The Ministry of Culture today announced the TAIWANder campaign, a year-long marathon of 12 art, theater and cultural festivals across Taiwan from this month until early next year.
The celebrations would commence with the Grasstraw Festival theater event in Chiayi County, which began on Saturday and ends on Sunday, followed by the Taiwan International Percussion Convention in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung from May 14 to 30, the ministry said.
The lineup would also feature the Dear Moon Deaf Festival Taiwan for deaf theater performers and the Taiwan International Firemosa Festival, a fire arts festival, both to be held later this year.
Photo courtesy of the Tainan City Government
The Mattauw Earth Triennial arts festival, the Dance Now Asia festival, the Kaohsiung International Puppet Festival, the Nan Ying International Folklore Festival and the Kaohsiung International Steel and Iron Sculpture Festival would also feature later in the program.
The theme “wander” was chosen to encourage international arts enthusiasts and tourists to explore Taiwan's cities and natural scenery, while evoking an image of “wonder” and artistic inspiration, the ministry said.
The program would help organizations to elevate production standards and expand international exchanges by not only inviting international performers, but also working on coproductions and building networks, it said.
That would in turn promote the long-term sustainability of arts festivals, support local cultural tourism and stimulate domestic demand, it added.
The ministry said that it would highlight how each of the selected festivals represent uniquely Taiwanese narratives, promoting Taiwan in the global arts scene.
Although it is the TAIWANder program’s inaugural year, the ministry would continue to support festivals with international vision, strong local roots and innovative energy as a platform to show Taiwan to the world, it said.
The ministry said it hopes every festival would serve as a window to show the world that Taiwan is full of wonder and a place worth wandering through.
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