Taipei City Arts Promotion Office

Programming Section

Planning and hosting of musical, theatrical, and dance performances; scheduling, rental as well as the operation and management of professional theater lighting, sound, stage, and video facilities for The Metropolitan Hall and Family Theater; technical coordination/communication and venue reception services for group performances; marketing of resident teams, creative auditions, school arts and cultural education and performance teams; and other matters related to theater operations and management.

Musical, dance, and theatrical performances

Scheduling of programs at The Metropolitan Hall and Family Theater, and planning of approved musical, dance and theatrical performances.

The Metropolitan Hall

Formerly known as the “Taipei Cultural Center”,  was renamed as “The Metropolitan Hall” after refurbishing in March 2023. It now serves as a professional theater venue focusing on arts and cultural performances.

Arts Plaza

The Arts Plaza at The Metropolitan Hall was refurbished in 2022. In addition to an upgrade of existing facilities, a number of wooden platforms and flower boxes were added to create a green space where the audience can relax. The fresh, bright exterior not only enhanced the theater’s presence but also expanded the Dunnan green belt to create a recreational hub linking the sports park and Taipei Arena.

Family Theater

The former Taipei City Government Auditorium is located on 2F of Taipei City Hall and was renamed the Family Theater on September 21, 2002. Taipei City Arts Promotion Office took over the operation and management of the Family Theater in January 2008. To improve the quality of theater services for city residents, a renovation program was carried out between November 2013 and June 2014. The Theater restarted operations to the public in July 2014. The C.F. Koo Foundation was invited to take the works of the front/back-stage management and services Since 2015.

Arts Promotion Section

Primary responsibilities include organizing TAPO volunteer services, exhibitions at the Arts Building, arts seminars, arts and culture workshops, and “Arts Festival in Community” performances and exhibitions.

Volunteer Services

Volunteers passionate about the promotion of arts and culture are systematically trained by TAPO to expand the scope of public services. Volunteers assist with arts-related inquiries, providing directions, and promotion of performances/exhibitions.

Exhibition Services

Exhibition Rooms A, B and C on 2F of the Arts Building provide visual artists with a variety of spaces for exhibiting calligraphy, paintings, video images and crafts.

“Yang Chun Gallery” was established in March 2018 to promote watercolor art.

Organizing the “Artist-in-Residence Exhibition Program” and annual invitational exhibitions at the Arts Building.

TAPO encourages promising artists to create, share and exhibit their artworks as part of our promotion of the arts. Resident artists are selected every year under the “Artist-in-Residence Exhibition Program” to host special exhibitions in the Special Exhibition Area on 1F. These provide the public with novel and diverse exhibitions. TAPO also organize invitational exhibitions for famous artists and exchange exhibitions with other counties/cities.

Music Salon

To provide city residents with more opportunities to enjoy a diverse range of quality arts and cultural events on weekends, up-and-coming local musicians are invited to host small indoor performances in the Performance Area on 1F of the Arts Building every Sunday afternoon. The more casual format of music appreciation aims to promote dialog between city residents and musicians.

Music Hour

To enrich the musical literacy of city residents and assist musicians to build up their performance resumes, amateur local musical groups may apply for free to give performances at the Performance Area on 1F of the Arts Building on Wednesday every other week.

Arts Seminars

One to two sessions of the “Art Afternoon Tea” and “Weekend Easy Chat” are held on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons every month at the TAPO Arts Buildings. Experts and academics are invited to give talks on different aspects of art in life. Systematic and topical seminars are also organized with top speakers to give city residents a chance to learn more about the arts and enrich their aesthetic experience.

Arts Festival in Community

TAPO is dedicated to promoting fine performing arts within the community, aiming to cultivate a larger audience for art and culture appreciation. We hold touring performances on weekend evenings at various popular gathering places in the city, such as plazas, parks, and schools. The program includes a variety of genres, such as drama, music, and dance. Since its founding in 1997, we now host 48 performances annually.

Art and Culture Class

Spring and fall art classes are held at the Arts Building each year. The classes run for 15 weeks and cover topics such as calligraphy, paintings, dance, crafts, floral arts, music, singing and more.

Traditional Opera Section

The Section is responsible for the planning and implementation of traditional art and children’s theater performances, art promotion classes for cultural education, training in traditional arts, exhibitions, seminars, the operation and management of the DaDaoCheng Theater and WenShan Theater, the planning and organization of their affiliated traditional opera troupes, and integration of traditional arts and cultural resources throughout Taipei City.

Collective Performances of Regional Opera

To promote the beauty of Taiwanese Opera and Puppet Theater, showcase the competitive side of traditional Taiwanese theater, and provide city residents with free exposure to traditional opera, TAPO began holding collective performances of puppet theater in 2001. Collective performances of Taiwanese opera were also added in 2002. In the beginning, Taiwanese Opera and Puppet Theater were held in rotation on alternate years. In 2008. Taiwanese Opera Collective Performance became an annual event, while the Puppet Theater Collective Performance also became an annual event in 2021. Performance troupes from other counties and cities are also invited to take part each year so they can join in the festivities and learn from each other. The events are very popular with city residents.

DaDaoCheng Theater
DaDaoCheng Theater was originally known as the “Yanping Activity Center of Taipei Municipal Social Education Hall.” Renovations commenced in March 2009 and a soft opening was held in March 2010, under its new name “DaDaoCheng Theater.” The Theater formally opened in 2011 and is dedicated to the promotion of traditional opera culture (performances, exhibitions, workshops). We hope that the Theater will one day become a bastion of traditional opera culture.

WenShan Theater

Formerly known as the WenShan Branch of Taipei Municipal Social Education Hall, the building is conveniently located next to the No.1 Exit of Jinmei MRT Station. The current name, “WenShan Theater,” was formally adopted on October 31, 2009. Today, it is a multi-purpose arts space that combines professional theater, public art, a family library, opera exhibitions, and a professional rehearsal hall. The main activities of the Theater include connecting the promotion of arts and culture with family activities, and school arts education. Weekdays are balanced between school groups and community family events. Weekend events are targeted mainly at families and the Theater is the city’s development center for children's theater.

Training of TAPO "DaDaoCheng Youth Taiwanese Opera Troupe” members and troupe administration

TAPO established an affiliated youth Taiwanese opera troupe in August 2011 to promote traditional arts and provide a stage where outstanding young opera performers can gain performing experience. In August 2016, the troupe was renamed the “DaDaoCheng Youth Taiwanese Opera Troupe.” Aspiring young opera performers between the ages of 18 and 35 may take the examination to join the troupe.

Publication and Distribution of Arts News

Arts News is published on a monthly basis and distributed to public venues, borough chiefs, and cultural education units.

Publication of electronic Yearbook

A yearbook is published by TAPO each year to record and look back on important TAPO activities over the previous year. An electronic version has been made available for download from the TAPO website under “About Us” since Issue 23 for the general public to read and download.

Secretariat

Responsibilities include general administration, cashier, performance evaluations, management and maintenance of TAPO facilities, and other matters that fall outside of the jurisdiction of other sections.

Accounting Office

Responsible for annual budgeting and accounting in accordance with the law, as well as the processing of statistical matters.

Personnel Office

Management of human resources in accordance with the law.