Law Information | Laws & Regulations Database of Taipei City

I. Objective The Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government (hereinafter referred to as the Department of Cultural Affairs) stipulates these Key Points for the purpose of implementing affairs related to the arts activities of street artists in Taipei City.
II. Street performance application categories The range of applications for authorized street performance includes the following three categories of arts activities to be performed live in public spaces: 1. Performing arts: Live performances of theatrical presentations, pantomime, clown performance, dance, singing, musical performance, magic, folk arts and acrobatics, juggling, puppetry, poetry recitation, performance art, etc. 2. Visual arts: The live creation of paintings, on-site portraiture using various art materials, environmental art, video, film, photography, etc. 3. Creative arts: The live creation and production of handicrafts. If the finished products are edible, they must conform to relevant laws and regulations.
III. Acceptance of Applications 1. Applicant qualifications: Must be 16 years of age or older. Applicants may be arts workers of either ROC or foreign citizenship or an arts group. Arts groups must state the name of the group in their application. Groups may have a maximum number of ten members, and must appoint one member as a representative to present the application. 2. Time of application: Once annually: The application will take place in April, and the screening process will take place in May. 3. Application process: Refer to “Application and Screening Process for Taipei City Street Performance License” (Chart 1)
IV. Examination 1. After receiving applications, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government shall inform applicants in writing of the time and place at which they will be required to perform for an application screening, to be undertaken by a Review Committee. The screening venue will be open to the public, and the public will be allowed to participate and vote. A. The membership of the Review Committee shall include: (1) Experts and scholars of arts and culture. (Experts and scholars from different fields will be invited to screen applications based on the categories of art performed by applicants.) (2) Representatives of the Department of Cultural Affairs (3) Representatives of the management units of the public spaces where street performance is permitted (4) Street artist representatives B. Participation of the General Public: A certain number of citizens will be allowed to participate and vote in the applicant screening. Members of the public will be allowed to cast a ballot expressing either “Like” or “Don’t Like” for each performer. If the number of ballots stating “Don’t Like” is equal to or greater than 10% of the total number of ballots cast in that applicant’s stated artistic category, the Review Committee will be requested to disqualify the applicant. 2. Those applicants whose performance is approved by the Review Committee will be issued a license. Those applicants whose performance is not approved will be notified in writing.
V. Means of Appeal Applicants who are unwilling to accept the results of the screening process, under one of the conditions listed below, must submit a request for appeal in writing, including an explanation of the reasons for appeal, to the Department of Cultural Affairs within 20 days of receipt of notification of the screening results. Applicants may only appeal once. Requests for appeal will not be accepted if submitted after the deadline. Acceptable reasons for appeal are: 1. The screening procedure was flawed, influencing the decision of the jury panel. 2. Review Committee members were biased with respect to their judging opinion not involving aesthetic judgment, influencing the decision.
VI. Renewal and replacement of licenses 1. Renewal of licenses: Street performance licenses are valid for a period of two (2) years. Prior to the date of expiration, license holders must submit the following documents to the Department of Cultural Affairs for renewal of their license; those license holders who fail to process renewal of their license within the designated period will be disqualified from engaging in street performance: A. Application form B. The original license (to be returned) C. Documentation of performance accomplishments: Contents must include performance places, performance records (written documentation and pictures), performance income, comments, suggestions, etc. D. Processing fee: NT$200 (for both individuals and groups) 2. During the period of validity, if the license holder fails to undertake genuine street performance without providing a legitimate reason the Department of Cultural Affairs may refuse to grant renewal of the license. 3. Replacement of lost license: Those who misplace their performance license may apply for a replacement by filling out a replacement application form and submitting it to the Department of Cultural Affairs, along with a processing fee of NT$500 for individuals or NT$1000 for groups.
VII. Management Regulations for Street Artists 1. Street artists must display their street performance license in a readily visible place at the performance venue. 2. When engaging in an arts activity, the street artist must not cause difficulty in passage for pedestrian or vehicular traffic. He/she/they must leave at least three (3) meters of passage space for pedestrians. He/she/they must not block access to facilities for the disabled, entrances or exits of buildings, or fire prevention equipment. 3. Regulations for use of space: A. Individual street artists in the “Performing Arts“ category must maintain a distance of at least four (4) meters from one another. The manager of the public space may increase the distance between group performers to six (6) meters or more when deemed necessary. B. Street artists in the “Visual Arts” and “Creative Arts” categories may occupy a space of one meter by two meters (1 x 2 meters), or conduct their arts activities according to the direction of the manager of the public space. C. No specific regulations are specified governing the space occupied by environmental artists; however, the methods, content and scope of their artworks must first receive authorization from the managing unit of the public space. D. The content of the street art activity must be live performance or live artistic creation. Exhibited items produced outside the context of live artistic creation may not be sold at the site, and these exhibited Items must be clearly marked as “not for sale.” E. The method of receiving payment may be determined by the street artist. These methods may include free donations, gratuities or set price. However, the method of payment should be clearly indicated at the venue. F. Performance time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, if the management of the public space operates according to different regulations, those regulations shall apply. G. Street artists must comply with the management regulations and other relevant laws and regulations of each public space. H. Street artists must keep the performance space clean. After completing the performance, they must immediately return the venue to its original condition and clean up all waste materials that their arts activity has created. I. If damage to the performance venue is caused, the street artist shall be liable for repairs and compensation for damage. J. The content of performances must not involve religious or political activities. K. Street artists must not engage in behavior that has a major impact on the rights and interests of consumers, or those damages or adversely impacts the overall image of street artists.
VIII. Inspection: 1. Inspection notification: The Department of Cultural Affairs, in cooperation with the managerial units of each public space, shall establish an Inspection and Managerial Affairs Notification Mechanism (see Chart II), in order to direct and effectively manage the performance activities of street artists. 2. When engaging in arts activities in public spaces, street artists must cooperate with the inspection and management work of related personnel from the Department of Cultural Affairs and managerial representatives of the public space. The Department of Cultural Affairs will issue penalty points to those in violation of relevant regulations. The standard for penalty points shall be the same as the “Inspection Criteria for Street Performances in Taipei City” (Addendum 1).
IX. License additional provisions Licenses should clearly state the following provisions: 1. Nullification: The Department of Cultural Affairs reserves the right to nullify the street performance license of any street artist under any one of the following circumstances: A. Information provided during application is found to be untruthful. B. Individuals other than the applicant are found to have presented explanations, demonstrations or performances to the Review Committee. C. The license holder is found to have violated these Implementation Points or other relevant laws or regulations, resulting in incorrect review conclusions by the Department of Cultural Affairs or incorrect issuance of street performance license. 2. Revocation: The Department of Cultural Affairs reserves the right to revoke the street performance license of any street artist under any one of the following circumstances: A. Violation of any stipulation in Article IX of “Provisions for the Licensing of Arts Activities by Street Artists in Taipei City” B. Any form of behavior that adversely impacts the overall image of street artists to a substantial degree. C. The failure to genuinely undertake street performance without presenting a legitimate reason D. The accumulation of nine (9) or more penalty points for violation of street performance regulations. 3. Suspension of Performing Right A. If in the course of street performance activities, a street artist is found to be in violation of any stipulation in the “Inspection Criteria for Street Performances in Taipei City” (Addendum 1) or other relevant regulations for two or more times, or is deemed to be involved in a major violation, the Department of Cultural Affairs reserves the right to suspend permission to perform in the public spaces of Taipei City. B. Any street artist awarded one or more penalty points by the Department of Cultural Affairs shall not be allowed to participate in any events organized by the Taipei City Government for a period of one year. C. Any street artist that has accumulated nine or more penalty points and has had his or her original street performance license revoked shall not be allowed to apply for a new license for a period of one year.