Deer Grass Folk Culture School Introduction
Located next to the highest administrative office in Lucao Township, the Lucao Folk Culture Hall was established less than three years ago and was officially completed in March 2008. Designed by artist Lu Ming-shih, the exterior features a base of yellow and brown colors adorned with spots resembling those of a Formosan deer, giving it a lively appearance that contrasts with the adjacent township office, capturing attention and sparking curiosity to enter. After all, this is an era of "appearance associations." Inside the hall, the first floor is mainly dedicated to various exhibitions that introduce the cultural characteristics and industrial landscape of Lucao. The second floor is designed for activities and learning courses, which have been continuously open since then. A series of courses in weaving, pottery, and flower arranging, taught by local instructors from Lucao, quickly reached full enrollment, even attracting inquiries from nearby Budai and Yizhu residents. Although the hall is quite young, the building itself has a long history, originally the site of the Lucao Township Health Center established in 1978. It was once a place for local residents to receive vaccinations, and many Lucao people still vaguely remember childhood scenes of crying here; others recall sitting in the chair for dental checks. It can be said to be a place intertwined with memories, evoking strong feelings for the older generation. Between the 1950s and 70s, health centers were established across various townships in Taiwan, where doctors, nurses, and health workers systematically conducted public health work, eradicating many infectious diseases in the country. These semi-public health centers were once the most important and trustworthy medical facilities for many remote communities. The health center built in 1978 later exchanged land with the township office and had a new building constructed behind the office. It moved to its new location in 2003, leaving the original site vacant. Now, the Lucao residents still associate the former health center with the present "Folk Culture Hall." Zheng Hong-yi, the first director who planned the Lucao Folk Culture Hall, mentioned that during a special exhibition reopening, he even encountered elderly individuals wanting to register for services... It can only be said that the accumulated emotions over the decades are truly profound.
