About AIR (Arts-in-Residence) Taipei

Since the establishment of Taipei Artist Village (TAV), the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government has actively launched exchange programs with other international artist villages in different cities across the globe. Taipei Artist Village has developed a systematic artist selection process, which helps fulfill its objective of bringing art and culture together in the city. As of August 2008, 200 international artists from 35 countries had stayed at TAV as artists-in-residence, and nearly 80 Taiwanese artists had also participated in artist-in-residence programs abroad. Within 10 short years, TAV has taken on a lead role in providing a platform for international artistic and cultural exchange. It is currently the largest artist village in Taiwan, and the only one able to sponsor international exchange programs in Taipei.

In January 2008, the Artist-in-Residence Program transcended the physical confines of the TAV grounds, with the launch of AIR (Arts-in-Residence) Taipei. This program encompasses not only Taipei Artist Village in the city center, but also Grass Mountain Artist Village, located in Yangmingshan National Park. The joint operation of the two artist villages creates a greater space for cross-cultural and interdisciplinary dialogue, and provides the city with a diverse platform where the strength and possibilities of art can be developed and spread to other corners of the world.

Mission
With Taipei City as its backdrop, AIR Taipei encourages freedom and opportunity for innovation in the production of visual art, the performing arts, literature, and cultural and creative products, fostering artistic and cultural exchange between Taiwan and the rest of the world.

 Vision
AIR Taipei strives to make Taipei a creative city by promoting interaction between artists working in different fields and the general public. We hope to build a strong local and global network that will help to develop AIR Taipei as one of the leading sites for art and culture in Asia.

Scope of Services

1) Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program
AIR Taipei provides residency programs for artists in Taiwan and around the world.

There are three main components to the Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program:
•    AIR exchange program with other institutions
•    Residency program for international artists
•    Sponsoring program for Taiwanese artists abroad
 
Residence projects from 3 categories are requested:
． Projects from Individual Artists or Teams
． Projects from Creative Industry
． Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Business-Arts Projects

The international residency program plans to offer residencies for individual or groups of artists. Applications from both types are equally considered. In 2008, Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program also initiated its "breaking the boundaries plan," to encourage domestic artists to positively challenge themselves by participating in the international arts community. The AIR Program will provide awards for artists who have been successfully admitted to exchange programs abroad.

The Taipei Artist Village and the Grass Mountain Artist Village are perfect locations for the international AIR program, which provides artists from Taiwan and around the world with a common place for collaboration. There are almost 30 countries and many more organizations currently participating in the exchange program with TAV, including: Red Gate (China), SSAMZIE Space (Korea), Asian Studies Program of Colorado College (U.S.A), Lafayette College (U.S.A), the SACATAR Foundation (Brazil), Cultures France & Cite International des Arts (France), Triangle Arts Trust (U.K), Gasworks (U.K), Gozo Contemporary (Malta), Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art (Egypt), Australia-China Council (Australia), Asia Link (Australia), the City of Perth & Central TAFE (Australia) and others. One of TAV’s goals is to build strong relationships with other cities around the world, particularly in Asia, and to make more contributions in the field of art.

2) Exhibition and Performance
Every year, AIR Taipei develops a regular exhibition/performance schedule for both resident artists and the local art community in order to promote interaction between the artists and the general public. The exhibitions and performances of AIR Taipei help artists to establish connections with other artists and institutions around the world and to further explore Taipei City so that they can return home with meaningful experiences.

3) Art Promotion Program
AIR Taipei organizes a variety of events such as open studios, workshops, school campus art outreach seminars, educational programs, as well as meetings with curators, to promote artistic awareness and ultimately support artists’ projects.

About Taipei Artist Village

Located in Taipei City in a modest building at No. 7 Beiping East Road, Taipei Artist Village (TAV) stands quietly among other more magnificent structures, such as the Executive Yuan Building and the Taipei Revenue Service headquarters, often unnoticed by passersby. Nestled in its small, secluded yard with bamboo grove, TAV is an oasis in the urban environment.

Taipei Artist Village includes a dance rehearsal space, piano studio, darkroom and performance hall, supporting projects at various stages of development, including research, art creation, exhibitions and performances, by professional artists working in a variety of fields. There is also a multifunctional art and dining space, where visitors and residents can enjoy a meal, exchange ideas, display works, or purchase art or art-related products.

Taipei Artist Village was formerly the office building for the Department of Public Maintenance and Construction of the Taipei City Government, and later a temporary office for the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. After years of vacancy, in October 2001 the city government’s Department of Cultural Affairs decided to renovate the building. Based on artist villages in other international capitals such as New York, Paris and London, this once abandoned space was transformed into Taiwan’s first artist village, with a unique style all its own. In May 2003, the Department of Cultural Affairs conducted an open selection seeking a non-governmental organization to manage the Taipei Artist Village.

In October 2004, the management of TAV was officially handed over to the Taipei Culture Foundation, and it continues to be a center for creativity, reaching out to local residents as well as foreign artists through a variety of activities. With the establishment of the village’s artist-in-residence program, AIR Taipei enjoys a growing influence in Taiwan’s artistic circles as it provides a valuable experimental ground for the arts in Taiwan. AIR Taipei exists to promote multinational and cross-disciplinary collaboration, to promote the aesthetic life of Taipei’s people, and to spread the infinite possibilities of art to all corners of the world.

Open：10:00 A.M. – 7:30 P.M.
Add：No. 7, Beiping E. Rd., Taipei
TEL：+886 (02) 3393-7377      
FAX：+886 (02) 3393-7389
Website：www.artistvillage.org
E-mail： artistvillage@artistvillage.org

About Grass Mountain Artist Village

Along the winding path of Hudi Road on Yangmingshan, Grass Mountain Artist Village hides within the natural scenery of Taipei City. Grass Mountain Artist Village is housed in four cottages next to Grass Mountain Chateau, built in 1920. These cottages were once used as the document office and the dormitory for the attendant staff of former president Chiang Kai-shek. The structures were first renovated in April 2004 and reopened to the general public in November of that year. At this time, the buildings found a new mission as artist studios under a managed operation contract commissioned by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government. In April 2007, Grass Mountain Chateau was badly damaged in a fire which led to the closure of the four cottages for several months. In 2008, under the management of the Taipei Artist Village team of the Taipei Culture Foundation, the cottages were resurrected for the second time.

After four months of intensive preparation, the four cottages in combination with a small forest stage became the venue for AIR (Arts-in-Residence) Taipei. One of the cottages—Studio No. 92—is used for the arts and literature program as well as a meeting place for residents and artists, and the other three are studio spaces for artists, providing artists-in-residence with a natural setting and an abundant source of creative energy. In order to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, the outdoor forest stage and a “living forest viewing platform,” which is still in the planning stage, will provide artists with a greater diversity of exhibition spaces. AIR Taipei also seeks to combine the resources of the city, the tourism industry and the local community, in order to create a bond between contemporary art and the culture of Grass Mountain, as well as a good relationship between the local community and the tourism industry. AIR Taipei aims to introduce a multifaceted mechanism for promoting more diverse art forms on Grass Mountain, and to bring broader creative energy to the public and the local culture.

Open： by reservation
Add：No. 92, Hudi Rd., Beitou Dist., Taipei
TEL：+886 (02) 28622404      
Website：www.artistvillage.org
E-mail： artistvillage@artistvillage.org
Skype：grassmountain