New Taipei City Art Museum to open in April
After years of preparation, New Taipei City’s first public art museum, the New Taipei City Art Museum (NTCAM), is scheduled to open on 25th April.
The NTCAM is located in the Yingge District, a 30-minute drive from Taiwan's capital, Taipei. Nestled at the confluence of the Yingge River and the Dahan River in the Sanying Reclaimed Land, it is a key cultural initiative by the New Taipei City Government to promote local development and urban renewal.
As a driving force for cultural innovation in the city, the museum integrates art, landscape design, lifestyle aesthetics, cultural tourism, and technology to foster cultural growth and economic development.
NTCAM aims to be more than just a cultural landmark by seeking to actively engage with artists and the broader community through dialogue and collaborative projects.
As New Taipei City’s first contemporary art museum, it aims to serve local residents and promote varied artistic voices. It will explore how local issues connect to global themes, exemplifying a contemporary museum’s role in public engagement and professional arts development.
The museum reimagines what an art space can be, grounded in public access and comprehensive learning opportunities. It prioritises talent cultivation and arts education, while at the same time developing innovative models for public participation and interactive learning. It offers programs for all ages, including family-friendly spaces and educational activities. Artist residencies and interactive programs allow visitors to engage directly with creative work and cultural exchange.
LAI Hsiang-Ling (pictured above), inaugural director of NTCAM, brings over three decades of experience in art history and museology, marked by a commitment to experimental innovation, public engagement, and international dialogue in contemporary art. Her work has significantly advanced the study and dissemination of Taiwan’s art history while exploring new institutional models. Lai has held pivotal roles, including director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei, where she redefined institutional practices, and spearheaded the establishment of the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai and the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (C-LAB).
Lai notes that the NTCAM is more than just a place to display art and adds “we want to be a responsive institution that listens to our community. By taking an inclusive approach and encouraging dialogue between different groups, we aspire to make a meaningful impact on society.”
Contemporary Reflections, Future Dreams: NTCAM’s Opening Exhibitions
NTCAM celebrates its opening with five major exhibitions: “NTCAM Collection: Encounters in Reflection” explores New Taipei City’s artistic heritage; “Reimagining Radical Cities,” an international exhibition connecting local and global art perspectives ; “The Ongoing Nature” offers an interactive experience where visitors can participate in art making. The museum’s Gray Box Space features a commissioned project, “Xindian Boys: Don’t Worry, Baby,” while additional art projects fill the lobby and corridors. Together, these exhibitions serve as a vessel for artistic exchange, and catalyst for creative inspiration, highlighting local culture and global themes.
International Advisory Committee
The museum has convened an International Advisory Committee comprising distinguished members: Patrick Flores, Deputy Director and Curatorial Head of the National Gallery Singapore; Aric Chen, Director of Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam; Hanru Hou, independent curator; Mami Kataoka, Director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo; and Clara Kim, Chief Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. Their collective expertise bridges global art trends and cultural systems, offering strategic guidance, fostering international collaborations, and providing a platform for local artists to thrive on the world stage.
About NTCAM
Address: No.300, Guanqian Rd., Yingge Dist., New Taipei City, Taiwan, 239
Opening hours: 10am – 5pm between Tuesday to Sunday
Official site https://ntcart.museum/
Image top: The New Taipei City Art Museum. Credit: Hideaki Hamada; image below: Lai Hsiang-ling, the inaugural director of the New Taipei City Art Museum. Credit: Terry LIN.
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