Chapter 12 Culture and the ArtsTaipei City’s development of culture and the arts has adopted the defining position of “taking local culture to heart, embracing a global vision, building a sustainable future for culture.” The Taipei City Government has completed the restructuring and reshaping of the Taipei Cultural Foundation; it is promoting the implementation of an L-shaped cultural and creative industry development corridor; it has established a unique Culture and Creativity Area; and has begun four major new initiatives: a Culture and Creativity Street, a Creativity Market, a Cultural and Creative Industry Park and the establishment of the Taipei Film Commission. Regrettably, Grass Mountain Chateau was destroyed by fire. The controversy surrounding the temporary designation of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall as a historical site prompted the Taipei City Government to energetically adopt measures to protect its historical and cultural assets.

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Part 1 Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Taipei’s Upgraded Municipal Status

On July 1, 1967, Taipei City was officially upgraded to a municipality directly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government, and the six administrative districts of Shilin, Beitou, Nangang, Neihu, Jingmei and Muzha were added to its original ten, for a total of sixteen districts within the city. Its area was also expanded to 272 square kilometers, and its population increased to 1.45 million. In 1990, Taipei City was reorganized into its current 12 administrative districts.

1. Special Exhibition on the 40th Anniversary of Taipei’s Upgraded Municipal Status

In order to pass on a histor ical perspective to coming generations, the Taipei City Archives presented a special exhibition of historical materials and images, “In Search of Memories – Footsteps Leaping Upward.” Its opening ceremony was held in the Central Lobby of Taipei City Hall on June 29, 2007. The exhibition was on display at the Discovery Center of Taipei on the 2nd floor of Taipei City Hall from June 29 to August 1. Through original artifacts, descriptions and interactive multimedia presentations relating Taipei’s history and administrative evolution since its restructuring four decades ago, it unveiled the panorama of Taipei City’s progress.

Taipei City is the cultural nucleus of Taiwan. In 2007, Taipei City held 5,724 events for culture and the arts, increasing the total number of

attendees to more than 15 million, the greatest number of cultural event participants for any city in Taiwan. As the public has increasingly

contributed to the arts and culture at its own initiative, increasing the quality of the city’s culture, government and private sources

have achieved effective integration. Local artistry and high-caliber, international-level exhibition and performance events have revealed flourishing vitality. Moreover, due to the relaxation of regulations and the increasing openness of the

environment, the cultural and creative industries have been nurtured and developed.

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2. Documentary on the 40th Anniversary of Taipei’s Upgraded Municipal Status

The Taipei City Archives filmed a 23-minute documentary, “Taipei, Metamorphosis,” interviewing former mayors of Taipei City on their recollections of the city’s development and their thoughts on its future, depicting the evolution of Taipei since its administrative restructuring, and using the oral reminiscences of its mayors to symbolize the passing of authority from generation to generation. The documentary was premiered on June 29, 2007 as part of a press conference at Taipei City Hall.

3. Symposium on Regaining the Grandeur of a Waterfront CityThe “Symposium on Regaining the Grandeur of a Waterfront City” was jointly organized by the

Taipei City Archives and the United Daily News, and presented in three segments. In the first segment, such experts and scholars as Taipei County deputy magistrate Lee Hong-yuan, Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs commissioner Lee Yong-ping, Public Works Department commissioner Ni Shih-piao, Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, Shen Shu-hung and Department of Urban Development, Taipei City Government commissioner Hsu Chih-chien joined together in an academic discussion on June 21, 2007, exploring such topics as the past and present of the Danshui River, and urban reengineering. In the second segment, the United Daily News published special reports on the symposium. In the third segment, the United Daily News published a written report on the documentary film “Taipei, Metamorphosis.”

4. Concert Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Taipei’s Upgraded Municipal StatusAt 6:30 p.m. on July 1, this concert took place at the Guandu Wharf. Former mayors, honored

citizens, Taipei Culture Award winners, city council members and ordinary citizens were in attendance, enjoying separate performances by the Taipei Symphony Orchestra and the Taipei Chinese Orchestra. The ensembles also accompanied vocal performances of songs representing Taipei. In addition, the documentary “Taipei, Metamorphosis,” as well as films on the evolution of Taipei City and its film festival, were presented, allowing audience members to experience the historical memory of Taipei’s upgrading to a municipality directly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government.

Part 2 Promoting the Development of Cultural and Creative Industries

The cultural and creative industries are a major element of urban economic development, and a global trend of development throughout the world. Taipei City recognizes 13 different categories of its cultural and creative industry: the visual arts, music and the performing arts, cultural exhibition and performance facilities, handicrafts, film, radio and television, publishing, advertisement, design, branding and fashion design, architectural design, the creative lifestyle industry, and the digital recreation and entertainment industry (digital games, computer animation, digital learning, digital audiovisual applications, mobile application services, network services, content and software, digital publishing, and digital archiving). According to the “2007 Survey of Taipei City Culture Indicator”, in 2006 as many as 94,628 enterprises were engaged in cultural and creative industries, with aggregate operational revenues of NT$1.6 trillion. Specific statistics include:· In Taipei City, 2 out of every 5 enterprises are involved in cultural and creative industries.· In Taipei City, 10 percent of total business revenues come from cultural and creative industries.· In Taipei City, one of ten workers is engaged in cultural and creative industries.

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· In Taiwan, 2 out of every 10 companies in cultural and creative industries are located in Taipei City.· Taipei City accounts for 40 percent of business revenues of all the cultural and creative industries in

Taiwan.With the goal of actively promoting the development of the cultural and creative industries, and in

response to the Department of Cultural Affairs’ developmental objectives of “promoting the integration of diverse industries, expanding international markets, promoting cultural tourism, increasing policy efficiency and strengthening R&D capacity,” the Taipei City Government has proposed the following initiatives: (1) actively encouraging the collective location of enterprises and upgrading the environment of industries, (2) providing valuable policy resources in a flexible manner to promote the development of industries, (3) strengthening cultural marketing and expanding international markets. Concrete activities included the following:

1. Planning the General Outline of an L-shaped Cultural and Creative Industry Development Corridor

The Taipei City Government is actively promoting the development of a “Shilin Culture and Media Park,” beginning at the National Palace Museum cultural district in Shilin and encompassing the Yuanshan “New Paradise” museum, arts and recreation district running along Zhongshan North Road in the Yuanshan area, including the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, the Taipei Art Park, the planned Taipei City Museum, and the Yuanshan archaeological site; the wedding photo boutique district of Zhongshan North Road; the planned Taipei City Culture and Tourism Exchange Center in the old City Council building; turning right and moving east past the Taipei Artist Village, the Huashan Culture Park and the Songshan Tobacco Plant Culture Park to the Nankang Software Park, home of the Taiwan Design Center and the Digital Content Institute and gathering point of many software content enterprises.

Along this L-shaped corridor, various levels of government have created a superlative basic infrastructure and foresighted blueprint for Taipei’s cultural and creative industries, in the hope of integrating the wide-ranging resources and the energies of various sectors of society, increasing the pace of the development of Taipei’s cultural and creative industries, promoting cultural tourism, and heightening international visibility.

2. Reorganization of the Taipei Cultural FoundationIn order to infuse the concept of long-term sustainable operation into the development of culture and

the arts in Taipei City, and create a platform integrating public and private resources to expand the energies of cultural activities, the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs has worked to restructure and transform the Taipei Cultural Foundation, causing it to return to operation under the aegis of the Taipei City Government and endowing it with a new mission for a new era, serving to assist the promotion of Taipei City’s arts and culture development. In March 2007, the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs undertook revisions of the foundation’s charter, stipulating that the Taipei Cultural Foundation’s board of directors

The L-shaped cultural and creative industry developrnent corridov

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and supervisors should all be appointed by the Taipei City Government, and at the end of August new appointments of the board of directors and the board of supervisors, as well as selection of the chairman of the board, were completed, strengthening the integrated administrative relationship between the foundation and the Taipei City Government, and ensuring its operation under the supervision of the Taipei City Council.

After its restructuring, the Taipei Cultural Foundation, in order to promote cultural and creative industries and the marketing of the city, organized the Creativity Market event, and supported the operation of the Taipei Film Commission, achieving city marketing, and improving Taipei City’s international image and visibility. Moreover, on August 22, 2007, it accepted two major new responsibilities – the operation of the Taipei Arena’s main arena and Ice Palace, not only increasing the rate of use at these venues, but also strengthening public benefit activities, and allowing the Taipei City Government to smoothly take charge of management of the Taipei Arena.

3. Legalizing For-Profit Street Performances in Certain Public AreasIn order to support the cultural and creative industries and people working in culture and the arts, the

Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs is actively working to create spaces and environments suitable for their exhibition, performance, marketing and sales. On November 29, 2007, it publicly announced the implementation of revisions to the “Management Provisions for the Use of Taipei City Thoroughfares for Temporary Activities.” The major change was to add two new areas to the list of designated locations open to applicants for use as “events related to the cultural and creative industries”: pedestrian areas in the Xinyi commercial district (Xiangti Boulevard Plaza inside the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store complex, and the Vieshow Pedestrian Mall); and the specially designated pedestrian zone in the Ximen area. These areas, originally under the supervision of the Department of Transportation, were redesignated to be administered by the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs. On December 1, it began receiving applications from representatives of the cultural and creative industries and cultural and artistic performers to conduct cash transactions in these locations, thereby achieving the major breakthrough of loosening outdated regulations.

4. KUSO Ximending Creative CarnivalIn order to establish a base for the cultural and

creative industries, the Taipei Cultural Foundation organized the “KUSO Ximending Creative Carnival”, a five-day-long event beginning July 11, 2007 at the Red House Theater in the Ximen District, combining a creativity market and musical performances. Several well-known design companies and independent brand manufacturers also took part. The event also included a digital entertainment section, featuring animation and video games, increasing the diversity of creative development. Beginning September 1, creativity markets were held at the intersection in front of the Red House Theater and the adjacent north and

Kuso Ximending Creative Carnival

Creativity Market

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south plazas for 10 successive weekends, to cultivate in the public the habit of taking part in such events at a regular time and place. The combination of historical sites and unique cultural and creative industries brought together young, energetic, creative games and old red-brick architecture. The blending of new and old, traditional and modern, stirred up new vitality in Taipei’s creativity.

5. Intercity Cultural and Creative Industry Exchanges between Taipei and Beijing

Intercity Cultural and Creative Industry Exchanges between Taipei and Beijing were held from October 12 to 21 and from November 1 to 10, organized by the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Taipei County, the Taipei Cultural Foundation, and the Beijing Creative Centre. Through two “Intercity Cultural and Creative Industry Summits”, held in Taipei on October 13 and in Beijing on November 7, the two sides shared ideas on the current state of development and future prospects of the cultural and creative industries on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Outstanding representatives of the cultural and creative industries from Greater Taipei also took part in the “2nd Cultural and Creative Industries Fair” held in Beijing from November 8 to 11, receiving a warm response from the public.

6. Establishment of the Taipei Film CommissionThe audiovisual industry is the flagship industry of the cultural and creative industries, and the most

influential cultural consumer industry. Therefore, invigorating the audiovisual production environment is one of the most important administrative objectives of the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs. On October 25, 2007, the Taipei City Government released the “Points for the Establishment of the Taipei Film Commission,” appointing the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs to be responsible for major administrative efforts. In the initial period, the first task will be the orderly coordination among the various departments of the city government to achieve a single, common, integrated platform window to serve all workers in the audiovisual industry, assist in processing applications for the various administrative procedures required during the filming process, and provide other services. Other objectives are to robustly promote Taipei City’s tourist sights and culinary culture; to make Taipei City become a superlative environment favored for its resources and settings by film production companies from around the world; to increase Taipei’s film post-production industry; to expand opportunities for local actors and theater companies to take part in film productions; and to effectively market Taipei City and raise Taipei’s international image and visibility.

The Taipei Exhibition at the Beijing Cultural Fair, part of Intercity Cultural and Creative Industries Exchanges

Intercity Cultural and Creative Industries Summit – Taipei

Creativity Market

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Part 3 Cherishing Cultural Figures and Assets1. Arts Subsidies

The monetary subsidies provided by the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs to applicants working in culture and the arts from across the spectrum of society have already become a significant source of funding every year for cultural exhibitions, performances and events by community groups and organizations. In 2007, the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs received 931 applications for arts subsidies, and granted funding to a full 86 percent of applicants from minority or disadvantaged groups (including indigenous people). The greatest proportion of subsidies went to arts professionals.

2. The Taipei Culture AwardsThe 11th “Taipei Culture Awards” ceremony was held on December 7, 2007 on the 2nd floor of the

Red House Theater in Ximen, and an exhibition of the accomplishments of the award recipients was displayed on the first floor of the Red House Theater beginning the same day. The “2007 Taipei Culture Awards” adopted the theme of “Heritage and Roots.” There were two award winners: the Performance Workshop Theatre, a source of great inspiration to Taiwan’s theater profession; and Mr. Huang Ying-hsiung, who has devoted great energy to the cultivation of talent in the world of theater. The Performance Workshop Theatre played a decisive role in the blossoming of Taiwanese theater; its early play “The Night We Became Hsiang Sheng Comedians” is an extremely popular representative work. Playwright and director Huang Ying-hsiung has served as artistic director of the Tien Experimental Theater for ten years, cultivating over 100 new, outstanding directors, and making exceptional contributions.

Category No. of No. of Percentage of Amount of applications grants successful applicants grants (NT$) Total 931 566 61 62,407,400 Traditional music (including 3 sub-categories: traditional music, folk arts 113 79 70 8,780,000 and traditional opera) Professional arts (including 7 sub-categories: literature, audio-visual, music, fine art, 546 286 52 35,689,400 dance, theater and multidisciplinary art) Community arts 177 119 67 10,520,000 Minorities or disadvantaged (including indigenous people) 95 82 86 7,418,000

Table 1 : Breakdown of Arts Subsidies, 2007

Taipei Culture Awards

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Taipei Culture Awards

3. The Taipei Art AwardsIn 2007 a total of 366 artworks from Taiwan and abroad were submitted for consideration in the “Taipei

Art Awards”. The majority of the works – 218 in all – were in the categories of two-dimensional art and mixed media. Most of these were oil paintings and digital photography. There were also 69 multimedia works, 32 three-dimensional artworks, and 47 installations. After a rigorous selection process, four grand prize winners, Shi Jin-hua, Chou Chu-wang, Shih Yi-shan and Su Yu-xian were announced, along with eleven honorable-mention winners. In addition to substantial monetary awards, they also received the opportunity for their works to be shown at an exhibition at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Today’s art will become tomorrow’s tradition. The “Taipei Art Awards” have now entered their 38th year, serving as a gauge of the vanguard of the contemporary art community and building up a foundation for the development of art, while also casting an eye toward the future, serving as inspiration for the next wave of artistic thought.

4. Preservation, Restoration and Loss of Cultural Assets(1) Designation of Cultural Assets

According to the “Cultural Heritage Preservation Law” and relevant subsidiary legislation, 7 locations were formally designated as historical sites in 2007, including the “Machinery Bureau Warehouse No. 5,” dating from the Qing dynasty. Another 46 structures were formally registered as historical buildings, including the historical Railway Administration commissioner’s residence. The “Old Pingding Canal Trail ” was designated a cultural scenic location.(2) Restoration of the Futai Street Mansion

The historical site the “Futai Street Mansion”, located at No. 26, Yanping South Road was constructed in the 1910s utilizing a combination of stone and wood. The ground floor is constructed of stone and

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features an exquisite stone arched pedestrian arcade. The second floor is built entirely of wood, including the internal framework. The roof is made of copper ti les and features dormer windows for ventilation. Entirely European in style, it was originally built as a sales shop. After restoration, it will be opened to the public. In 2007, the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs began planning the Futai Street Mansion Permanent Exhibition, to feature information on former Qing dynasty governor Liu Ming-chuan and the old walled city of Taipei.(3) Taipei Historical Sites Show

The third weekend in September has been designated as World Heritage Day, a tradition started by the French Ministry of Culture in 1984. In response to this international cultural event, and to promote the historical sites of Taipei, in 2007 the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs organized the “Taipei Historical Sites Show,” a series of educational and promotional events about cultural assets, to increase the public’s familiarity with cultural assets and broadly publicize World Heritage Day. There were four main parts to the event. On September 16, guided tours of historical sites were held, featuring three tour routes: the Zhongshan Route, the Yuanshan Route and the Ximen Route. In addition, in order to promote the concept of a public trust, increase the public’s understanding of cultural assets and share the beauty of Beitou’s culture, the public trust historical site tour event “The Glory of New Beitou Station Returns” was held in September. Between October 27 and December 15, a series of five lectures were also held on the theme “Looking at Historical Sites through Architecture,” featuring experts and scholars from a variety of fields who discussed historical sites and cultural assets from different perspectives.(4) Grass Mountain Chateau Destroyed by Fire

In 1920 the Grass Mountain Chateau was built by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation as a residence for the visiting Crown Prince Hirohito of Japan, and it later served as a guest house for distinguished visitors. After the Chinese Nationalist government relocated to Taiwan in 1949, President Chiang Kai-shek took up residence there, making it his first presidential estate on Taiwan. In 2000 the Taipei City Government completed renovation work and preparations to reutilize the estate as an arts salon, and on March 14, 2005 it registered the Grass Mountain Chateau as a historical building of Taipei City. On December 31, 2002, the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs commissioned Fo Guang University to manage the Grass Mountain Chateau, which opened to the public on April 5, 2003. As of March 2007, it had hosted 40 art exhibitions and opened its doors to more than 170,000 visitors. In addition, renovation was completed in April 2004 on four small artist’s studios next to the Grass Mountain Chateau’s main building. In November of the same year, the Grass Mountain Chateau began accepting applications for artists to take up residence in the studios, which were designated an artist village. A total of 21 artists had been given residencies as

Futai Street Mansion

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of March 2007. The Grass Mountain Chateau had become a major center of the arts in the Yangmingshan area. Yet regrettably, at 12:23 a.m. on April 7, 2007, it was destroyed by fire. The Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs has commissioned an architectural firm to restore the estate, which will be reopened to the public following restoration work.(5) Temporary Designation of Chiang Kai-shek

Memorial Hall as a Historical SiteBased on calls from the Taipei City public and

Article 14 of the “Cultural Heritage Preservation Law”, the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs took the initiative to organize assessments of the value of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as a cultural asset, and according to Article 17 of the “Cultural Heritage Preservation Law”, temporarily designated Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as a Historical Site. On September 8, 2007, the Ministry of Education, Republic of China applied to the Council for Cultural Affairs, Taiwan, to designate Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as a national historical site under the title “National Taiwan Democracy Park.” On November 6, the Council for Cultural Affairs convened a cultural assets assessment committee, which on November 9 publicly announced passage of the designation of the site as a national historical site under the title “National Taiwan Democracy Park,” and defined its parameters as including the main gate, “Liberty Plaza,” “Democracy Esplanade” and the “National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall.” Thus, the value of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as a cultural asset has been commonly affirmed by both the central and local governments.

Part 4 Flourishing and Diverse Cultural and Artistic EventsCooperation in cultural affairs between Taipei City and Taipei County produced tangible results in

2007, from the perspective of city development and the living environment of the residents of the Greater Taipei area. The concerted efforts of the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Taipei County substantively brought a higher quality of life to their citizens.

1. Cultural Cooperation Projects between Taipei City and Taipei County(1) Publication of the Chinese-language edition of the “Cultural Annals of Greater Taipei”

The vibrancy of culture in Greater Taipei is the foremost attraction for travelers from other parts of Taiwan and from around the world. The first-ever publication of the Chinese-language edition of the “Cultural Annals of Greater Taipei”, a joint effort of Taipei City and Taipei County, provided the public with a superlative introduction to a wide variety of cultural landmarks throughout Greater Taipei. In order to better serve international visitors, expand the effective marketing of Greater Taipei and increase the international competitiveness of Taipei City and Taipei County, the two jurisdictions also jointly published English and Japanese editions of the “Cultural Annals of Greater Taipei”, with the aim of marketing the

Grass Mountain Chateau

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local internationally, increasing the international visibility of Greater Taipei’s rich cultural and artistic assets, and encouraging the area’s many cultural landmarks to both absorb and contribute to an international perspective.(2) The Taipei Film Festival

The “Taipei Film Festival”, an international film-viewing and exchange event organized around the theme of “the city,” is also designed to encourage creativity among youthful students and the entire citizenry, thereby establishing a unique film festival style. The Ninth “Taipei Film Festival” took place from June 22 to July 9, 2007, and was attended by 70,982 filmgoers. Box office earnings totaled NT$8 million. In 2007, the festival was held in collaboration with Taipei County. A “Family Film Festival” portion was added to the Taipei Film Festival at the Taipei County Arts Center auditorium. In addition, the Taipei Cinema Park hosted midsummer night open-air film screenings, band performances and creativity markets. In response to the official establishment of the Taipei Film Commission by the Taipei City Council on July 3, 2007, the festival specially invited the chairs of the film commissions of Pusan, South Korea and Paris, France to share their experiences with Taipei, and organized a special screening for film committee members.(3) Chinese Character Festival

Continuing on previous well received cultural events promoting Chinese characters, the 4th “Chinese Character Festival” was launched in November 2007. Festival events included the “Little Genius of Chinese Characters” contest, “Writing and Art Invitational Competition” and the “Little Genius of Chinese Characters” composition contest. In addition, the festival featured teacher training activities, as well as the public lecture series “A Meeting with Chinese Characters,” both well received. “Meeting the Pavilions of the Revered Character – Guided Tours of Historical Sites” were also held, providing scholarly introductions to Huiji Temple at Zhishanyan in Taipei City, as well as the Lin Family Mansion and Garden and Mingjhih Tutorial Academy in Taipei County.(4) Creative Family History Design Contest

In order to encourage students to become familiar with their family origins and explore the mysteries of family histories, the Taipei City Archives organized the “Creative Family History Design Contest”, combining traditional family histories with creative forms of expression, and inviting junior high school and elementary students throughout the Greater Taipei area to submit their creative family histories, thus stimulating students’ ingenuity, and transforming originally unexciting family histories into creative artworks full of energy and a modern feel.

Cultural Annals of Greater Taipei

Creative Family History Design Contest

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A total of 380 works from 31 schools were submitted in the “Creative Family History Design Contest”. In addition to schools in Taipei City, contestants also came from schools in Su’ao, Yilan County; Sinwu in Taoyuan County; Wudu in Keelung; and Sindian, Lujhou and Sijhih in Taipei County. On November 11, the Taipei City Archives held an awards ceremony and exhibition for outstanding family histories at the Taipei Cultural Center. The exhibition continued through November 28, and a second exhibition was held at the Taipei County Arts Center.

2. Major Annual Arts Events(1) Taipei Literature Festival

In order to continue to spur the popularity of reading and creative writing in Taipei City, the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs continued the support and emphasis it has given to literary events in previous years by holding the “Taipei Literature Festival” from October 5 to November 30, 2007. It also continued the tradition of making the “Taipei Literature Awards” the festival’s opening event. The year 2007 marked the tenth anniversary of the Taipei Literature Awards, and the results it has amassed serve as a foundation for a dialogue between literature and the city. Additionally, through its central theme of literary composition by ordinary people, the festival has become a major platform for exchanges of literary works throughout the Chinese-speaking world. Moreover, the “2007 Taipei Literature Festival” included several other literary events, such as the “Literary Walk of the Stars,” a symposium, the posting of poetry on public buses and rapid transit trains, and reading recommendations by members of the public.(2) Taipei Poetry Festival

The “8th Taipei Poetry Festival” took place between October 31 and November 11, 2007, taking as its theme, “At the boundary of every art form lies poetry,” meaning that any form of art, taken to its furthest extent and coupled with poetry, becomes a form of poetry. The objective of the Taipei Poetry Festival was to focus on cross-disciplinary artistic interaction, with a wide variety of forms and appearances, to express the bountiful diversity of poetry. For the 2007 season, the festival blended poetry not only with music, dance, theater verse and shadow theater, but also, for the first time, with magic performances, comic books, cuisine and performance art. In addition, the festival featured a “visual poetry” contest and a “free poetry” contest, continually innovating and expanding the possibilities of poetic expression. The festival also invited well-known poets from Asia and other parts of the world to engage in in-depth exchanges in Taipei. Guest poets came from such countries as the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Bengladesh, Armenia, France and the United States.(3) Taipei Arts Festival

Taking place from August 29 through November 10, 2007, the “9th Taipei Arts Festival” continued to blend the traditional and the innovative, celebrating the spirit of the oriental avant-garde as its theme.

Taipei Literature Festival

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Already firmly established as an outstanding event of the Chinese-speaking world, the festival program included: the opening performance “Mobile Homme” by Compagnie Transe Express of France, featuring their renowned “celestial art”; Contemporary Legend Theater performing “108 Heroes – Tales From Water Margin,” written especially for the Festival; Shangchi Move Theatre performing “Walk Faster” by Sun Shang-chi and international choreographer Frankie Ho; “Striking Sound! East & West” by Forum Music Ensemble and international guests; “Reunion – Dance Performance” by Wind Dance Theatre; “Gypsies of Rajasthan” by Musafir of India; and “World Music, Oriental Sound,” a concert of songs sung in various indigenous people’s languages, Hakka and Mandarin. All the performances were enthusiastically received by the people of Taipei. In addition, “Autumn Night Songs” by the Han-Tang Yuefu Ensemble, and a reprise of “Pak-Kuan Encounter,” a cross-disciplinary performance developed by musicians of the Pak-Kuan Study Program, afforded the public spectacular encore presentations of operatic music and dance, and innovative reinterpretations of traditional Chinese music. The Yohangza Company of Korea closed the festival with a highly original adaptation of the Shakespearean classic “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in traditional Korean style. More than 200,000 people attended festival events.(4) Digital Art Festival Taipei

Taking place from November 23 to December 2, 2007, the “Digital Art Festival Taipei” featured distinguished digital artists from Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Britain, the United States and Uruguay, joining together with local Taiwanese artists in a subversion of contemporary artistic thought. The festival was held at the Red House Theater and the “Cross Building” in Ximen. The Graffiti Research Lab of New York created laser graffiti works on the walls of buildings throughout the Ximen area. Interactive Sonic Systems of Spain, known for their collaboration with Icelandic singer Bjork on her world tour, performed on their “Reactable” interactive musical instrument to the delight of young and old alike. In order to continue encouraging local Taiwanese digital artists, the Digital Art Awards ceremony was held once again, with 155 submissions in 2007, many created by teacher-student teams from university art departments.(5) Taipei Children’s Arts Festival

Since its founding in 2000, the “Taipei Children’s Arts Festival” has focused on the two main objectives of education and art appreciation, based primarily on the form of theatrical performance. From July 7 to 28, such theater troupes as Ju Percussion Group, Song Song Children’s and Puppet Theater, and Shiny Shoes Children’s Theater performed in separate venues. Small-scale performances were organized combining the resources of 10 different venues, giving children ample opportunity for enjoyment, and also planting the seeds of learning.

Taipei Arts Festival

“Interactive Music,” part of Digital Art Festival Taipei

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The festival also featured the highly artistic and refined performances of special international guests Luna Morena Experimental Workshop of Mexico, Credo Theater of Bulgaria, and Incline Theater of Canada. Of special note, Luna Morena’s masterful performance of their “Nowhereland Cirkus” at the “2007 Taipei Children’s Arts Festival” was a world premier.(6) Taipei Traditional Arts Festival

The “Taipei Traditional Arts Festival” took place between March 31 and June 2, 2007 at Taipei Zhongshan Hall, under the auspices of the Taipei Chinese Orchestra. The festival included such major traditional art forms as music and opera. The “Wind and Percussion Fever” concert series served as the centerpiece of the festival program. The series included the five concerts “Drum Virtuosos,” “The Resonating Music of Shanxi & Chaozhou,” “The Zhejiang Dramatic Flare Soars,” “Return of the Music from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of the Kingdom of Zeng,” and “Eight Percussion Virtuosos Present a New Flare,” giving broad expression to the many artistic faces of traditional Chinese wind and percussion music, including folk music, opera and ritual court music. On April 1, “The Drum Virtuoso Cup, the National Drum Contest” was held at Taipei Zhongshan Hall. During the festival period, the Taipei Chinese Orchestra also presented the exhibition “The Wind and Percussion Musical Instrument Families” in the 2nd-floor corridor of Taipei Zhongshan Hall for the public’s appreciation.

“Daybreak,” part of the Taipei Traditional Arts Festival

Taipei Children’s Arts Festival

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(7) Taipei Music FestivalThe “Taipei Music Festival”, organized by the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, took place between July

and December, 2007, encompassing nine concerts, carefully arranged into four different concert series: “Barbie at the Symphony,” “A World of Wind,” “Violin Laureates” and “Bravado Keyboard,” featuring masterful performances by classical musicians from Taiwan and abroad.

3. Panoply of Visual ArtsIn 2007, the Taipei Fine Arts Museum’s “Desire and Consumption – Kaiyodo and Otaku Culture” and

“Centennial Celebration of Li Shih-chiao,” and the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei’s “Architecture of Tomorrow Exhibition: Physical – Virtual – Interactive – Space” were all named among Taiwan’s Top Ten Public Exhibitions of 2007.

The Taipei Fine Arts Museum is Taiwan’s foremost window of contact with modern art of the world. In 2007, its major exhibitions included exhibitions of the museum’s permanent collection, contemporary art exhibitions, international art exchange exhibitions, exhibitions by submission and exchange, and “The Beauty of Writing” educational exhibition. In addition, TFAM was responsible for organizing the Taiwan Pavilion at the 52nd Venice Biennial: “Atopia,” from June 10 to November 20, 2007 at the Pallazzo delle Prigioni in Venice, Italy. For nearly a decade, the Taiwan Pavilion has attracted the attention of the international community, and has served as an important venue for dialogue and exchange between Taiwan and the international art community. In 2007, the Taiwan Pavilion was curated by Lin Hong-john. The participating artists were Tsai Ming-liang, Tang Huang-chen, Lee Kuo-min, Huang Shih-chieh.

In 2007, the Taipei Fine Arts Museum purchased 32 works of art: nine ink paintings, seven mixed media works, eleven oi l paintings, one work of photography, three works of calligraphy, and one sketch. It also accepted donations of an additional 14 works, including one ink painting, three mixed media works, one work of calligraphy, and nine prints. Thus, the museum acquired a total of 46 artworks. As of the end of 2007, TFAM’s permanent collection was comprised of a total of 4,063 artworks. It also published the scholarly publications Journal of Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Catalogue of the Permanent Collection 2006, Selected Writ ings on Contemporary Taiwanese Artists, The Taipei Fine Arts Museum Annual Report, and the book series Fine Art Essays and Modern Art , providing significant publications for expressing the voice of Taiwanese modern art both in Taiwan and internationally. The Taiwan Pavilion, Venice Biennial

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4. Taipei Cultural Center – Nexus of Arts PerformancesMetropolitan Hall, located in the Taipei Cultural Center, is one of Taipei City’s most important

professional arts performance venues. In 2007, it hosted 88 performance programs, and a total of 255 performances. Of these performances, 165 were either organized by the Taipei City Government or rented out, while 90 performances were organized by the Taipei Cultural Center itself, yielding a venue use ratio of 91 percent. It also served as home venue for performances by Greenray Theater. In addition, the Taipei Cultural Center Wenshan Branch provided a dedicated arts space for the children of the Taipei area. Inside its facilities there is now a professional children’s theater with seating for 240, helping to cultivate the wonderful habit of theatergoing in the kids of Taipei.

In 2007 the Taipei Cultural Center organized its annual exhibition, titled “New Legends of Zither Art – Guzheng Craft Fair” from June 9th through July 5th, with the objective of promoting traditional arts and crafts activities, and introducing the artistry of traditional folk instruments. The exhibition also included two lectures, with indepth explorations of the craftsmanship and manufacturing procedures of the ancient Chinese plucked instrument, the guzheng. Four concerts were also held, offering the public the chance to appreciate the vibrant splendors of the Chinese zither.

Part 5 Appreciation of Culture and Art for an Aesthetically Satisfying Life

1. Art Education IndepthSince the introductory art education program Art Education Indepth was first established in September

2005, more than 90,000 students have taken part in its professional music and art events, and over 500 teachers have received professional training. In 2007, the program added the introductory drama course “First Encounters with Theater,” managed by the Taipei Cultural Center, providing fourth-graders the opportunity to visit a real theater and come into close contact with dramatic performance. Over 7,800 students from 42 schools took part.

2. Culture in the Alleyways – Arts ExpressIn 2007 the Taipei Fine Arts Museum offered the community arts program “Culture in the Alleyways –

Arts Express,” art education courses for ordinary citizens, centered on works from the museum’s permanent collection and directed by museum guides and senior museum volunteers. Program personnel visited neighborhoods, schools, and various organizations, presenting art appreciation and performance events in a lively manner, making use of a variety of teaching props, and providing service to approximately 1,094 people.

Guzheng Craft Fair

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Chapter 12 C

ulture and the Arts

3. Culture Express“Culture Express” is Taipei City’s monthly magazine introducing arts and culture events. In 2007, its

Chinese and English/Japanese editions became separately published, allowing the Chinese edition to encompass more information on the arts, while the English/Japanese edition, taking the needs of foreign tourists into consideration, is now printed in a single-sheet, foldable format, every month printing a program of arts events attractive to foreign visitors, while utilizing the large-sized surface to provide a cultural travel guide map of Taipei that is convenient for foreign visitors to use. Additionally, to increase the pace at which new event information is made available to the public, new updates are posted on the Culture Express website, benefiting more aficionados of the arts, and allowing the people of Taipei an easy grasp of monthly arts events.

4. Street Performers Street performers are an important cultural asset of Taipei City, enriching the cultural face of its public

spaces, stimulating the city’s diverse development of arts and culture, and creating an artistic appearance in the city’s daily life. Since the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government first implemented the “Provisions for the Permission of Arts Activities by Street Artists in Taipei City” in 2005, more than 400 individual or group street performers received street artist licenses as of 2007. Their performances have brought a wealth of surprises to the streets and alleyways of Taipei.

5. Taipei Cultural PassportIn 2007, the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs published 120,000 Chinese-

Art Education Indepth, “First Encounters with Theater”

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language editions and 25,000 English/Japanese edit ions of the “Taipei Cultural Passport,” providing both Taiwanese and foreign visitors an excellent means to appreciate the festive aura and history at many different locations throughout the Greater Taipei area. In addition, the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs continued to promote and complete other important international exchanges including: the artist-in-residence program at Taipei Artist Village; the “Little Curator” parent-child workshop, part of the “FI’ART International Art Festival for Children”; the Taipei Symphony Orchestra’s “1st Young Musicians Summer Camp”; the annual conference of the “Asian Children Theater Alliance” (ACTA); “Migration Music Festival”; “City on the Move public art festival”; the “5th Asian Performing Arts Festival Showcase”; and the International Symposium on Art Museum Education, “The Application of Digital Technologies in Art Museum Education.”

As a center of culture and the arts, Taipei has already established a unique cultural position among ethnic Chinese cities. During the past eight years since the establishment of the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs, it has attentively examined world trends, brought together public and private resources, created a well-rounded blueprint for cultural development, worked to firmly plant the roots of the city’s cultural essence, and raised the cultural cultivation of the city’s residents. Recently, the creative and cultural industries have become a major topic of development among advanced cities across the globe. Based on the cultural underpinning that already exists in Taipei City, the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs, will continue to carefully enact strategies and plans to lay the foundations for sustainable cultural development in Taipei City for the 21st century.

Taipei International Jazz Festival

“The Future Does Not Exist” by Lai Chun-yu and Wen Tzu-chieh, part of City on the Move art festival

“Homage to the Gods” by Taipei Folk Dance Theater, at the Asian Performing Arts Festival

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