Department of Cultural Affairs

The Paperwindmill Arts Foundation is holding a dinosaur art expo, which will run through October 10, at the Taipei Youth Park. Admission is free for all Taipei residents and children.

The art expo named “Wow! Giant Dinosaurs”, sponsored by the Taipei City Government and the Sherwood Taipei, aims to teach kids the possible causes of dinosaur extinction and the value of Mother Nature.

In April and May, 2010, the event attracted an audience of 350,000 in Taichung and Miaoli. Unlike most exhibitions of dinosaur fossils or models, this expo features creating inflatable dinosaur artworks that convey the importance of environmental protection.

With 46 meters in length, one giant dinosaur, Apatosaurus, located in the center of the expo stands 10 meters tall. It wears special, colorful clothes with patterns of Hakka red flowers and aboriginal cultures. Kids can use its tail as a slide to have fun in the park.

Parents can also take pictures of their children who play with the 51 inflatable dinosaurs, such as Tanystropheus, Herrerasaurus, Hyperodapedon, Eoraptor, Staurikosaurus, Efraasia, Coelophysis, Plateosaurus, Thecodontosaurus, Dilophosaurus, Xuanhanosaurus, Ornitholestes, Apatosaurus, Diplodocus, Brachiosaurus, Gargoyleosaurus, Stegosaurus, Spinosaurus, Therizinosaurus, Oviraptor, Tyrannosaurus, Deinonychus, Dromaeosaurus, Troodon, Protoceratops, Styracosaurus, Triceratops, Stegoceras, Maiasaura, Parasaurolophus, Corythosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus and Ankylosaurus.

The foundation has financed a children’s theater troupe -- the Paperwindmill Theater devoted to bringing joy to kids throughout Taiwan’s 319 townships. The First Mile, Kid’s Smile tour, also known as the 319 project, provides children in remote rural areas with opportunities to watch a live theater performance for free.

During the expo, the city government will offer free shuttle bus service from the exit No.1 of the Ximen MRT station to the park.