2000 年台灣股市跌破八千點，畫廊參展藝博會極為吃力，僅 35 家台灣畫廊參展，蓋因當時藝文人口太少，為開發藝術新人口，採行與台新、富邦、世華、大安等銀行及誠品書店等機構換票措施。時任理事長洪平濤兼任台北藝博召集人、執行長黃承志、副執行長錢文雷、秘書長陸潔民，以「科技島嶼 文藝復興」為展覽訴求主題，首度轉型調整以「策展」與「美學教育」的方式展現；場外展區延伸至敦南誠品、紐約．紐約展覽購物中心；搭配特展規畫三場行動藝術，這些都是本屆博覽會的大突破。
In 2000, the Taiwan stock market dropped below 8,000 points, making it extremely difficult for galleries to participate in art expositions. A mere 35 domestic galleries took part in the fair due to the limited presence of individuals engaged in the arts and culture scene during that time. To develop a new audience for art, ticket exchange measures were implemented with banks such as Taishin, Fubon, Cathay United, and Dah An, as well as institutions like Elite Bookstore. The chairman of TAGA, Hong Pignato, served as the convener of the TAIPEI ART FAIR, along with the executive director Huang Chengzhi, the deputy executive director Qian Welie, and the secretary-general Lu Jimin, presenting the exposition with the theme of "Science Island, Cultural Revitalization.” They were introducing a transformation for the first time, focusing on "curatorial" and "aesthetic education” as the exposition’s main approaches. The off-site exhibition area extended to the Dunnan Elite Bookstore and the New York New York Shopping Center. In addition, three performance art events were organized as special exhibitions. All of these became major breakthroughs for this year's expo.
