「台灣當代一年展」前身為「台灣藝術家博覽會」（2002-2015），為了與一般藝術博覽會做出區隔，自2016年起更名為「台灣當代一年展」。展覽強調藝術平權的概念，不設任何限制，邀請所有藝術家共襄盛舉。展區共分為主題策劃區、影展區、藝術平權展區、創作計畫區、台灣及國際替代/另類空間區。
由台灣視覺藝術協會（視盟，AVAT）主辦的「台灣當代一年展」，前身為「台灣藝術家博覽會 Artist Fair Taiwan」（簡稱視盟藝博），自 2002 至 2015 年延續十四屆。為更貼近當代潮流，也希冀與所謂「藝術博覽會」做出區隔，在2016年特別以國際藝術展經常使用之雙年展、三年展作為呼應，更名為「台灣當代一年展 Taiwan Annual」（簡稱一年展）。
一年展是台灣目前眾多藝術大展中歷時甚為悠久的展覽，也是年度藝文界的盛大焦點，延續視盟藝博的「平權」特色，秉持服務藝術家精神，開放展覽平台予個別藝術家，確保每位藝術家的作品皆能在展出平權的前提下，得到應有的展覽機會與尊重，同時也將持續作為策展人、畫廊業者、收藏家發掘新秀藝術家的重要管道。
除了延續「平權」特色，亦設立「創作計畫區」，徵求不拘形式、更無設限的展覽計畫，為更多元的當代藝術創作型態提供發表平台；擴大「主題策劃展區」及「影展策劃區」規模，鼓勵在地獨立策展實驗精神，讓台灣新興策展人能有更多演練舞台；同時，邀請國內外藝術/替代空間參與，並與同樣在非營利經營上努力的藝術空間分享展位，以期將國際藝術機構截然不同的生機展演內容，介紹給廣大藝術群眾們。
2017年第二屆台灣當代一年展，更強化資料庫、策展與國際交流，將「台灣當代藝術資料庫」線上策展徵件，於今年一年展展場實體化展出；並辦理「藝術沙龍」- 國際對話，予以台灣及國際藝文空間相互交流的機會。台灣當代一年展在精神上保持初衷，在內容則上更具有彈性與多元特性，在一般以畫廊為單位的藝術博覽會機制之外，提供藝術家另種開放的展覽平台。
Since its establishment in 2002, the Association of the Visual Arts in Taiwan (AVAT) organized ARTIST FAIR has made itself an alternative exhibition platform for individual artists rather than galleries as seen in most fairs.
ARTIST FAIR is officially renamed as TAIWAN ANNUAL in 2016. The 15th anniversary welcomes the first edition, homage to the contemporary art trend that international exhibitions are often titled as “biennale” or “triennial,” to distinguish ourselves from other art fairs.
Though the name is new, TAIWAN ANNUAL is one of the oldest major exhibitions in Taiwan, and it is often considered the event of the year. In the future, we will make sure that TAIWAN ANNUAL never contradicts AVAT’s belief in “equality.” It will remain a platform for individual artists, providing service to guarantee that every artist should be given a fair opportunity and respect. Meanwhile, it will continue serving curators, gallerists, and collectors by introducing emerging artists.
At ARTIST FAIR’s last edition in 2015, we have mapped out an exciting future for TAIWAN ANNUAL: the “Open Call for Art Projects” section welcomed any free-style exhibition projects to promote a more diverse contemporary art exploration. We have also increased the scale of “Curatorial Projects” and “Video Works Cinema” to encourage local curators to adopt a more adventurous spirit and to guarantee a more visible space for emerging Taiwanese curators. By inviting domestic and international alternative art spaces to join us, we have tried to make the art fair an international event to collaborate with alternative art institutions sharing similar missions and to introduce their different exhibition approaches to the art scene here.
For TAIWAN ANNUAL 2nd of 2017, we continue and further strengthen the Artist Archive, curating, and international exchanges. The “TCAA Online Curatorial Projects” is included as part of the exhibition this year; we also hold the Art Salon – International Dialogues, events which provide opportunities for exchange between local and international art spaces. Our spirit always remains the same, but the content now is allowed better flexibility and multiplicity to serve the artists and to cultivate a blossoming generation.
