Singapore, 26 June 2020 — Following the unveiling of SIFA v2.020 and SIFA-All-Access platform on 20 May, SIFA v2.020 will be launching exciting digital programmes in June and July, this time featuring a strong music focus. From its successful pivot towards online programming, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) continues to add more artistic experiences to its line-up. On 24 June, we launched a video performance by Singapore Symphony Orchestra. In July, look forward to a music workshop by Jacob Collier, a series of curated playlists, and another episode of SOURCE x Audible Lands, a vodcast series by The Observatory documenting the musicians of the migrant worker community.
Through the SIFA All-Access online platform first launched in May, Singapore’s pinnacle performing arts festival has continued to bring the work of local and international artists to global audiences. Committed to creating spaces for artistic interaction in this time of isolation, SIFA has presented a series of curated virtual events including live-streamed “In Conversation” sessions and panel discussions to engage and inspire both audiences and artists. Following the conversations with individuals like Chong Tze Chien, Melissa Lim, and Anne Bogart, the upcoming programmes take a closer look at the role of art within various communities.
Festival Director Gaurav Kripalani shares, “Nothing will beat the shared bond of physically coming together to experience art. It has been so gratifying, therefore, to see the level of response and interaction we have had to our digital programmes over the past month. From talks with artists from the four locally commissioned theatre companies to the incredible session with Anne Bogart, we have seen audiences rally around SIFA v2.020. As we reinvent ourselves to face this brave new world, the SIFA team and I will continue to curate a series of programmes over the next six months that we hope will inspire and provoke those eureka moments until we can meet again in person”.
Jacob Collier Workshop
Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist jazz wunderkind Jacob Collier will conduct an online music workshop on 29 July 2020. Having performed two sold-out shows at SIFA in 2018, the Jacob Collier Workshop promises to be an exhilarating session with the freewheeling musical spirit in his home studio. Musicians and music aficionados can look forward to Collier performing a song or two, speak about creativity in music and his artistic journey, and respond to some questions from the community. Tickets for this workshop go on sale at 9am on 29 June 2020.
At home with Singapore Symphony Orchestra performing One People, One Nation, One Singapore
As the nation emerges stronger together in this difficult time, Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will perform their rendition of the beloved Singaporean classic, “One People, One Nation, One Singapore”. In a special video celebrating the 30th anniversary of Cultural Medallion recipient Jeremy Monteiro’s 1990 anthem, watch members of the national orchestra performing from home, this time with a few surprising DIY instruments added to the mix to express a collective support for the community. Join in their homemade harmonies on SIFA All-Access.
SIFA Playlist with...
SIFA Playlist with..., is a series of Spotify playlists curated by SIFA artists from Singapore and abroad in response to a specific theme or inspiration. Critically acclaimed Singapore collective Red Dot Baroque debuts this series on 27 July at 12pm with a selection of Baroque pieces as an introduction to this exquisite period of classical music. Red Dot Baroque will also begin this programme with a video performance by three musicians from the ensemble, acquainting audiences with works from composers like Dario Castello and Francois Couperin. For the rest of the series, anticipate an eclectic spectrum of music over the coming months which will allow audiences to indulge in myriad sounds whilst discovering new composers and works.
SOURCE x Audible Lands
SIFA celebrates diversity. Explore the music inspirations of the migrant worker communities in the third instalment of The Observatory’s vodcast series, SOURCE x Audible Lands. In collaboration with filmmaker Eric Lee and talented migrant worker musicians, the documentary series continues with Billal Hossain and his group of musicians who have made Pandan Reservoir the backdrop to their rich musical landscape. To catch up on previous episodes, all vodcasts in this series can be accessed through SIFA All-Access.
For more information on the above programmes, please refer to Annex A.
Accessible through the SIFA All-Access online platform, SIFA v2.020 features a series of curated virtual events including talks, workshops, performances and more from 25 May 2020 till December 2020. In addition to inspiring and entertaining audiences, the online iteration of Singapore’s pinnacle arts festival is also designed to create a space for artists to share their views on creating art in the new normal, for professional development, and as a platform to showcase work created for the digital sphere to engage audiences from here and abroad. SIFA v2.020 is presented by Arts House Limited as part of the #SGCultureAnywhere campaign.
More programmes will be announced every month. Subscribe to the SIFA newsletter and visit sifa.sg for the latest news and updates on SIFA v2.020.
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For more information, please contact:
Huntington Communications
T: +65 6339 2883
M: +65 8163 4662
E:
Head, Communications
Arts House Limited
T: +65 6435 0240
M: +65 9274 7553
E:
Manager, Communications
Arts House Limited
T: +65 6435 0176
M: +65 9180 7776
E:
Notes to the Editor:
For high-res images, please click here.
Website: sifa.sg
Facebook: facebook.com/sifa.sg
Twitter: twitter.com/sifa_sg
Instagram: instagram.com/sifa_sg
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SingaporeInternationalFestivalofArtsSIFA
For more information, please refer to the following annex:
ANNEX A – Programme Schedule for June and July 2020
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About the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA)
As Singapore’s annual pinnacle performing arts festival, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) presents captivating and diverse works across theatre, music, dance, film and visual arts. First launched as the Singapore Festival of Arts in 1977, the festival has gone through several evolutions and inspired generations of arts lovers and practitioners. Today, the highly anticipated festival is a high point on Singapore’s arts and cultural calendar. Under the helm of Festival Director Gaurav Kripalani, SIFA continues its festival mission to champion the creation and presentation of Singaporean and international works.
About Arts House Limited
Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching lives through the arts. AHL manages two key landmarks located in the heart of Singapore’s Civic District – The Arts House, a multi-disciplinary arts centre with a focus on literary programming, and the Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, a heritage building that is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. It also runs the Goodman Arts Centre and Aliwal Arts Centre, two creative enclaves for artists, arts groups and creative businesses, and performing arts space Drama Centre. AHL presents the Singapore International Festival of Arts, the annual pinnacle celebration of performance and interdisciplinary arts in Singapore commissioned by the National Arts Council.
AHL was set up in 11 Dec 2002 as a company limited by guarantee (CLG) under the National Arts Council and was formerly known as The Old Parliament House Limited. It was officially renamed Arts House Limited on 19 Mar 2014.
About National Arts Council
The National Arts Council champions the arts in Singapore. By nurturing creative excellence and supporting broad audience engagement, our diverse and distinctive arts inspire our people, connect communities and profile Singapore internationally. We preserve our rich cultural traditions as we cultivate accomplished artists and vibrant companies for the future. Our support for the arts is comprehensive – from grants and partnerships to industry facilitation and arts housing. The Council welcomes greater private and corporate giving to and through the arts, so that together we can make the arts an integral part of everyone’s lives. For more information on the Council’s mission and plans, please visit www.nac.gov.sg.