Closing the gap between universities and local culture

National Chiao Tung University and Dongmen Public Retail Market may both in Hsinchu City, but they are worlds apart. Though established sixty years ago, the university is still much younger than the market, which has a century of history behind its name. Despite this, the disconnection between the university and the local culture is something many feel to be an unhealthy social phenomenon. In a bid to close the gap, several professors from Chiao Tung University launched a music performance in Dongmen Market, guiding students to experience the local market culture and get involved in the creative industries. 

Dongmen Market used to be the largest traditional market in Taiwan and had the first electric escalator in Hsinchu; however, there has been a steady decline in business, and buildings have gradually fallen into disrepair. Fortunately, Hsinchu City Government and National Chiao Tung University have cooperated to host music, dance, and storytelling events, as well as various visual art exhibitions in the market, slowly bridging the cultural gap between the university and local area.

以下為中文對照

國立交通大學與東門公有零售市場，除了都在新竹市，很難一起談論。從歷史來說，交大才60歳，比起100多年的東門市場，年輕了許多。但大學與本土文化脱節，應該不是一個正常的社會現象，因此交大幾位教授在東門市場，推出音樂展演活動，帶領學生親身體會在地攤位文化和實踐青年文創的夢想。

東門市場曾經是台灣最大的傳統街市，擁有新竹第一座電動手扶梯，由於建築老舊殘破，最近幾年顯得没落蕭條，新竹市政府與交通大學計劃合作，透過各種視覺體驗展覽、音樂、舞蹈和吟遊詩人樂團等，在東門市場舉辦一系列演出，把大學與在地的文化距離拉近不少。

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