On the 13th and 14th of August, 2013, the night sky was especially bright at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall. These were not the stars of Chinese Valentine's Day, nor were they the lights from the nearby Taipei 101. They were from "Start from the Heart．Amazing Arts and Sounds—2013 National Artistic Performance and Skill Training Exhibition from Correctional Institutions Inmates." The night scene at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall seemed even more brilliant when lit up by the fantastic performances of the inmates and the enthusiastic participation of the community, the workers at the correctional institutions, and the families of the inmates.

In recent years, the correctional institutions have seen an abundance of results in their efforts to enrich the lives and artistic education of the inmates. In order to exhibit this innovative breakthrough concept of governance with more concrete actions, and in the hope of gaining wider sympathy and response from the community, the Agency of Corrections chose 238 inmates from various correctional institutions nationwide to participate in this event. These inmates dedicated much effort in their artistic training at the prisons, and this event gave them an opportunity to rise up and perform on the national stage. Here, through nine splendid performances, such as drumming, dance, Sichuan opera face change, a musical and an ensemble performance, they showed the community the growth and transformation they attained through cultivation in the arts even while within the four walls of a prison. Since this performance was a deeply meaningful new undertaking in the history of prisons in Taiwan, the Agency of Corrections took extra care to make the performance perfect by carefully selecting the inmates who would perform. Bringing 238 inmates from various correctional institutions nationwide all the way to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall was a difficult challenge, not to mention the security risk that it presented. However, this arduous task brought out a strong sense of honor and mission, which generated the tremendous collaboration of the correctional workers and motivated the diligent practice of the inmates. One by one, they overcame these challenges, and successfully stood on the stage of Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall to give their perfect performance.

These inmates who were "reborn and reinvigorated," gave fantastic performances during the two days of the show. The show incorporated nine programs in total, including heart-pounding drumming, superb sand painting, magical Sichuan opera face change, magnificent aboriginal dance, and angelic choir singing. Nearly five-thousand people came to witness this performance, including Vice-President Wu and Minister Tseng Yung-Fu of the Ministry of Justice. Community members from all walks of life, workers from the various correctional institutions, and the families of the performing inmates were also present and watching with enthusiasm. Together they gave the inmates their encouragement and cheers. After the end of the last performance on the 14th, the audience stood up and gave these inmates their warmest applause to express their sincere encouragement and gratitude for the superb talent and effort shown on stage. The inmates on stage and the staff behind the scenes could not help but shed some joyous tears over the crowd's thunderous response.

After more than 10 months of training and experience, the inmates have not only recovered value in life, but have also gained a sense of pride and self-confidence through the nurturing of these artistic activities. These will continue to be the real driving forces which will lead them to rehabilitation and an improved self!

Although the stage curtain had fallen, the curtain had just begun to draw open onto their new lives!