The Penghu County Cultural Affairs Bureau, in collaboration with the French Office in Taipei, has announced the launch of the Wangan Jhongshe Historical Houses (望安中社) in Penghu County as a base for the Formosa Art Residency Program for French artists.
In 2003, the Wangan Jhongshe Historical Houses were selected among the 100 cultural monuments worth preserving in the country. Subsequently, the Bureau of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture aided the local government in the settlement’s restoration. 25 houses were restored in the first phase, with 18 more to follow.
On May 3, the Penghu County Cultural Affairs Bureau held an art exchange program showcasing the works of renowned artists and art professor Chen Jing-jung (陳景容) created in Wangan fifty years ago. The event also provided the public with insights into the significance of the historical houses.
In conjunction, Morgan Fraisse-László, a cultural attaché from the Cultural Department of the French Office in Taipei, announced the initiative to launch the Formosa Art Residency Program at the historical settlement. He revealed the Office’s plan to establish multiple residency program bases across the country, aimed at bringing French artists to Taiwan.