Arts in Your Neighbourhood is organised by the National Arts Council (NAC), the 13th edition of Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) returns with over 45 specially curated family-friendly programmes taking place at 13 locations across three weekends from 7 to 24 November 2019.
This edition’s town focus is on Punggol, more than 50% of AYN November’s programmes are inspired by the neighbourhood and will bring out the interesting contrast from its origins to the space it is envisioned to be. Once a village with poultry, pig and vegetable farms, Punggol has transformed into a waterfront town and is now home to Singapore’s youngest population with the highest proportion of families with children under the age of five. The neighbourhood-centric programmes encourage Singaporeans and residents in the area to participate and rediscover Punggol together through the arts.
AYN’s line-up will cater to young families with interactive and participatory programmes to inspire arts appreciation in the young and encourage bonding through family-friendly activities. As Punggol is said to be the future digital district, this edition’s programmes span across various art forms from music and dance to visual and literary arts, and will also involve technology and collaborations across genres that will excite a diverse range of audiences and enhance arts experiences for all. For example, those who spot AYN’s advertisements at various neighbourhood bus stops will be able to play a mobile web-based game and hunt for giant five stones hidden in a map of Punggol, a reference to the playful public art installation as one of the highlight programmes this season.
Here’s some of the highlight programmes this AYN November include:
Sensing Punggol – Be intrigued by the stories through a collaborative artwork of “data sculptures” created from environmental data collected by residents of Punggol from around the neighbourhood.
Five Stones – Reminisce personal memories and shared histories with the inflatable large-scale five stones in this playful and interactive public art project, a commission by NAC’s Public Art Trust in commemoration of the Singapore Bicentennial.
A Rainbow Odyssey – Participate in an ‘arts amazing race’ with your family and join in the theatrical adventure through a rainbow-licious playground to find the lost treasure with Dottie and her friends.
7 Wonders of Punggol – Experience the beauty of seven iconic locations around Punggol through this multi-disciplinary, multi-ethnic performance by Brahmastra which integrates music, poetry, and puppetry.
Other family-friendly programmes that will appeal to younger audiences include:
A Little Bed Trip (Petite Nuit Au Lit) – Explore the world of dreams and the transition from waking up to falling asleep in this theatrical vertical dance featuring nine beds piled on top of one another. This programme is held in collaboration with the French Embassy and Institut Francais, in conjunction with Voilah! Festival.
Every Little Step I Take – Add a little waltz to your everyday walk with this interactive footprint trail in Punggol and catch pop-up performances along the way.
Fun with Music – A Trip to the Zoo! – Go on an imaginary trip to the zoo and enjoy an original work that introduces wind instruments and orchestral music in a fun fashion.
Admission is free for all programmes
To find out more, please visit https://artsforall.sg/
