What’s Up Taiwan!

Taiwan is no doubt a popular tourist destination, famous for its amazing local food, buzzing night markets, beautiful hiking trails and its picturesque old towns! Many of us also know that its arts and cultural offerings are just as vibrant, diverse and inspiring. Home to many outstanding Performing Arts Centres and venues (many of whom are our very own members), the Taiwan performing arts scene is jampacked with international acts and home-grown festivals such as the Taiwan International Arts Festival (TIFA), Taipei Arts Festival (TAF) and the Taiwan Traditional Theatre Festival (TTTF).

As we prepare for our upcoming conference hosted by Taipei Performing Arts Center (TPAC) in September this year, we wanted to take some time to find out what our fellow members in Taiwan have been up to. We look forward to meeting old friends, making new ones and visiting these amazing centres later this year!

Enabling Connections

The Arts have always served as a vessel to connect people and artists to new ideas, new experiences, and to strengthen relationships within their own communities. As National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) enters its second year of operations, it prides itself on being enabler for these connections through projects such as Weiwuying Wonderland and Women-of-the-World (WOW). With the launch of the Theater Art Experiential Education Project in 2019, Weiwuying sought to also bridge theatre artists and students to provide a more meaningful platform for learning and participation.

Theater Art Experiential Education Project in 2019 ©National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)

National Theater and Concert Hall’s (NTCH) “Arts for All” vision for TIFA was demonstrated in the centre’s efforts to ensure that everyone has the means to connecting to the arts. Over the recent years, NTCH has invested in more resources to promote equal rights and accessibility services to become a more inclusive theatre.  The launch of the TIFA Easy Read Program this year enables mentally and physically challenged individuals an equal opportunity to access information about the arts, allowing them to participate fully in the experience of the works presented at the Festival.

Image courtesy of National Theater and Concert Hall (NTCH)

Exploring the Digital in Live Performance

Holograms, 3D Animations, AR/VR – is this sci-fi or theatre? Technology has certainly come a long way in changing the way artists create and how audiences interact with art. This season, as part of TIFA, National Taichung Theater (NTT) pushes the boundaries of live performance with the use of cutting-edge technology. Through 9 performances and 2 exhibitions, NTT-TIFA features a stunning line-up of collaborations and cross disciplinary work between digital and performance artists. Find out more about the NTT-TIFA’s programmes here.

Chronicle of Light Year: Taipei – Copenhagen at NTT-TIFA 2020 (Photo Credit: Carl Emil Carlsen)

Weiwuying’s Flagship Musical Program, Along with the Gods, exclusive premiere in Taiwan in May 2020 will also provide a visual treat for audiences through the use of digital technologies in its theatrical elements. The musical tells the story of a Korean legend where people undergo seven trails within 49 days after their death in hell and each of these seven imaginary scenes from hell will be presented in a VR fashion on a 17-meter round stage with an 80m² floor featuring LED lighting effects and a giant setting centered around a tram compartment. Accompanied with the excellent vocals of the performers, this is something you don’t want to miss.

Along with the Gods: The Afterworld ©SPAC

It is without a doubt that our Taiwanese members have been working hard to push boundaries within their local arts scene. It’s an exciting time for the arts in Taiwan and we can’t wait to see everyone in Taipei this year for the 2020 AAPPAC Conference. Watch out for updates in the coming months!

Due to the developing COVID-19 situation, please note that all programmes listed in this article are subject to changes. For the latest information and updates, please refer directly to the organiser’s website.