An exclusive zone for street performers will be formally designated in the Jianguo holiday market in Taipei tomorrow, the first of its kind in Taiwan, a Taipei City Government official announced yesterday.
Su Ying-kuei, (蘇盈貴) director of the Department of Labor, said that the Jianguo holiday market, east of Da-an Forest Park and at the intersection of Jianguo S Road and Xinyi Road, has in recent years become a gathering place for small vendors.
But, Su said, the vendors have failed to attract enough customers and his department decided to transform the area into a special artistic and cultural zone.
Su said that it is expected that the “Da-an Forest Park Artistic and Cultural Zone” will accommodate 92 pavilions, 29 of which will be allocated to street performers.
The 29 street performers will be required to register with his department, Su said, adding that they will not have to pay rent, but will be required to pay cleaning expenses of NT$150 per day.
Su expressed hope that the artistic and cultural special zone, along with the Jianguo Flower Market and Da-an Forest Park will become a “Taipei jewel.”
He said that the special zone will be divided into three sections — an area for arts and cultural exhibitions, booths for the sale of arts and crafts by the disabled and pavilions for street performers.
He said that at the entrance to the cultural area, street performers will play music to entice passersby to enter the zone, very much like on Wangfujing Street, one of the busiest spots in Beijing, or Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.
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