Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

To celebrate the fourth anniversary of the revitalized Taipei Story House, the city government has organized “The Story of Heritage Sites – New Life for Old English Buildings” exhibition at the venue. Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin attended the exhibition, and took the opportunity to present certificates to youth volunteers. He pointed out that the Taipei Story House is the first historical site in the city to be adopted by individuals. Hau applauded Taipei Story House Founder and Executive Director K.C. Chen’s effort in turning the small museum into a major attraction that has been visited by over 460,000 visitors over the years. This is a tremendous success and has set the standard for revitalization efforts of historical sites. He also praised Taipei Story House for nurturing the interest of the younger generation in local culture and preserving the old English-style manor. Department of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) Commissioner Lee Yong-ping remarked that in addition to serving as a full-time volunteer, Director Chen has donated NT$28 million herself to adopt and manage the site. Given the limits of the city government’s budget, Lee said that she was really moved by Chen’s dedication to Taipei Story House. She hoped that the building would be a model that other cultural institutions and museums in the city would follow. Taipei Story House is an English Tudor-style building standing next to the Tamsui River for 93 years. The complex is currently used as a small museum for promoting shows focusing on life in Taiwan and the revitalization of historical sites. “The Story of Heritage Sites – New Life for Old English Buildings” exhibition introduces the efforts on historical sites revitalization carried out by the British government. Examples include York Castle Museum’s transformation from prison to museum; Albert Docks change from a simple dock to a multi-purpose public area; Tate Modern’s new role of showcasing contemporary arts after it ceased to function as a factory; and the opening of Red House, home of William Morris, to the public. In addition to the sites in England, the exhibition also features three local sites with English-style architecture, including former British Consulate at Tamsui, former British Consulate at Kaohsiung, and Taipei Story House. For more information, please visit the official website of Taipei Story House: www.storyhouse.com.tw