Aug 30 - Sep 1
8月30日 - 9月1日
12:00PM - 1:30PM,
2:00PM - 3:30PM
About the Program
In 1999, Taiwan was struck by the 921 Earthquake, the deadliest natural disaster in the island's modern history, with the central region suffering the most severe damage. In response, the Watersource Cultural and Educational Foundation was established, developing community rebuilding programs tailored to different generations (elders, youth, and children) and cultural groups (Hakka, Indigenous communities), offering comprehensive support across the board.
In 2012, they introduced indigo dyeing into the community, combining it with locally grown crops to develop regionally rooted crafts. This workshop is held in conjunction with the stories and artworks they’ve brought to Canada, inviting the public to roll up their sleeves and try dyeing fabric themselves. Using everyday materials such as string, rubber bands, marbles, and popsicle sticks, participants can explore a variety of patterns and creative expressions.
In 2013, the Watersource Cultural and Educational Foundation (WCEF) established Taiping Blue in Taiping, Taichung's Toubiankeng area. Most of the local residents are Indigenous and Hakka. Dedicated to preserving and innovating the indigo dyeing tradition, the initiative promotes local industry and supports sustainable community development.
WCEF’s primary objective is to infuse creativity into traditional crafts, thereby fostering their growth and imbuing the resulting dyeing and weaving products with a contemporary flair and rich cultural significance. Furthermore, "Taiping Blue" is committed to advancing public welfare by creating a conducive working environment and offering technical training programs tailored to benefit local youth, middle-aged women, and underprivileged populations. Through these efforts, the initiative not only seeks to safeguard the invaluable indigo-dye craft culture but also aspires to stimulate the local economy by promoting a more eco-sustainable community.
Contact Us
Performance / Vendor / Sponsorship Opportunities
TAIWANfest Vancouver is grateful to be held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). We acknowledge our privilege to be gathered here, and commit to work with and be respectful to the Indigenous peoples of this land while we engage in meaningful conversations of culture and reconciliation.