The well-loved annual Silver Arts returns for its 9th edition, and will be presenting its full programming online for the very first time to ensure the safety and
well-being of our seniors during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo Credit: Ageless Online
Photo Credit: National Arts Council
Presented by the National Arts Council (NAC), Silver Arts is an annual festival dedicated to celebrating seniors and creative ageing in the arts with opportunities for participants to discover their potential through programmes across various genres such as visual arts, music, dance and film.
This year, Silver Arts 2020 will take place across two weeks from 1 - 13 September on the Silver Arts Facebook page. As such, all the programmes can be enjoyed from the comfort and safety of one’s home independently and with family members.
Seniors can look forward to a total of 15 daily programmes, including premieres of 4 new digital commissions by local arts companies, artist-led workshops, and reprising content from past festivals, such as all-time favourite Silver Shorts.
With a diverse and engaging line-up of activities in a plethora of multi-language programmes (i.e., English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and Chinese dialects), Silver Arts allows for a time of intergenerational bonding and meaningful conversations with friends and family.
Pre-Festival Activities
With an understanding of the challenges that seniors may have in accessing online content, plans have been made to ensure greater receptivity of this year’s programmes. Seniors are encouraged to take small steps and have fun with a series of pre-festival activities, which will be released from 25 July until end-August. These range from a dedicated one-stop Silver Arts WhatsApp channel to receive programme reminders, exclusive perks and festival giveaways, to participatory activities.
- Beatboxing with Charles Stitch Wong and Rahimah Rahim (20 August 2020)
Watch how beloved singer Rahimah Rahim commits to lifelong learning as she picks up simple beatboxing techniques from Charles Stitch Wong – can you beatbox, too?
The duo will also preview songs they will be performing in the premiere of Evergreen Symphony Jukebox.
- Sing an Old Song of Redhill Market by Toy Factory (22 August 2020)
Join the lively cast of Old Songs of Redhill Market and pick up the lyrics and actions to a catchy Hokkien tune before the show premieres in September!
- A Music Legend of A Billion Applause (十亿掌声 · 与君同行)by Ding Yi Music Company (27 August 2020)
Which Chinese musical instrument brings out the musical timbre and emotive qualities of Teresa Teng’s classics like 《甜蜜蜜》,《小城的故事》,《但愿人长久》? Tune in to hear how the pipa (琵琶), erhu (二胡), dizi (笛子) and banhu (板胡) present different interpretations with Maestro Quek Ling Kiong.
Watch the premiere of A Music Legend of A Billion Applause to
find out if you got it right!
2020 Silver Arts Digital Commissions
Catch the premiere every Saturdays and Sundays from 1-13 September 2020 at 2pm unless otherwise stated.
- Old Songs of Redhill Market (红山脚下的歌谣) by Toy Factory (5 September 2020)
The yesteryears of Redhill Market was a time where, our stories and music flowed freely in the hearts of many. Old Songs of Redhill Market is an intimate storytelling concert featuring Hokkien songs collected through those golden years. From one generation to the next - these tunes of good old carefree times now see the light of day in this performance. Hum along to melodies inspired by early morning Kopi banters, forging of brotherhood, and the rich heritage of Redhill – where it began as scribbles on paper, into full scores of life.
Old Songs of Redhill Market is a heart-to-heart concert for us to reminisce those beautiful days.
- Evergreen Symphonic Jukebox by Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra (6 September 2020)
Photo Credit: Ageless Online
The Evergreen Symphonic Jukebox has a un unexpected fusion of playlist of familiar tunes from local television dramas and folk songs in different languages. Let veteran singer Rahimah Rahim, beatboxer Charles Stitch Wong, and the Asia Cultural Symphony Orchestra, led by conductors Adrian Chiang and Dedric Wong, surprise you in this unique concert. There’s a track in the Jukebox for everyone!
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Romantic Keroncong (Keroncong Asmara) by Wadah Seni
Entertainment (12 September 2020)
The soothing and cheery sound of keroncong take centre stage in this musical treat, with delightful folk songs and modern Pop Keroncong. Keroncong Asmara is an invitation to indulge in all aspects of love, from romance to a love for traditions, singing and the arts.
Sing along in this colourful celebration with performances by Mahani Mohd,Eddy Ali, Rudy Djoe and Orkestra Melayu Singapura’s Danial Ariffin Azman, featuring singers from Peranakan group Gunong Sayang Association, as they share nuggets about the history and musicality of keroncong.
- A Music Legend of A Billion Applause (十亿掌声 · 与君同行)
Ding Yi Music Company pays homage to cultural icon Teresa Teng, and introduces the versatility of Chinese classical instruments through the songstress’ iconic soundtrack in this intimate showcase. See how these musicians capture the essence of Teng’s heavenly vocals on their pipa and dizi. Join Maestro Quek Ling Kiong, as he leads us in this engaging tribute
to one of the most influential singers of her generation.
Blast from the Past
Relive selected favourites from previous editions of Silver Arts.
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A Concert of Evergreen Malay Music (Konsert Pop Malar
Segar) by Perkamus (1 September 2020)
Konsert Pop Malar Segar features Malay music pop icons from the 60s through to the 80s including Dato' A. Rahman Hassan, J. Mizan, Sanisah Huri, Mariah Bachok as well as young artists, such as Imran Ajmain and Aisyah Aziz. Hosted by Warna DJ Hafeez Glamour, these evergreen hits will resonate with our pioneer generation - a star-studded concert not to be missed with your family and loved ones!
Remember to stay for a special meet-and-greet session after the concert and have a chat with Hafeez Glamour, Sanisah Huri and Aisyah Aziz ‘live’ on Facebook!
This programme premiered in Silver Arts 2015.
- Singing Market (花啦啦歌舞团) by Asia Musical Productions (Malaysia) (4 September 2020)
Photo Credit: Ageless Online
This delightful musical, set in the 70s, centres around a group of market vendors who are forced to perform at the annual Ghost Festival dinner at the eleventh hour. With its unforgettable melodies, endearing characters, entertaining storyline and colourful costumes, the musical makes an entertaining “outing-at-home” for audiences of all ages.
This programme was presented in Silver Arts 2018.
- Rocking Good Times by Pest Infested, The Trailers and The Straydogs (8 September 2020)
The sounds of the swinging ‘60s will be brought to you by three popular Singapore bands from that era. Enjoy the visceral rhythm & blues sounds of Pest Infested, the rock `n’ roll pop stylings of The Trailers and the heartfelt blues of The Straydogs. One is never too old to rock!
This programme premiered in Silver Arts 2017.
TingkART Sessions
Tell your stories in these artist-led workshops and activites, for an artistic takeaway of your personal masterpieces.
- Chronicles of Life 2020 by Flamenco Sin Fontaras (7 September 2020)
Chronicles of Life 2020 introduces flamenco music and dance as a mirror to the rich and colourful stories from the personal lives of seniors. Seniors perform and share their experiences, alongside dancers from Flamenco Sin Fronteras – learn a move or two and bring the lively music traditions of Spain and the heartwarming
tales of our Singapore seniors into your very own home.
- Colouring Life with Everyday Shapes by Karen Koh (9 September 2020)
Spark your imagination and creativity with inspiration from everyday life, while expressing your individuality and reflections through shapes and colours into an abstract artwork. Follow artist Karen Koh as she guides you how to sketch creatively step-by-step!
Programme is in English.
- Foto-Foto Memory Lab: A Writing Workshop for Seniors by Amanda Lee Koe (2 September 2020)
Did you dig up some old photographs during the circuit breaker period? Foto-Foto Memory Lab is a step-by-step video workshop for seniors with an interest in writing, facilitated by Amanda Lee Koe. Seniors will be invited to excavate memory and generate poetry as they look at old photos of their own. They will then share their photos, memories and creations with the community over a 10 day journey.
Adapted from Silver Arts Community Arts Projects 10 x 10
(2012) and 白马非马 (2013), also facilitated by Amanda Lee Koe.
- Virtual Jalan Jalan! by Lee Sze-Chin (11 September 2020)
Take an online stroll down memory lane at our National Gallery! Interact live with our co-hosts as they bring you on this 60-minute virtual tour of Gallery’s collection of artworks that paint Singapore’s past. There will be lots of opportunities for art
appreciation, discussions and sharing of your personal histories with peers – join us for a uniquely Silver Arts experience at the National Gallery Singapore!
- Kopi, Teh and Contemporary Art by Singapore Art Museum (7, 8, 9, 10 September 2020 in various languages)
Have you ever wondered if it is true that the grass is always greener on the other side? Is everything you ever wanted right here? Tune in for the premiere of Kopi, Teh and Contemporary Art online and be guided on a virtual tour of Singapore Art Museum’s collection. Explore how Singaporean artist, Dawn Ng highlights Singapore’s unique characteristics and traits; obsessions, insecurities and ambitions through a cheeky take on familiar, everyday Singaporean landscapes.
Silver Shorts
Catch a selection of heart-warming short films on living life to the fullest with your loved ones.
Releasing on 3 September (Thursday):
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The Drum 鼓声 by Ler Jiyuan
(26 mins | English, Mandarin and Hokkien with English subtitles)
The Drum follows the journey of Kang, a recently retired man in his 60s dealing with the sudden onset of a later-life crisis. The short film won the 2018 Viddsee Juree Gold Awards, and competed at the prestigious 2017 Clermont Ferrand Short Film Festival.
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Rayqal by Sufyan Sam’an
(17 min | English and Malay with English subtitles)
Rayqal is determined to make his musical dreams come true. However, his bad temper leaves him without a band to play with for a highly-anticipated competition. In a stroke of luck, he discovers his grandfather was once the frontman of a band.
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A Dream I Did Not Dream by K. Rajagopal, in collaboration with
Dr Uma Rajan
(12 min | English with English and Chinese subtitles)
The dance of life is one we dance alone but with many silent and invisible partners. Meena celebrates the lives she lived and the people she loves in a film about the rejuvenating power of time.
Releasing on 10 September 2020 (Thursday):
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Love In A Convenience Store by Png Zhen Yu
(16 mins | Mandarin and Hokkien with English and Chinese subtitles)
An elderly couple reignites their romance at an unlikely place – a convenience store. This is a light-hearted drama comedy starring veteran actors Marcus Chin and Goh Guat Kian.
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New Bike by Kannan Vijayakumar
(16 min | Tamil with English and Chinese subtitles)
Selvam, a jaded 65-year-old retired bank officer feels isolated after scrapping his car which was his only companion. After a few stumbles to fill this void, Selvam finds a new lease of life when he makes the best out of an unlikely birthday present – an electric scooter.
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The Last Wish by M. Raihan Halim
(5 min | English with English subtitles)
Three best friends with a grand combined age of 180 reminisce about their wild young days as they meet at the wake of their friend, and proceed to do something wild!
- Spring Again by Ray Pang
Spring Again is a romance short film about a retired old lonely man, Tan, who goes out to find love again. While out on a date, he realises that wooing a lady is not as easy as it seems. Putting in 110% of effort, Tan steps up his game to impress.
Arts and Ageing Forum: Engaging Seniors in the Digital Era
When: 2 and 9 September 2020 (Wednesday), 4pm (By Registration)
The Arts and Ageing Forum brings artists, social and healthcare practitioners, community leaders and funders to advocate the social value of the arts for seniors, and bring stakeholders together to strengthen networks. For this edition, speakers will share insights, approaches and considerations taken when engaging seniors in and through the arts in the digital age.
For more information on Silver Arts, visit the website here.
