$68 million investment! A century-old former Bank of Taiwan building will be reborn as the Yilan Art Museum in November.

Reported by Chen Ziying / Taipei

The first art museum in Yilan County is expected to complete construction in September and begin trial operations this November. Yesterday (the 23rd), County Magistrate Lin Congxian visited the site to inspect progress. The architect noted that the future museum will be divided into two main exhibition areas—“Permanent Exhibitions” and “Special Exhibitions”—with a total floor area of approximately 2,000 square meters.

According to the Yilan County Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Yilan Art Museum is a renovation and refurbishment of the former Taiwan Bank branch. The old branch was established in 1899 but was later damaged during wartime and was subsequently rebuilt in 1949 as a three-story Western-style building. With its simple exterior and classical charm, the structure holds significant historical and cultural value and was designated as one of the county’s historical buildings in 2002. After being handed over to the county government in 2012, more than NT$68 million was invested in its renovation, and it is expected to open for trial operations in November.

As a historically significant financial institution building, much of its original exterior has been preserved for the art museum. The interior wooden dining area and the iron doors of the vault have also been repurposed, giving new life to the old structure. The inaugural exhibition of the new art museum will also be themed “Glamour Reborn—30 Years of the Yilan Art Exhibition,” echoing the rebirth of the historic building.


▲ The Yilan Art Museum is a renovation of the century-old former Taiwan Bank branch. (Photo / Provided by Yilan County Cultural Affairs Bureau)