A vacant campus in the Beitou District began operations Jan. 15 as an arts and cultural park, according to the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs.
The site is the former campus of Taipei Municipal Yi-Fang Elementary School, which relocated in 2007. The main building’s high ceilings make it perfect for dance troupes, said Chen Kuan-fu, deputy director of the DCA.
Six dance groups, including Taipei Dance Circle, Ku & Dancers and Body Expression Dance Theater, have already moved into the park. Their studios are rent-free and the groups only need to share utility costs.
“In 2005 the department started renovating deserted buildings to accommodate art groups, in an effort to support the city’s arts activities,” Chen said. “So far, the project has restored 16 abandoned structures and helped 58 groups of artists find homes.”
The newly opened Beitou park, with an area of nearly 2,000 square meters, is the largest place the agency has restored so far, he said.
The DCA said the park can accommodate six more groups. Applications will be open until Jan. 24. (THN)
Write to Audrey Wang at audrey@mail.gio.gov.tw