Pingtung Times, October 15, 2024 — Fan Chia-Hao

The Cross-Shrimp Art Festival, organized by a local creative team in Fengshan, is entering its sixth year. This year’s theme, "Cultural Diversity," connects three venues: Zhonghua Street, the Fengshan Second Public Market, and the Ren'ai Market, inviting the public to explore contemporary experiences within traditional markets.

The main venue is the Fengshan Second Public Market, affectionately known as "Gongyuanzi" by locals. Once the largest mixed-use complex in Kaohsiung, it has recently welcomed many new residents who have launched businesses, intertwining with traditional local industries to create a vibrant multicultural landscape. This year’s festival will promote local culture through performances, markets, city tours, exhibitions, and hands-on experiences. Participants can engage in a point-collection activity, earning a floral handkerchief crafted by the market's tailors.

A highlight of the festival is a unique theatrical tour, created by director Huang Qi-Sheng in collaboration with seven local vendors. This performance gathers personal stories to weave a narrative that unfolds in the market’s shops and streets, immersing the audience in fifty years of market history. Among the participating vendors are both long-time market elders and new residents, showcasing a spirit of collaboration among diverse cultures.

Rooted in the community, the Cross-Shrimp team has been dedicated to fostering the traditional market through long-term engagement and artistic activities that reinterpret cultural heritage. Together with the vendors, they are creating a fresh image of the traditional market. This year’s festival also collaborates with the Da Dong Art Library and 18 local organizations. The annual art festival serves as a platform for collective creativity from the Fengshan community, inviting everyone to "Join Us at the Market" from November 2 to 9.

The press conference for the sixth Cross-Shrimp Art Festival was attended by distinguished guests, including the village chiefs of Xinxing and Dongmen, the president of the Fengshan Second Market Association, Zhonghua Street Business Association Chair Chen Jie-Ru, Fengcai Bai Jia representative Ye An-Xiang, Wen Shan Business Association Chair Xie Hong-Da, representatives from the Radiant Education Foundation, and artists Chen Ya-Ji, Huang Qi-Sheng, and Wu Wen-Ji, along with approximately 50 community members.

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