◆ Origin

The 17th century was a time when the western sea powers expanded their territories. Tamsui is located at the sea transport hub of Asia – Taiwan – and was the window to the culture of the outside world. Tamsui, as the door to northern Taiwan, became a place all powers determined to conquer due to its political, economic and military importance. The “Sino-French War” that changed Taiwan’s destiny broke out in 1884. Year 2009 marked its 125th anniversary. It was the first time, with the cooperation of official department and civic groups, a big-scale outdoor theater combining the elements of culture and history, art, theater, and community empowerment was released to the public. Following its historic context, we get to reminiscence about the only victory – the Battle of Tamsui – once again. It is a story told by Tamsui locals and a vivid example of transforming the impossible into amazement and awe. From 2009-2013, “The Legend of the Sino-French War in Tamsui” was one of its main axes. Year 2014 marks its 130th anniversary, and a new version incorporating new ideas and directions with the addition of musical elements and visual effects will take the audience back to the history by including the audience seats as part of the stage and leading audience to the stage to be part of the show. The multiple-layered visual combination has created fuller and richer visual effects. Everyone is a leading star contributing to create a common memory for all Tamsui people. 

The splendid scenery of Tamsui has inspired constant creativity while attracting many artists to stay. From 2006, the local officials of Tamsui have improved people’s participation in art-related activities through artists-in-residence at school and community policy, displaying the passion of locals and its cultural features through the “Let’s Art Street” activity. In 2014, new ideas inspired by the “Five-Tiger Hill”, an unique geographical site in Tamsui, are added to “Let’s Art Street” and will be presented in the form of the hustle and bustle temple fair that combines the rich local folklore. Various big-sized puppets of different themes, such as the eight generals, and five-color river god…are created to display a new concept with new ideas originating from traditions, offering a chance for the public to start to pay attention to the environment and the history of the place where they live. 2014 New Taipei City Tamsui International Environmental Arts Festival will give the local public more advanced art programs so that all participants experience a stronger sense of pride and happiness. 

◆ Activities

1. A Series of Seminars on the 130th Anniversary for the Sino-French War

The Tamsui Township office had organized a series of seminars on the Sino-French war that includes such subjects as “an introduction to the economic and political society in Taiwan” and “when travelers took a trip to the old battle field of Tamsui” back in 2008. For the 2009 local art festival, the Tamsui officials included the Sino-French War as one of its main axes. Year 2014 marks its 130th anniversary and the local government hopes that the Tamsui locals will be able to know the deeper meaning buried under the Sino-French War and ultimately promote it’s internalization and deep-rooting.

2.A Tour to the Old Battle Field of the Sino-French War

A series of seminars with tours to the old battle field allow the public to better understand the Sino-French War. A Tamsui history tour guide is available during the tour of the Sino-French War battle field. 

3.Let's Art Street - The Amazing Cruise along Tamsui Old Street

With a combination of community empowerment and the daily life of the locals through schools, communities and clubs, the vitality, cultural characteristics and rich creativity of Tamsui community are presented to the world. This year, the Let’s Art Street Activity will be displayed in the form of a hustle-and-bustle local temple fair.
(1) Artist-in-Residence on Campus and Community Program: Art education is combined with art in daily life. Ecology, culture, history and environment in Tamsui are used as themes to display the artistic cultivation of various schools and communities as well as the local cultural features. Also through interactive teaching activities, the local historical stories and community culture in Tamsui are interpreted. 
(2)Let’s Art Street Workshop: Let’s Art Street Workshop will be available from August – October. Communities and clubs that signed up for the course will be able to interact with artists, discuss themes, make costumes, and practice acting, making art a true part of their daily life together. 

(3)A Retrospective Photography Exhibition on Let’s Art Street: Photos taken from the previous Let’s Art Street are displayed at the Let’s Art Street Workshops for locals to reminisce about every classic costume, every happy face and the moments of happiness.
(4)Let’s Art Street –Tamsui, Let’s Get Crazy: Let’s transform the Tamsui Old Street into a big stage. The ideal of hustle and bustle temple fairs is used as its theme to allow the locals to take part and enjoy themselves there, creating a crazy yet deep Let’s Art Street Activity. 

4.Art Surprises at Street Corners

Based on the concept of the “art corner performances”, plus the human landscape and construction in Tamsui, performing groups will perform in art hallways of European styles, at the Tide Observation Square filled with sunshine and along the Golden Water bank with the glittering light on the water. The public can easily find art right at the street corners of Tamsui, a vivid example of art as part of daily life. .

5.An Environmental Theater – The Legend of the Sino-French War

Based on the Battle of Tamsui with inspiration from its related legends, rituals, and folklore, the show is performed in the form of outdoor theater. It re-invents the geographical space of the Sino-French War and combines culture, history and legends to display a show that integrates all of the above elements. “A local story is performed by the locals” through the instruction of professional artists, in combination with open space of the old battle field, and with participation of more than 200 locals. Year 2014 marks its 130th anniversary and the local government hopes that Tamsui locals will be able to know the deeper meaning buried under the Sino-French War and ultimately promote internalization and deep-rooting.

6. The Installation of Art Festival Forum: 

Local Tamsui artists and cultural workers are invited as the observers of the activity to observe the entire festival and artists, culture and history workers and the public are invited to attend the forum to discuss the values and meaning of the art festival in order to provide directions for future art festivals as well as improvement so that the overall quality of the festival will be elevated.

◆ Activity Schedule