The Taipei Performing Arts Center is soon to open its doors for a trial run from March to May to test all three of its auditoriums, Taipei Deputy Mayor Tsai Ping-kun (蔡炳坤) said on Tuesday.
The 59,000m2 cultural landmark, which cost NT$6.75 billion (US$244.4 million) and took 10 years to complete, would host 15 performance groups and 58 shows during the trial phase from March 11 to May 15, Tsai told a news conference.
“Finally, the Taipei Performing Arts Center will welcome the people of Taipei, and I’m sure a lot of people will be deeply moved and filled with anticipation,” he said.
Photo: CNA
One of the auditoriums that complement the complex’s futuristic design is the Globe Playhouse, a spherical 800-seat theater that resembles a planet. The center also features the Grand Theater, a 1,500-seat venue, and the Blue Box, an 800-seat multiform theater for experimental performances, Tsai said.
The complex has made international headlines, and the center’s opening is considered one of Asia’s most important cultural developments of the year, he added.
The complex is expected to boost Taiwan’s performing arts as it would provide a venue not just for accomplished performers, but also for up-and-coming talent to help them grow, Taipei Performing Arts Center chairwoman Liu Ruo-yu (劉若瑀) said.
“It’s like opening a door for performers at all levels to be able to come in,” Liu said. “We wish to make the Taipei Performing Arts Center an international landmark, where people will come from around the world to watch artists perform.”
The new center soars above the bustle of the Shilin Night Market (士林夜市), famous for its night life and one of the city’s must-visit tourist destinations.
People coming to watch shows would also complement the vibrant commercial activity in the area, center CEO Austin Wang (王孟超) said.
“We hope we can attract more theaters, coffee shops, restaurants and art galleries to pop up in the area,” Wang said.
Construction for the Taipei Performing Arts Center started in 2012, and the building topped out in August 2014. The facility was commissioned by the Taipei City Government to support performing arts groups.
The complex is expected to fully open in July with the official opening in August, the center said in a statement.
More information on tickets for performances during the center’s trial phase can be found at www.tpac-taipei.org.
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
STAY AWAY: An official said people should avoid disturbing snakes, as most do not actively attack humans, but would react defensively if threatened Taitung County authorities yesterday urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid disturbing snakes in the wild, following five reported snakebite cases in the county so far this year. Taitung County Fire Department secretary Lin Chien-cheng (林建誠) said two of the cases were in Donghe Township (東河) and involved the Taiwan habus, one person was bit by a Chinese pit viper near the South Link Railway and the remaining two were caused by unidentified snakes. He advised residents near fields to be cautious of snakes hiding in shady indoor areas, especially when entering or leaving their homes at night. In case of a
A tropical disturbance off the southeastern coast of the Philippines might become the first typhoon of the western Pacific typhoon season, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The system lacks a visible center and how it would develop is only likely to become clear on Sunday or Monday, the CWA said, adding that it was not yet possible to forecast the potential typhoon's effect on Taiwan. The American Meteorological Society defines a tropical disturbance as a system made up of showers and thunderstorms that lasts for at least 24 hours and does not have closed wind circulation.
DIPLOMACY: It is Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s first visit to Taiwan since he took office last year, while Eswatini’s foreign minister is also paying a visit A delegation led by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo arrived in Taiwan yesterday afternoon and is to visit President William Lai (賴清德) today. The delegation arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 4:55pm, and was greeted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). It is Arevalo’s first trip to Taiwan since he took office last year, and following the visit, he is to travel to Japan to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Arevalo said at the airport that he is very glad to make the visit to Taiwan, adding that he brings an important message of responsibility
RSS