Five Minutes with Taipei Performing Arts Center’s Victoria Wang & Shih-yin Wang
Congratulations on your new appointments at Taipei Performing Arts Center (TPAC)! Could you share with us what are some of the plans you might have for TPAC in the coming years?
Victoria & Shih-yin: Theatre is a place where we see a better world. TPAC can first make a better self out of daily management through producing, servicing and communication. This better world might reflect conflicts, but I am sure, we do it with brave imagination; or it might deliver some kind of mythology, but I am sure, we do it with modernity.
The treasure of TPAC lies on its privilege to learn from our colleagues around the world. I am especially looking forward to collaborations with AAPPAC colleagues and TPAC is ready to explore the new era of theatre arts with you.
TPAC’s New Appointed Chairman – Victoria Wang
TPAC’s Newly Appointed CEO – Wang Shih-yin
The conference in Taipei this year is a highly anticipated one and TPAC is right in the centre of a bustling and thriving artistic scene within and beyond the city. Tell us a bit more about how the arts scene has transformed in the past years, and what hopes do you have for the arts community in Taiwan?
Victoria & Shih-yin: Over the past years, the arts scene in Taiwan has undergone a remarkable transformation, marked by significant growth, diversification, and international recognition. Taiwan has seen a surge in investments in cultural infrastructure, including the construction of state-of-the-art venues, galleries, and creative spaces.
There has been a proliferation of new artistic voices across various disciplines, including visual arts, performing arts, literature, and music. The rapid advancement of technology has transformed the way art is created, distributed, and experienced. Artists are harnessing digital tools and platforms to create immersive experiences, interactive installations, and digital performances, pushing the boundaries of traditional artistic practices.
There has been a growing appreciation for the arts among the general public in Taiwan, with increasing attendance at cultural events, festivals, and exhibitions. This heightened interest in the arts has created opportunities for artists to reach wider audiences and has fostered a greater sense of cultural identity.
What do you think TPAC’s role is within the arts community and the wider public?
Victoria & Shih-yin: TPAC occupies a vital and multifaceted role within both the arts community and the wider public. Its significance extends beyond being merely a venue for performances; rather, TPAC serves as a dynamic cultural hub that fulfills several important functions including cultural exchange, artistic innovation, and creative collaboration within the arts community. By providing a platform for both local and international artists to showcase their work, TPAC fosters cross-cultural dialogue, nurtures artistic talent, and stimulates the creation of new and groundbreaking works of art.
TPAC serves as an invaluable educational resource for the wider public, offering opportunities for audiences of all ages to engage with the arts through workshops, masterclasses, lectures, and educational outreach programs. These initiatives help to cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of the performing arts while fostering the next generation of artists, arts enthusiasts, and cultural leaders.
As a cultural catalyst, artistic showcase, educational resource, community gathering place, and cultural ambassador, TPAC hopes to play a vital role in enriching the cultural fabric of Taipei, Taiwan, and beyond.
TPAC Exterior
We know that the AAPPAC Conference programme will be released soon, but could you give our membership a sneak peek into what we can expect?
Victoria & Shih-yin: With the conference theme of “MIND THE GAP, LEAD THE PATH,” we hope to examine the gaps and challenges in programming, community reaching-out, and venue management. The panel discussions include topics of Modernity, Community, Sustainability and Technology. Whether you are a venue manager, artist, or corporate representative, we hope you will get inspired from dialogues of the conference and take home with fresh and insightful ideas. We aim to provide an effective platform for attendees to engage in substantial networking. We will also present a series of “The Art Window of Taiwan”, and all colleague members will get to see over 20 talented works showcasing within the building of TPAC from Taiwan.
Globe Playhouse
You have both worked together at National Taichung Theater, Taipei Arts Festival, Taipei Children’s Arts Festival and Taipei Fringe Festival. How have your experiences at these various organisations shaped your arts journey over the years?
Victoria & Shih-yin: Sharing is key. Theatre cares about people, and theater is also made up of people. The theatre starts with asking questions, allowing history and issues to be reproduced, and interpersonal communication and exchanges to begin; through these viewings, each audience member begins to reflect on themselves in the face of the artist’s questions. This kind of interaction provides a diverse and rich experience due to different works. This is the theatre we want to create at the Taipei Performing Arts Center.
Share with our members what is one thing they must do, or one place they must visit when in Taipei!
Victoria & Shih-yin: Songshan Cultural and Creative Park is a good place to visit. People say it’s a symphony of contrasts, where the raw beauty of industrial heritage meets the delicate refinement of artistic expression. Here, amidst the echoes of the past, the future takes shape in a kaleidoscope of creativity—a testament to the enduring power of imagination. The Eslite Book Store marks the first 24-hours bookstore in Asia. It is highly recommended to go and enjoy.