Kansai Art Festival "Avignon Art Style" – A Town Transformed into a Grand Art Museum

▲ The town of Kansai boasts the classic charm of the "Dong’an Ancient Bridge." (Photo / Courtesy ofKansai Avignon Art Festival Facebook Fan Page)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

If France can do it, so can we!" The "2014 Kansai Art Festival" in Hsinchu County takes inspiration from France's "Festival d’Avignon," running from now until April 20. The town of Kansai adopts the Avignon art style, featuring concerts, theater, street art, exhibitions, art markets, community light tours, and more, allowing visitors to feel as though they have entered a large art museum.

▲ The town of Kansai features many beautiful spaces (left); Taiwan’s first Hakka town event centered around an arts festival (right). (Photo / Courtesy of Kansai Avignon Art Festival Facebook Fan Page)

The Hsinchu County Government stated that France’s annual "Festival d'Avignon," held every July, combines the region’s ancient castles, old streets, and diverse forms of musical and artistic performances over the course of a month, filling the entire town with an artistic atmosphere. Kansai is similar in size to Avignon and preserves many beautiful historical spaces and monuments. Local organizations have also developed a variety of artistic performances, such as the well-known Dong’an Ancient Bridge Concert.

The series of art festival events unfold simultaneously across five historical spaces. The nation’s smallest Zhongzheng Road Old Street hosts a unique art market; the Yingfeng Pavilion showcases the Kansai Black Stone Exhibition and a joint exhibition by local artists; the historic site director’s residence hosts the Kansai Old Photo Story Museum; and the community theater “Niulan River Theater” will stage its maiden production, "Barefoot Childhood."

▲ The small town of Avignon in the lower Rhône region of southern France holds the grand "Festival d'Avignon" every year. (Photo / Courtesy ofFestival d'Avignon Facebook Fan Page)

The organizers also noted that during the art festival, a large-scale concert will be held. On April 20, the Dong’an Ancient Bridge Concert will feature performances by Golden Melody Award-winning artist Joanna Wang, O.KAY Choir, Hsieh Yu-chi, and Luo Sih-yung, among others. Additionally, on non-holiday days, a "Kansai Light Tour" one-day trip activity will be launched in collaboration with five local communities. For event details, please contactthe official fan page.