Island Nights: Showcasing Singapore’s Heritage and Creative Spirit

Ms Chang Hwee Nee, Chairperson of HeritageSG,

Ambassadors,

Artists and partners in the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct and

our international friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,

1. Very good evening to you all. I'm happy to join you this evening at the launch of this year's Singapore Night Festival (SNF).

   1. Looking around, I see the talented artists and dedicated partners of Bras Basah.Bugis precinct who have brought this magical event to life. Year after year, 16 years— amazing!

   2. Please join me in thanking them and congratulating them.

2. Tonight, we celebrate a cornerstone of Singapore’s cultural calendar.

   1. SNF stands as Singapore’s premier night-time festival,

   2. having grown into one of the largest and most enduring night festivals in our region.

3. Events like SNF showcase Singapore’s rich identity— where a vibrant cultural hub lies beneath our modern façade, or I might say, hides beneath our modern façade.

   1. Here, arts and heritage interweave to tell our unique story,

   2. capturing the very spirit of what makes Singapore exceptional.

4. This year marks an exciting new chapter.

   1. HeritageSG, a new subsidiary of National Heritage Board, is helming SNF for the first time.

   2. They are committed to building on SNF’s legacy of bringing heritage to life.

   3. Through thoughtful curation and programming, HeritageSG creates innovative and engaging experiences for Singaporeans, in partnership with our dynamic creative community.

5. With this year’s theme, “Island Nights”, SNF celebrates the rich tapestry of our island heritage through two highlight offerings.

   1. One, Kampong Chill, offers a peaceful retreat from city life, allowing visitors to rediscover the gentle rhythms of tropical island living.

   2. Meanwhile, the other offering is Sky Castle. It transforms our urban landscape with its interactive arches, creating a symphony of colours and sounds as visitors walk through.

6. While SNF celebrates heritage, it is equally passionate about nurturing our local creatives.

   1. The festival provides a vital platform for our local artists to not only showcase their works, but also collaborate with international peers.

   2. One example is our Projection Masterclass Series, where Malaysian creative studio, Filamen, mentors local visual artists in projection mapping. Thank you, Filamen, welcome to Singapore.

   3. This year, we are proud to present works by four remarkable female artists: Adeline Kueh (Kway), HAFI (Huffy), KangLi (Kaa-ng Lee), and Tororo.aoi (Toh-row-row ah-woe-ee). Later, we will watch as their projections debut on the iconic spire of CHIJMES.

7. Central to SNF is the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct— home to a vibrant creative community.

   1. This ecosystem has fostered many enriching collaborations for this year’s SNF.

   2. Take for instance, the popular Community Singalong of Xinyao and Folk Music. The programme pays tribute to the precinct’s heritage in nurturing Xinyao artists.

   3. We are also proud to announce our first-ever collaboration with LASALLE College of the Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts,

   4. in partnership with SMRT, for this year’s National Day Activations.

8. Our vision of SNF extends beyond these streets. We aspire for SNF to be a thought leader— building capabilities and forging connections in the creative community across the region.

   1. The launch of ALIGHT (uh-lite) (A Southeast Asian Light Network) Conference marks an important milestone,

   2. gathering regional experts in light arts for dialogue and innovation.

9. We are also expanding our international partnerships.

   1. Our highlight offering, Sky Castle, comes from Australian art and technology studio, ENESS (Eee – ness).

   2. Through our inaugural partnership with The Listening Biennial, we invite visitors to explore heritage through not just sight, but also mindful listening.

   3. In moments, you’ll be witnessing MOSAIC – a partnership with French artist Jérémie Bellot (Jeremy Bay-low). Welcome; it is his first visit to Singapore.

   4. Jeremy will be transforming the museum façade, the building you are in now, with stunning constellations and cartographies.

10. Looking ahead, SNF will continue to create common spaces where everyone can celebrate and deepen our appreciation for Singapore’s heritage.

    1. We’ll do this by growing our partnerships— working closely with local and international communities.

    2. Together, we'll ensure SNF remains a platform, where our rich cultural legacy, can continue to thrive for generations to come.

11. Once again, my heartiest congratulations to the HeritageSG team, our talented creatives and dedicated Bras Basah.Bugis precinct partners!

    1. I look forward to enjoying Singapore’s largest nocturnal experience with every one of you. Thank you, have a great night ahead.