Taiwan Today

A government program funds international development opportunities for performing arts.

Imagine a science-fiction play that explores the ethical dilemmas of emerging technologies while integrating elements of Peking opera. That is precisely what “Immortal Variables,” a co-production of Taiwan’s Hsing Legend Youth Theatre (HLYT) and Singapore’s Nine Years Theatre, set out to do. The show was staged in the Southeast Asian country last October following a successful premiere one month earlier in New Taipei City. Though the blend of traditional and contemporary may seem incongruous, it proved a novel, thought-provoking experience for audiences.

The cross-border collaboration was made possible by support from state-backed National Culture and Arts Foundation’s (NCAF) Performing Arts Abroad program, which is designed to enable homegrown artists to strengthen their professional networks through international cooperation and exchanges to produce high-quality, innovative works. According to NCAF CEO Lee Wen-shan (李文珊), internationalization is of utmost importance to the development of Taiwan’s performing arts sector. “We want to contribute to the quality of artistic productions, market access and theater personnel,” she said. “Expanding beyond the country’s borders offers a plethora of opportunities, including the ability to broaden the audience base, increase revenue streams and get exposure to new ideas.”

  Under the NCAF program, dance, music, new media and theater artists and groups can receive funding of up to NT$3.5 million (US$112,000) for an approved project lasting one to three years. Co-productions, exchange activities, international marketing, networking events, residencies and other forms of long-term collaboration are all eligible. “Our mission is to accelerate the growth and enhance the competitiveness of Taiwan’s performing arts by promoting them internationally,” Lee said. “We decided the best way to do so was to help professionals foster global connections so they can learn from peers around the world and bridge the gap between different art forms and cultures.” Since its inception in 2015, the program has sponsored more than 180 performances, 18 cross-border co-productions and participation in 25 arts festivals at home and abroad.

Fresh Takes
According to HLYT leader Chu Po-cheng (朱柏澄), “Immortal Variables” benefited greatly from NCAF’s support. “Everyone involved learned so much from the other troupe about performance concepts, techniques and styles,” he said. “Bringing new voices into the creative process resulted in a better production across the board.”

Established in 2016 by Peking opera veteran Wu Hsing-kuo (吳興國) as an offshoot of Contemporary Legend Theatre, HLYT provides exposure and experience for young actors. Troupe members receive training in all the skills of Peking opera, including acting, singing, acrobatics, martial arts and symbolic choreography for eye, hand, torso and foot movements, while adding a modern-day spin to their shows to appeal to broader audiences. The youth group has performed solo on numerous occasions, in addition to participating in Contemporary Legend Theatre’s major annual productions.
  “Cross-border cooperation was critical in inspiring us to innovate on our themes, plots and stagecraft,” Chu said. “As a result, ‘Immortal Variables’ was well received by audiences in Taiwan and Singapore.” The troupe leader hopes international co-productions will promote traditional Chinese opera on the world stage and help the company gain global recognition.

Sound Up
  Another fusion of tradition and ingenuity is a show about a newlywed couple separated by war entitled “Falling Into Dreams.” Performed by a traditional Chinese opera singer accompanied by percussion, string and wind instruments on a modern set, the piece was staged at the 2023 Taipei Arts Festival following a successful premiere at 2022 Jeonju International Sori Festival, South Korea’s biggest traditional Korean and international music event. The performance was curated by Studio Acht Artistic Director Lin Fang-yi (林芳宜) under the Taipei-based studio’s NCAF-funded project, THE CHANNEL—Platform for Musicians’ International Development. Established by Lin in 2013, Acht provides emerging artists, composers, musicians, and contemporary classical music and performing arts groups with guidance and support for professional advancement and global exposure.

  “The music industry is complex and ever-changing, and understanding how to effectively represent one’s work is essential to success in the field,” said Lin, who is also a composer and art critic. “I consider it my social responsibility to leverage my experience and connections to help talented artists get the visibility they deserve, and the NCAF grant has allowed me to do so.” Since graduating from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with a master’s degree in composition and returning to Taiwan in 2002, she has organized countless music festivals and performances in addition to serving as an executive officer at the National Center for Traditional Arts in the northeastern county of Yilan and Taiwan Music Institute in Taipei for 10 years.

  Through Studio Acht, Lin has launched two successive three-year editions of THE CHANNEL starting in 2019, and more than 90 composers, musicians and groups have benefited from the project’s events, global networking and support systems, international collaborations, talent representation, and touring programs to date. According to the artistic director, the initiative’s most fruitful outcomes include establishing the annual One More Festival, which features performances by domestic and foreign musicians playing a wide range of instruments, and establishing the online platform Taiwan Music Showcase to organize exhibitions, lectures, marketing campaigns, performances and workshops to promote outstanding artists. Lin is especially proud of facilitating the 2019 formation of CUBE BAND, a percussion, guzheng and pipa trio that has attracted considerable international attention, as well as co-productions with Germany’s Ensemble KNM Berlin and others from Austria, Mexico, South Korea and the United States.
 
Bridging Distance
According to independent artistic producer Huang Wen (黃雯), international networking plays an increasing role in the art world. “Building global connections nurtures an understanding and appreciation of diversity, inclusion and intercultural awareness,” she said. “Collaboration with people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds gives us new insights, perspectives and ideas that help us innovate and grow.”

  Huang leaped at the chance the Performing Arts Abroad program gave her and Taiwan dance artists Chen Wu-kang (陳武康), Su Pin-wen (蘇品文) and Fangas Nayaw to continue building exchanges with Canadian counterparts Andrea Nann, Heidi Strauss and Michael Caldwell, whom they first encountered at the 2020 Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting. Afterward, they held online sessions twice a month to share ideas, best practices and creative works in progress.

With funding from NCAF and the Canada Council for the Arts, the two sides launched the International Choreographic Interlink project last year to foster deeper interaction through audiovisual content, online dialogue, road trips, workshops and residencies. Two-week reciprocal visits to Canada and Taiwan were made last August and October, respectively. The itineraries, carefully selected by each group as their turn came to host, included workshops, performances and meetings with choreographers, dancers and curators. The two groups created a website detailing their joint activities, which offers a road map for others interested in initiating similar exchanges, Huang said.

International cooperation is a crucial steppingstone in developing vibrant creative ecosystems. “We’re glad to see our grant program achieving desired outcomes in helping performance artists and groups build relationships and partnerships with overseas counterparts,” NCAF’s Lee said. “Such connections open doors to new opportunities, empowering artists to reach a wider audience and bring their vision to the global stage.”
 

Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw