After years of preparation, New Taipei City’s first public art museum, New Taipei City Art Museum, opened at the end of April. Positioned as a public art museum, NTCAM aims to become more than just a cultural landmark by seeking to actively engage with citizens, international visitors, artists and the broader community in Taiwan through dialogue and collaborative projects.

NTCAM is located in the Yingge District, Taiwan’s pottery capital, located just a 30-minute drive from Taipei City.

Nestled at the confluence of the Yingge River and the Dahan River in the Sanying Reclaimed Land, this museum is a key cultural initiative by the New Taipei City Government to promote local development and urban renewal. Just a few hundred feet from the museum’s entrance, the new museum appears to rise out of the riverbed, its exterior adorned with silver tubes of varying lengths. Designed by Kris Yao | Artech, the museum gleams in the sun and welcomes visitors to cross the narrow footbridge linking the town to its entrance.

© Courtesy of New Taipei City Art Museum / Hideaki Hamada

As a driving force for cultural innovation in the city, NTCAM integrates art, landscape design, lifestyle aesthetics, cultural tourism and technology to foster cultural growth and economic development. As New Taipei City’s first contemporary art museum, it serves local residents and promotes varied artistic events.

The museum reimagines what an art space can be, grounded in public access and comprehensive learning opportunities. It prioritizes new talent and arts education, offering programs for all ages, including family-friendly spaces and educational activities. Artist residences and interactive programs allow visitors to engage directly with creative work and cultural exchange.

“We want to be a responsive institution that listens to our community,” said LAI Hsiang-ling, museum director. “By taking an inclusive approach and encouraging dialogue between different groups, we aspire to make a meaningful impact on society.”

© Courtesy of New Taipei City Art Museum / Hideaki Hamada

In alignment with its vision and core values, NTCAM celebrates its opening with four 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; and The Ongoing Nature offers an interactive experience where visitors can participate in art making. The museum’s Annual Commission program features a commissioned project, Xindian Boys: Don’t Worry, Baby, while additional art projects fill the lobby and corridors.

LAI Hsiang-Ling brings more than 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 curatorial expertise, gained at National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts and Taipei Fine Arts Museum, continues to shape critical discourse and foster transformative cultural initiatives.