AAPPAC About Taipei

The Taipei Performing Arts Center (TPAC) operates as an Administrative Corporation overseen by the Taipei City Government. With the vision of "Open for All," it aims to create a theater that everyone wants to approach. Taipei's largest art festivals, including the Taipei Arts Festival, Taipei Children's Arts Festival, and Taipei Fringe Festival, are held annually. TPAC continually presents international programs, supports domestic performing arts groups, and facilitates cross-disciplinary innovative works between local and international art and cultural groups, reaching diverse audiences. The Taipei Children's Arts Festival, in particular, offers free community outreach performances and ticketed events, covering all of the twelve administrative districts of Taipei City. From professional workshops to parent-child interactive activities, it strives to make performing arts more accessible to the public. The center continues to enhance community engagement in the arts, fostering a synergy between art and the community, achieving the ideal of being "for All."

In 2024, TPAC aims to deepen and broaden its goals of becoming an "Asian Co-Production Center" and a "City Art Center," continuing to promote international co-productions, global connections, and talent cultivation. Through program curation and comprehensive venue services, it is committed to nurturing talent. This includes performance training, creative incubation, and work development to improve the creation process of musical theatre, including production, direction, and performance. This year, the center also plans nearly twenty in-depth lectures titled "TPAC Profile" and "TPAC Process", featuring screenings, lectures, forums, and workshops to deepen audience interaction.  Furthermore, TPAC is committed to a long-term vision of being a sustainable green theater, focusing on artistic advocacy and low-carbon operations. It has established a sustainability team to conduct carbon inventories and will implement an energy management system, promoting a sustainable and inclusive contemporary theater through concrete actions.

TPAC's architecture, designed by The Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, draws inspiration from Taipei's vibrant lifestyle. The 800-seat "Globe Playhouse" is designed to appear as a floating sphere elevated above ground level. The 1500-seat "Grand Theater" features a medium-sized box design, while the Blue Box with the capacity about 500 to 800-seat serves as a venue for diverse and experimental performances. The most revolutionary design is the combination of the Grand Theater and Blue Box into a super theater. AAPPAC members are invited to explore this "City Art Theater," highly commended by international media, to experience its unique architectural lines, enjoy Taiwanese theater productions, and witness its innovative energy.

The Taipei Music Center (TMC) is the first pop music center in Asia. It was designed collaboratively by RUR Architecture DPC from New York and Taiwan's Fei & Cheng Associates. Inspired by Piazza Navona in Rome, it consists of three uniquely shaped music venues and a spacious outdoor music performance area.

The Concert Hall's architecture features non-geometric forms resembling giant, irregular shells, reflecting the undulating mountain ranges of Taipei, and its steel structure is covered with a gray-green painted roof. It can accommodate approximately 5,000 spectators, providing a professional mid-sized venue for music performances. The Cultural Cube, a six-story cubic building, is Taiwan's first exhibition hall dedicated to pop music. The Creative Hub, sparkling like a gem, serves as a nurturing base for pop music talent. AAPPAC members are invited to explore this music venue, envisioned as the "heart of Taiwanese pop music," and experience the vibrant pulse of Taiwan's diverse music culture.

We warmly invite AAPPAC members to embark on a cultural and culinary journey through the essence of Taipei.  AAPPAC Members will visit Xinbeitou Historic Station, experience the elegant revival of this century-old wooden structure and explore the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, a designated historic site in Taipei.  Beitou Hot Springs are world-renowned, with the unique green sulfur springs being found only in Beitou (Taiwan) and Tamagawa (Japan). The tour also includes a culinary experience innovative Taiwanese cuisine.  Special arrangements will be made for guests to enjoy a live performance of the traditional music instrument Yueqin during the meal, recreating the lively atmosphere of Beitou's historic tavern dining with a fusion of music and food.

Beitou, known for its "Nagashi" traveling music culture since the Japanese colonial period, boasts a unique and beautiful cultural landscape. Historically, wealthy locals would celebrate major festivals and family events by inviting master chefs to prepare Taiwanese dishes for their guests. Musicians and singers, accompanied by the traditional music instrument Yueqin, would perform classic and folk songs, creating an immersive and joyful dining experience for the local elite and intellectuals. TPAC extends a special invitation to AAPPAC members to personally experience the rich cultural heritage and festive dining culture of Beitou.

More information：
Xinbeitou Historic Station：https://www.xbths.taipei/
Beitou Hot Spring Museum：https://hotspringmuseum.taipei/

As TPAC's aim of being a "City Art Theater," aligns with one of the sessions of this conference on "Cultural Districts", we are providing a map of cultural landmarks in Shilin District and inviting attendees to experience the unique urban landscape and cultural heritage of Taipei.

Shilin, was formerly known as "Pattsiran," which meant "hot spring" in the indigenous Pingpu language. The Keelung River flows through Shilin, which was historically a significant international trade hub in Taipei City. The area's hydrological landscape includes the Sanjiaodu Wharf and the Dragon Boat culture. During the late Qing Dynasty, Shilin produced many successful candidates in the Imperial Examinations, leading to its current name, which implies "a forest of scholars." The Cixian Temple, established in 1796, and the Shilin Public Market, a designated historic site, were the early development centers. The Shilin Night Market grew around these landmarks, forming a bustling commercial district. Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence and the Grand Hotel are also key cultural landmarks in the area.

TPAC was built on land formed by the old Keelung River, creating a new international arts venue within the Shilin commercial district. In a 2022 feature, the Financial Times highlighted TPAC as "a bridge connecting high culture and the local community," demonstrating its integration into Shilin. TPAC is also connected with nearby institutions like the Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center, National Taiwan Science Education Center, Taipei Astronomical Museum, and Taipei Children's Amusement Park, forming a significant network for arts and science education in Taipei.

The flourishing of Taiwanese street food is closely tied to its immigrant society. Early immigrants from Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Minnan, and Hakka regions brought their deities' worship and built temples across Taiwan. These temples became centers of folk beliefs and communal gatherings, attracting various food vendors and creating what is known as the "temple food stand." Shilin Night Market's street food scene developed around the historic Cixian Temple and has evolved into a vibrant hub of creative and local delicacies, popular with international tourists.

The TPAC sincerely hopes that AAPPAC conference guests can spend some time, outside the conference schedule, exploring the cultural landscape and rich street food offerings of Shilin. Let the diverse scene of Taipei City become one of your favorite cities.

Download the Map