Taiwan to the American public and advance the welfare of Taiwanese living in America, but we can also help maintain and promote Taiwan’s status internationally. We especially wanted our local Taiwanese people and organizations in our area to have our own fixed venue for our various activities and events. The Greater Washington D.C. Taiwanese Association of America finally decided to establish a preparation committee for the Taiwan Culture Center in 1994, and the Center was formally opened in March of 2000. It is an independent, tax-exempt non-profit organization, that operates on donations that are tax-exempt as permitted by the law.

Center Facilities

The Greater Washington D.C. Culture Center acquired its current location in 2003 (7509 Needwood Road, Derwood MD 20855). It has a total area of 1.5 acres, with a singular elegant house that can be used to host small gatherings. The interior facilities include a library, offices, a meeting room, and a social hall. The Taiwan Culture Center Board of Directors plan to continue working hard to raise funds in the hopes of being able to raise enough money in this short period of time in order to expand the current facilities to meet the needs of both the regularly held activities and the special events of the Washington D.C. Taiwanese community.

Culture Center Activities

Over the years the Taiwan Culture Center has organized countless spectacular and meaningful activities and events, including:

The Taiwan Culture Center Annual Banquet – Dozens of lectures and talk panels discussing issues regarding culture, economics, the humanities, investment, law, taxation, education, health, and more. We partner with the North American Taiwanese Medical Association to provide free medical consultations for the community, and with the Taiwanese film appreciation society.
Since 2005, the Taiwan Culture Center has hosted the Taiwanese American Community Scholarship Award (TACSA), which invites all graduating high school seniors regardless of ethnicity to apply. As of this year, more than 160 high school graduates have been granted awards. Since 2009, we have hosted the Janet Chang Memorial Scholarship Award (JCMSA), which invites Taiwanese Americans medical students in their first and second years of medical school to apply.
In May of each year, in cooperation with Taiwanese American Heritage Week, we specially host an elegant and high-class “Taiwan Night” annual concert.
Host the Taiwanese American Community Scholarship Award ceremony: the award ceremony is held at our annual “Taiwan Night” concert. Winners and their relatives, friends, and high school administrators are invited to participate in the ceremony and concert.
Annual Open House in September – in conjunction with the Greater Washington D.C. Taiwanese Association of America, we host our Open House around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
We sponsor a number of activities to promote our culture and increase public awareness of the Taiwanese American community.
We host, sponsor, and provide our venue to various organizations that conduct activities that are in line with our mission.

Major Events in our History

On September 10^th, 1994, the Board of Directors of the Greater Washington Taiwanese Association of American appointed former President Tai-lang Huang and several other enthusiastic members to the Taiwan Culture Center preparation committee.
On November 12^th, 1999, the preparation committee completed the application to make the Taiwan Culture Center a non-profit organization. The Center received its official qualification in March of the following year. The Taiwan Culture Center was officially opened on March 9^th, 2000.
Acquired the location of the current Culture Center in December of 2003. After undergoing a simple renovation, it opened for business on January 10^th, 2004. (First Open House)
In 2008, the area zoning was changed to allow for public service, making the Center legally available for use by the public.
In 2016, we began our application to expand the Center and change its use.

The Taiwan Culture Center is extremely grateful to all of the Taiwanese community’s support. We are also grateful to the countless excellent young Taiwanese musicians who traveled to America to help us with our “Taiwan Night” concert. Though the Taiwan Culture Center expansion project is going to be difficult, it will also be very meaningful. We only hope that we can achieve the collective participation of all of those in the Taiwanese community who have enthusiasm and love for Taiwan in their hearts, so that those who have money will donate money, and those who have energy can donate their effort (monetary donations are tax-deductible). If you would like to know more about the Taiwan Culture Center’s building plans, or if you’d like to donate to our expansion project, please contact Chairman Tai-lang Huang (301-983-1861). Or send a letter to TCC, P.O. Box 1838, West Bethesda, MD 20817. Our website is http://www.taiwanculturectr.org.