#ArtsInYourNeighbourhood And #SilverArts Return With Programmes That Bring The Arts To More Communities Islandwide

The National Arts Council (NAC) will focus on strengthening partnerships to provide meaningful opportunities for diverse communities to be engaged in the arts.

Bringing Arts Closer to More Communities Islandwide

Presented by the NAC in partnership with the arts community and stakeholders from the people, private, and public sectors, these initiatives hope to make the arts accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds, in spaces where they live, work and play.

#ArtsInYourNeighbourhood Programme Highlights

This year, NAC partners the People’s Association (PA) Integration Council to pilot two arts programmes to support community integration efforts.

Led by a team of professional artists and facilitators, participants comprising local Singaporeans and new citizens at Toa Payoh East and Telok Blangah constituencies explored common themes of food and culture and had the chance to interact while learning new skills like print-making, photography and paper crafting.

Here's taking a closer look at some of the programme highlights:

POTLUCK Zine by System Sovereign

Photo Credit: National Arts Council

Venue: Block 10 Toa Payoh Lor 7 Void Deck
Date: 4 Sep to 6 Nov 2022

POTLUCK Zine is an exhibition co-created by Toa Payoh East residents and System Sovereign’s Brilliant Corners initiative, founded by Singaporean multidisciplinary duo Kiat and Cherry Chan.

Check out the artworks co-created by Toa Payoh East residents, in collaboration with artists Boon Baked, YABAI YABAI (aka Stacy Tan), Dju-lian Chng, and Stephanie Peh.

Experience the e-zine at this link.

Better 2gather by Participate in Design

Photo Credit: Participate in Design

Venue: Square between Telok Blangah Market and Food Centre (82 Telok Blangah Drive)
Date: 15 Oct to 15 Nov 2022

Guided by paper artist and illustrator Cheryl Teo, close to 30 residents of Telok Blangah learnt the basics of paper crafting over a series of workshops and worked together to co-create a papercraft exhibition celebrating their diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Visit the exhibition to experience the many personal stories and memories of the Telok Blangah community and neighbourhood.

OTH Community Theatre by ACT3 International

Photo Credit: Act3 International

Venue: Our Tampines Hub, Festive Arts Theatre
Date: 6 Nov 2022
Time: 5pm to 5.30pm

OTH Community Theatre aims to create a family-friendly theatre performance through weekly theatre workshops with residents of Tampines.

Led by ACT3 International, the participants have been working together in a creative process of theatre-devising to put together a performance for their children, families, friends, and their community.

Garden of Joy by Jaxton Su

Venue: TBC
Date: Jan to Apr 2023
Time: TBC

Garden of Joy is a community art project, which aims to engage the Bukit  Canberra community through a series of meaningful co-creation workshops.

Participants of all ages will work together to create an art installation inspired by the abundance of nature in their neighbourhood.

Singapore Writers Festival – 25 Programmes in 25 Libraries

Venue: Various locations
Date: 4 to 20 Nov 2022

To mark the 25th edition of the Singapore Writers Festival (SWF), SWF will collaborate with the National Library Board to present 25 programmes in 25 libraries across the island. Come discover talks, workshops and book club meetings taking place beyond the festival grounds and in your public library. Find out more here.

Singapore Art Week (SAW) x PAssionArts 2023

Venue: Various locations
Date: 6 to 15 Jan 2023

Singapore Art Week (SAW) 2023 is collaborating with People’s Association (PA) to present the inaugural SAW x PAssionArts platform for artists to work alongside Community Arts & Culture Clubs (CACCs) to engage five neighbourhoods across Singapore namely Bedok, Bukit Gombak, Limbang (Choa Chu Kang), Pasir Ris East and Radin Mas.

These programmes will engage with the respective communities and will be presented as installations within the neighbourhoods.

For more information on #ArtsInYourNeighbourhood, please visit this link.

#SilverArts Programme Highlights

The arts can enhance social and emotional well-being of seniors and encourage creative ageing. Partnerships with agencies, community partners, and cultural institutions have been established to ensure a diverse and regular line-up of arts programmes for seniors throughout the year.

Here's taking a closer look some of the programme highlights:

Rumah Kita Arts Journey by SEED Collective

Photo Credit: SeedCollectiveWisdom

Venue: Lions Befrienders Active Ageing Centre @Clementi 420A
Date: 25 Nov 2022
Time: 9.30am to 11am, 1pm to 2.30pm & 2pm to 4.30pm

With ‘Neighbourliness’ as the theme across the three participating Lions Befrienders Active Ageing Centres (AAC), the final public showcases will present artworks co-created by seniors and artists and highlight seniors’ stories with the community.

SEED Collective and senior participants will present a 3D artwork they co-created, with sensory sound experience. The showcase will also include SEED Collective’s visual and textual documentation of the engagement process.

Due to limited capacity, please register your interest with:
Catherine_Tan@nac.gov.sg.

Breathing Life by anGie seah

Photo Credit: National Arts Council

Venue: Lions Befrienders Active Ageing Centre @Bendemeer
Date: 22 Dec 2022 
Time: 9am to 11am

With ‘Neighbourliness’ as the theme across the three participating Lions Befrienders Active Ageing Centres (AAC), the final public showcases will present artworks co-created by seniors and artists and highlight seniors’ stories with the community.

Check out a showcase of clay artworks and a participatory performance, created by seniors guided by artist anGie seah! The showcase also includes the artist's documentation of the engagement process with the senior participants.

Due to limited capacity, please register your interest with: Catherine_Tan@nac.gov.sg.

Telling Your Stories, Sharing Your Memories by Wong Swee Yean

Photo Credit: National Arts Council

Anglican Senior Centre (Tampines): 18 Nov 2022, 3pm to 4pm
Anglican Senior Centre (Yishun): 23 Nov 2022, 3pm to 4pm
Anglican Senior Centre (Havelock): 2 Dec 2022, 11am to 12pm

Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre will present a senior engagement programme as part of #SilverArts titled Telling Your Stories, Sharing Your Memories.

Guided by storyteller and educator Wong Swee Yean, participants from Anglican Senior Centres were led through a process of reminiscence using exhibits from the SINGAPO人 exhibition and folktales from the oral tradition.

The seniors bonded with their peers through improvisational games and built confidence to present their stories to a live audience.

Programme will be in Mandarin.

Due to limited capacity, please register your interest with: Janice_Seah@nac.gov.sg.

Partnership with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Venue: Esplanade
Date: Oct to Dec 2022

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay will also be bringing single-session Angklung workshops by Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts Ltd. to seniors across various social service agencies as part of #SilverArts.

They will also tap on the WeCare Arts Experiences funding to bring these seniors back to Esplanade for Coffee Morning & Afternoon Tea programmes, a series of music concerts featuring evergreen favourites.

For more information on #SilverArts, please visit this link.