Law Information | Laws & Regulations Database of Taipei City

Article I. Taipei City Government (hereafter referred to as the City Government), in order to encourage the diversified development of arts activities in Taipei City (hereafter referred to as City), and to cultivate citizens’ participation in arts event consumption through the method of monetary payment, to promote the incorporation of arts activities in the lives of City residents, and to make fuller use of the City’s public spaces for cultural applications, hereby makes the following provisions, in order to permit street artists to engage in arts activities. The acquisition of permission to engage in arts activities by street artists shall be governed by the regulations provided in these provisions. For areas not covered by these provisions, other relevant laws and regulations shall be applied.
Article II. Definition of terms used in these provisions: 1. Public space: Refers to pedestrian walkways at least eight (8) meters in width, plazas, parks, green spaces and other public areas, which have been authorized by a manager to be utilized as venues for arts activities. 2. Public space manager: A specially designated person that has, according to law or by virtue of lawful contract, been granted the authority and responsibility to manage a public space. 3. Arts activity: Any live artistic activity for which fees are collected, including theatrical presentations; pantomime; clown performance; dance; singing; musical instrument performance; magic; folk arts or acrobatics; juggling; puppetry; poetry recitation: painting; handicrafts; sculpture; performance art; environmental art using nonpermanent, non-fixed materials or water-soluble pigments; film or video; photography; and other activities related to the arts and culture. 4. Street artist: A natural person, or a group not exceeding ten individuals, that engages in an arts activity in a public space.
Article III. The Responsible Authority for these provisions is the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government. The Responsible Authority shall convene a review committee of scholars, experts and representatives of relevant institutions in order to implement matters related to these provisions.
Article IV. Prior to engaging in an arts activity in a public space in the City, a street artist shall apply to the Responsible Authority for the issuance of a performance license. The aforesaid application shall require the payment of a fee. The fee for individuals is NT$500. The fee for groups is NT$1000. Document formats for the Implementation of these provisions will be stipulated by the Responsible Authority.
Article V. In order to process the applications stipulated in the first paragraph of the previous article, the Responsible Authority shall, when necessary, notify applicants to appear at a specified location to present explanations, operations, demonstrations or performances. The Responsible Authority shall issue a performance license to those applicants that pass the review process. Upon granting the aforementioned permission to engage in arts activities, the Responsible Authority shall specify the period of validity of the performance license and methods for receiving fees related to for-profit arts activities. The Responsible Authority shall also set performance fee collection method and appendant conditions, responsibilities and provisions. The Responsible Authority, when necessary, shall undertake total quantity control of categories and numbers of permitted arts activities.
Article VI. Street artists that receive a performance license shall engage in their arts activity in a public space of the City. However, they must comply with relevant laws and regulations and the management rules of each public space. They also must not affect other events authorized by the public space manager. The public space manager shall provide necessary assistance to arts activities that have been granted permission.
Article VII. When engaging in an arts activity, a street artist shall display his/her/their performance license in a readily visible place at the venue, and should accept inspection by the Responsible Authority or public space manager.
Article VIII. When engaging in an arts activity, a street artist may not engage in any activity detrimental to public safety, such as obstructing either pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or blocking access to facilities for the disabled, entrances or exits of buildings, or fire prevention equipment. Should a street artist be found to be in violation of this article, the Responsible Authority or public space manager, in order to rectify the situation, may order the street artist to immediately halt the arts activity, and may also adopt other necessary disciplinary measures.
Article IX. Should one of the following circumstances occur while a street artist is engaged in an arts activity, the Responsible Authority may nullify or cancel all or part of the granted arts activity license: 1. Relevant rules or regulations have been modified or altered. 2. Need to cooperate with policy. 3. The reason for granting of the license has altered or ceased. 4. The content of the arts activity, products sold or tasks performed, etc., do not match the items authorized on the performance license. 5. Unauthorized transfer of the license to a different party. 6. Other behavior in violation of these provisions or other relevant laws or regulations.
Article X. Should a street artist violate any of items 4 through 6 of the previous article a street artist whose performance license has been nullified or cancelled will not be allowed to apply for a performance license within one year of the date on which his/her/their license was nullified or cancelled.
Article XI. When engaging in an arts activity in a public space of the City, a street artist should assess the nature of the arts activity, and install safety maintenance equipment on his/her/their own initiative, or purchase public liability insurance.
Article XII. These provisions shall be implemented from the date of their promulgation.