Songshan Cultural and Creative Park: A cultural ecosystem incubator in Taipei 

Once the Songshan Tobacco Factory, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (SCCP) has become one of Taipei’s most significant creative workspaces since its reopening in 2011. Dedicated to preserving industrial heritage and promoting creative industries, the park has established itself as ‘Taipei City’s Hub for Originality’. Not only is it boosting cultural offerings for city residents and visitors, SCCP also successfully incubates Taiwanese fashion brands for international markets. 

Accelerating Taiwan’s cultural economy 

From 2020, SCCP undertook comprehensive replanning to create a robust cultural industry cluster. Its layout strategically supports both cultural organisations and entrepreneurs. Discounted rents on the second floor attract young creative businesses, while the east-west corridor links Taipei Dome and eslite Bookstore to provide branded exhibition opportunities. Meanwhile, the north-south corridor offers short-term exhibitions that diversify cultural programming and extend visitor engagement. Dining services in independent buildings complete the visitor experience, blending culture with lifestyle. 

At the heart of this strategy is SCCP’s five-stage support model, which nurtures brands through incubation, trial operations, commercialization, and ultimately international expansion. Early-stage entrepreneurs test ideas through weekend markets and pop-ups, while new brands gain visibility in the SongYan Style Gallery with discounted rents and marketing guidance. Established brands move into independent shops, building stronger identities and expanding business models. 

Mature companies then scale into larger retail networks such as eslite spectrum songyan and Taipei Dome, before entering international markets. Through partnerships with exhibitions, retail agents, and overseas channels, SCCP ensures brands gain the exposure needed to thrive globally. This holistic approach ensures that the park is not just a venue but an accelerator of Taiwan’s cultural economy. The park also plays a vital role in the city’s wider cultural economy. Since 2023, the launch of a 24/hour bookshop has energised Taipei’s night-time cultural economy. 

Combining sports, culture and heritage 

The adjacent Taipei Dome, an international sports and entertainment hub, and the surrounding Far Eastern SOGO CITY retail cluster have transformed the district into the ‘Xinyi SongYan Complex’. This cultural, sports, and economic cluster has created an integrated ecosystem where heritage, creativity, and commerce intersect. The integration of the ‘Xinyi SongYan Complex’ has further amplified this impact. In its first year, the Taipei Dome drew 1.4 million baseball fans, generating 4.7 billion NTD in spending, with major concerts expected to add USD 300 million more by the end of 2024. As a result, SCCP’s shops saw revenues rise by 40%, underscoring the success of its cultural ecosystem model. 

SCCP also hosts signature events such as the SCCP Grad Expo, Songyan Summer Festival, and Songyanland Festival, which highlight emerging talent and strengthen the city’s creative identity. 

Incubating Taiwanese fashion brands for international markets 

Since 2011, SCCP has incubated over 10,000 brands in crafts, fashion, lifestyle, and design, with 80% achieving commercial success. Events have attracted more than 57 million visitors, creating a vibrant platform for exchange and visibility. Internationally, nearly 2,000 brands have joined exhibitions abroad since 2007, generating USD 5 billion in opportunities. In 2024 alone, 37 brands of these entered Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur markets, producing USD 60 million in business. 

The clustering effect has also been significant: over 100 creative institutions now reside within SCCP, including the Taiwan Design Research Institute and iF Design, supporting more than 500 fashion brands.