First-ever Civic District Outdoor Festival Brings Art and Culture Beyond the Art Institutions

Civic District Outdoor Festival offers the first outdoor multimedia circuit, across six programme zones and over 40 outdoor and indoor programmes by four iconic institutions

4 August 2017 – The Civic District precinct is set to transform with the inaugural Civic District Outdoor Festival: When Time Stood Still. Held over the first two weekends in August, visitors to the Civic District Outdoor Festival can look forward to an inaugural Projection Trail with multimedia projections being mapped onto four heritage buildings for the first time, including the façade of National Gallery Singapore. Put together by a Singapore creative team, this immense Projection Trail will be the largest outdoor multimedia circuit featuring the story of “Hemera’s Dream” through a poetic and imaginative exploration of the Festival’s creative theme – When Time Stood Still.

Themed ‘When Time Stood Still’, the Civic District Outdoor Festival will offer visitors a suite of immersive art installations, art market, food street, enthralling roving acts and live music sessions that aim to extend the art experience beyond the walls of the art and cultural institutions in the Civic District. By featuring artworks outdoor and allowing it to be a part of the Civic District landscape, visitors are offered a unique and immersive experience by four arts and culture institutions in the Civic District, which for the first time have come together to showcase an extensive suite of engaging exhibitions and programmes.

The Civic District Outdoor Festival is presented by National Gallery Singapore, in partnership with The Arts House, Asian Civilisations Museum and Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall. Known as the birthplace of modern Singapore, the Civic District has been transformed into a vibrant precinct with these arts and cultural institutions housed in the country's most historic buildings. These timeless monuments, which span 200 years of Singapore's history from the colonial period through to World War II and independence, now showcase art and culture for the enjoyment of Singaporeans and visitors from all over the world.

Said Ms Suenne Megan Tan, Festival Director, Civic District Outdoor Festival, and Director (Audience Development & Engagement), National Gallery Singapore, “The Civic District area has had a long tradition as a common, shared space where people from all walks of life meet to interact and bond, with food, displays of crafts and performances which were enjoyed by all communities. The four heritage monuments – National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, The Arts House and Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, have inter-connections through history. The Festival aims to form new connections through art and culture, now that these institutions house content that span across the visual, performing and literary arts, making this the artistic and creative pulse of the Civic District.”
 

Some Festival highlights include:

• Hemera’s Dream: Outdoor Projection Trail, an imaginative exploration of ‘When Time Stood Still’ with multimedia projections being mapped onto the facades of National Gallery Singapore, The Arts House, Asian Civilisations Museum and Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall
• Intrude by Amanda Parer, a stunning installation of large illuminated inflatable rabbits of varying heights with the tallest being 7-metres tall, by Tasmanian artist Amanda Parer that will be shown in Singapore for the first time in the heart of the Padang
• The Time Vortex by Adeline Loo, an outdoor installation where Loo responds to the festival’s theme "When Time Stood Still" with her own version of a time tunnel. Comprising strings forming a vortex, this structure of trans-dimensional planes encourages viewers to explore the notion of time stopping, much like when Hemera and Aether left the cosmic clock at a standstill.
• Aether’s Art Market, a creative marketplace where visitors can buy one-of-a-kind pieces by Singapore artisans and craft makers
• Hemera’s Feast, which offers gastronomic delights to fuel visitors at the event
• A Dragon Behind The Door & More! held at Empress Lawn, a dynamic interplay of puppets, music, and larger-than-life characters for an immersive experience of theatrical performance and craft activities
• Live performances and roving acts by Singapore musicians and song-writers, such as Inch Chua, Joie Tan, Jack & Rai, MICappella, Nat Ho & Gayle Nerva,
• Alvin, Naz & Sara (53A), M1LDL1FE, STUART, Jill-Marie Thomas, ShiLi & Adi, Charmaine Pelaez, HubbaBubbas and many more
• Open House programmes and extended opening hours at National Gallery Singapore, The Arts House, Asian Civilisations Museum and Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall.
   

“With six programme zones, it’s time for everyone to get outdoors and enjoy the Civic District with us. The programmes are specially curated for visitors to rediscover the Civic District in fresh ways and to experience Singapore’s creative and artistic expressions in the heart of the city,” said Ms Tan, “And beyond the two outdoor zones of the Padang and Empress Lawn, visitors are invited to explore the four indoor Open House programme zones offered by National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, The Arts House and Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall.”

The Festival, runs across two weekends on 4 – 5 August 2017 and 11 – 12 August 2017, offering art experiences both outdoors and indoors, with programmes running till late. National Gallery Singapore and Asian Civilisations Museum will also be extending their opening hours till midnight.

Civic District Outdoor Festival: When Time Stood Still is proudly supported by development partner, Tote Board and programme partner, National Arts Council.

“Tote Board is happy to support the inaugural Civic District Outdoor Festival, with a rich tapestry of art and culture complemented with the history of the museums in the civic district. Singaporeans from all walks of life can enjoy the festival and appreciate the excellent art and culture being presented by National Gallery Singapore,” said Mr Fong Yong Kian, CE, Tote Board.

Ms Chua Ai Liang, Senior Director, Engagement & Participation, National Arts Council said, “The arts are a great way to bring people together, especially in outdoor spaces. We want both Singaporeans and international visitors to experience the Civic District, through the exciting programme that has been lined up and the showcase of home grown talent. We’re confident the inaugural Civic District Outdoor Festival will grow to become a much anticipated and distinctive offering on our cultural calendar.”

The Festival also kicks off two major festivals at the heart of the city in August, aimed at bringing art and culture closer to the people. Visitors can look forward to the Civic District Outdoor Festival at the start of the month, and ending with the Singapore Night Festival at the month’s end.

Admission to the Festival is free. St Andrew’s Road will be closed during the two weekends on Friday and Saturday from 4pm till 1am.

For more details about the Festival’s activities and programmes, please refer to Annex A. You may also visit www.civicdistrictoutdoor.sg.