Welcome to Time Out Singapore's 52 Weeks of #ExcitingSG – our commitment to showing you the best of what's going on in the city this week. Every Monday, a guest writer who's "in" with the scene shares a recommendation on what to see, eat, do or buy in the city. This week, we chat with Angelita Teo, the director of the National Museum of Singapore and the festival director of this year’s Singapore Night Festival (SNF), which takes place from August 17 to 25. Here’s what she thinks about the state of the arts in Singapore, what she’s inspired by and more on what to expect from this year’s Night Fest.
What gets you excited about Singapore?
The return of Singapore Night Festival (SNF)! It’s great to see everyone celebrating our arts scene in a big way. Moulded by artists, designers, engineers, architects and so on, SNF is a diverse mix of cross-disciplinary influences coming together to create something beautiful.
Why is the SNF important?
I believe that the festival is part of the larger Singapore arts ecosystem. It helps to enrich and make arts, heritage and culture accessible to all. As there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach, the festival is curated with different entry points in mind to make sure everyone experiences the arts in a positive way.
What keeps you inspired?
The number of ways museums and festivals shape and express our unique identity as a nation, while encouraging a more open society and pushing artists to further their craft.
Any thoughts on what can be done to further develop the arts scene here?
Despite the increase in interest, more can still be done to grow the local arts scene, as well as ensure that the arts remain relevant and accessible for people. I think we can also do more to celebrate artistic excellence and encourage our young talent with an arts-infused curriculum in school and more exposure to the arts outside the classroom. We can also offer budding artists more scholarships.
What can we expect at this year’s SNF?
There are too many to choose from! We’re thrilled to have a great line-up of local and international acts and performances that provide diverse and immersive experiences for everyone. We also love to curate creative and unexpected encounters – visitors can look forward to a mural in Bras Basah.Bugis coming alive during the festival. Admission is free so come down and join us!