2025 Human Rights Festival kicks off in Taipei

Taipei, Nov. 22 (CNA) The 2025 Human Rights Festival opened Saturday at Taipei's Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park, featuring art performances and exhibits at the historic political site.

At the opening ceremony, Deputy Culture Minister Sue Wang (王時思) said arts and culture can thrive only in a free society, and that such freedoms must be protected every day, not only on commemorative occasions.

This year's festival, titled "The Path of Democracy in Progress: Echoes of Polyphonic Carnival," presents a range of politically themed interactive performances, including concerts, dance pieces, workshops and plays.

Curator Lin Hong-john (林宏璋) said the events invite audiences to engage directly with performers, transforming spectators into active participants in their own stories.

The program also includes a visual exhibition by photographer Liu Chen-hsiang (劉振祥), showcasing images of outdoor performances used as a form of social activism by Taiwanese theater artists since the 1990s.

The festival runs through Dec. 14 at the memorial park, with free tickets available on the Accupass platform.