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Qiaozaitou Sugar Factory Art Village / White House Introduction
The Ciaotou Sugar Plant, located in Ciaotou, Kaohsiung, was established in 1901 and is the first modern industrial area in Taiwan. In 2001, the Ciaotou Cultural and Historical Association, along with a group of artists, transformed this historical industrial site into a cultural preservation community, launching the first phase of the "Ciaotou Sugar Plant Art Village" artist residency program. In 2008, the artist residency program began to be managed by Ciaotou Baiwu Co., Ltd. and the Taiwan National Association of Arts, renting the original guesthouse space and several warehouses from Taiwan Sugar Corporation. The focus is on cultural heritage, environmental education, folk aesthetics, and art collection, and the program is fully funded by private sources to continue promoting artist residencies. This place not only provides accommodation and studio space for artists but also hosts various themed activities each season. The Ciaotou Sugar Plant ceased sugar production in 1997 and was designated as a county historical site by Kaohsiung County Government in 2002. The sugar factory, Japanese-style wooden dormitories, air raid shelters, red brick water towers, and century-old trees have all been well-preserved. The sugar factory itself is still operated by Taiwan Sugar Corporation but is gradually transforming into a leisure and tourism industry, currently being renovated into the Taiwan Sugar Museum. The sugar plant is located adjacent to the Kaohsiung MRT line, and on weekends, tourist trains operate, making it an important tourist destination in southern Taiwan, attracting a significant number of visitors. The Ciaotou Sugar Plant Art Village encompasses diverse themes and backgrounds, and its operation involves more than just art creation and space reconstruction. Since 2008, the grassroots organization "Ciaotou Baiwu," which was independently established, continues the spirit of the Ciaotou Art Village by inviting artists to reside in the sugar plant for creation and dialogue with the environment, which has significant implications for the future development of the art industry or cultural and creative parks.
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