Department of Cultural Affairs

By Cherice Chen

The first Design & City Exhibition, an essential part of the campaign in the bid of Taipei for the World Design Capital 2016 award, opened Friday at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Xinyi District.

Echoing the motif of Taipei's bid, the 2012 Design & City Exhibition focuses on efforts to transform the city through socially-conscious design. Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin, Commissioner of Taipei City's Department of Cultural Affairs Liu Wei-gong and many creative professionals attended the opening ceremony despite an unexpected rain shower.

The 2012 Design & City Exhibition showcases innovative projects, domestic and international, that explore the concept of social design. At the heart of the program is the Design Taipei Concept Exhibition, where the public can see what changes design has brought to the city and how design can further improve Taipei.

The exhibition also draws experiences from other major cities in the world. Co-organized with the British Trade & Cultural Office, the public are shown how London has undergone regeneration in preparation for the Olympics. The High Line Park in New York City is another example of the role of design in transformation of a city.

The bid for the World Design Capital is more than just an application. It is an opportunity highlighting the possibilities of creative industries in solving urban issues. Even if Taipei does not win the bid, considerable benefits accrue from the bidding process itself, said Liu. Although originally created for the bid, the Design & City Exhibition will be held continuously every October. It is hoped to become a valuable resource for creative industries and a mobilizing agent for public participation.

Coming along with the exhibition this year is a series of street festivals in some of the most distinctive neighborhoods in Taipei, including Nanhai Academy/Guling Street, Zhongshan Shuanglian, Chengtung and Tianmu, where performances, markets and concerts are being prepared in the spirit of bringing people together to celebrate local culture and creativity.

The 2012 Design & City Exhibition is being held between 10:00 and 18:00,  October5-28 at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Xinyi District. No entry fee is required. For more information, please visit:
http://www.taipeidesigncity.com/index.php