The best things to do in Singapore this week (Aug 10-16)

One thing's for sure: red is August's colour. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is back with Red Dot August to celebrate all things Singapore this National Day season. Featuring a power-packed lineup of online performances, Red Dot August promises exciting original works across different art forms, with something to suit all interests. Highlights include an improvised theatre performance by ASAP Improv, a poetry showcase by Migrant Writers of Singapore, and storytelling sessions by MoonShadow Stories and Kamini Ramachandran.

Show that your Singapore pride with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) as it streams its annual National Day concert on Sistic Live. Conducted by Darrell Ang and hosted by Khairudin Saharom, the showcase features the debut works of three young, local composers: Sandra Lim, Jonathan Shin, and Tan Yuting. It also sets the virtual stage for the world premiere of Brahman: Kannagi's Realization by Singapore-based veteran composer John Sharpley, which stars the brilliant Bharatanatyam dancer Kshirja Govind. The programme then culminates with the SSO performing Kelly Tang's 2010 arrangement of the National Anthem which is re-orchestrated for a smaller-sized orchestra.

Originally scheduled to be staged in this year's SIFA, The Year of No Return presents the environmental crisis from the perspective of different individuals and discourses, from an advocate to the environmental scientist and the regular man on the street. While you wait for its premiere next year, you can enjoy teasers of the production through the lens of its various characters via a Zoom play-reading session and four vodcast episodes released on the 15th of each month from now until November. These vignettes are presented through digitalised film, sound, movement, and text that unpacks the themes and ideas within a key strand of the narrative. Together with the vodcast, it gives you a further look into the episodes within the play, including one featuring some of the actors stepping out of their characters to explore their own relationship with the environment.

For a kaleidoscopic virtual feast, immerse yourself in the participative online exhibition featuring the technicolour art of Singapore-born and Berlin-based artist Reza Hasni. Embark on a virtual, free-roaming journey through six illustrated worlds, set in the current time of expanding cyberspace. The exhibition also allows visitors to interact with each other while deepening understandings of the dynamic relationship between the online and offline world.

Take a glimpse into the colourful worlds, psyches and creative processes on seven artists with Life in a Cloud. The digital playbook features intimate five to seven-minute video chapters that spotlight each artist through their specific discipline, as well as the masterpieces they've created during the circuit breaker. Go behind the scenes with artists including filmmaker Kirsten Tan, dancer Santha Bhaskar, visual creator Iskandar Jalil, multidisciplinary artists NADA, novelist Sharlene Teo, architect Randy Chan, and stage directors Kaylene Tan and Paul Rae.

Back by popular demand, The Arts House returns for its sixth run of its creative writing workshop Remember When: From Memories to Monologues creative writing workshop – this time digitally. Created especially for seniors, the workshop guides participants through seven online sessions to capture precious life memories and transform them into dramatic monologues. Under the guidance of theatre director and drama educator Jeffry Tan, learn how to create a character, write convincing dialogue, bring a scene to life through sound and pictures, and the technicalities of acting on stage. On the eighth and final session, shake off your inhibitions and share your work onstage at The Arts House’s Play Den. The performance will be filmed and made available online for viewing – another great one for your memory bank.

The new contemporary art initiative features ordinary sites in Singapore through the eyes of 100 local artists, in response to the ongoing pandemic. These works are published on a microsite that goes live on National Day. Alongside the artists' works and their personal stories, Our Heartlands also features geotags of 100 different locations in Singapore – from the former Zouk Building at Jiak Kim Street and the wet market at Chinatown Complex to Serangoon Green and Toa Payoh Library.

Gajah Gallery welcomes back guests with the latest edition of its annual New Now series – The New Now IV: Tension/Creation. It spotlights fresh and innovative works by emerging artists from Singapore and around the region, including Malaysia's Koh Kai Ting and Noreen Loh Hui Miun, and Indonesia's Luh Gede Gita Sangita Yasa. Repping our sunny shores is none other than Kass Koh. The exhibition explores how each handpicked emerging artist engages with different shades and forms of tension and tribulations in their burgeoning artistic practice, and features works that are marked with organic experimentation, mutation, and change.

Don't bat an eye when you're in the Civic District or the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct – come nightfall, 10 of Singapore's historic buildings and cultural institutions are illuminated in red and white to commemorate Singapore's 55th National Day.  The Armenian Church, Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Central Fire Station, CHIJMES, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, National Gallery Singapore, National Museum of Singapore, The Arts House, and Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall (VTVCH) are bathed in eye-catching light projections to symbolise how Singaporeans remain #UnitedThroughCulture, especially during this National Day period.

While we remain grounded in Singapore, travel the world with your taste buds and a good dose of alcohol at Mo Bar. The team is bringing back the 2019 Nomadic Forager pop-up series, which saw them traveling to local markets in Southeast Asia to explore indigenous ingredients for unique cocktails. The tour goes virtual this year, bringing you to the likes of Vesper (Bangkok), Alice Cheongdam (Seoul), The Curator (Manila), and Room by Le Kief (Taipei). Starting from August 6, each participating venue is taking up a week-long virtual guest shift at the Mandarin Oriental bar’s swanky space. They'll be serving up two signature cocktails from each regional bar and a live virtual session that you can join via QR code to learn more about your drink. Not a bad way to travel.

The brains behind some of the fiery live concerts, drag shows, and comedy events here, LAMC Productions and LA Comedy Live are presenting their new online series and podcast Words & Music. The live chat show aims to inspire people through the music, experiences, and stories of various artists, regardless of race, religion, and sexual orientation. This month's lineup features RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 winner Bob The Drag Queen, Filipino-Brit rising alt-rockstar beabadoobee, King of Romance Engelbert Humperdinck, and musical burlesque queen Ariana Savalas.

Gather the fam, and kickstart the National Day celebrations with the National Library Board (NLB). From spotlighting local authors to shaping the soundscape of Singapore to revisiting the National Day-related treasures, there is plenty to appreciate our multifaceted home. Highlights include One Story, a new literary project by NLB which shares stories written by local authors and are available in English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. First up is One Story: Dharma’s Chariot which is currently available for loan at libraries and via the NLB mobile app. Readers can also look forward to a variety of programmes, ranging from creative writing workshops and book club discussions in all four languages to theatre performances and social media contests from August to October.

There's no denying that migrant communities are pivotal to Singapore's growth. And the third edition of LumiNation delves deeper into this fact by uncovering Singapore's lesser-known narratives and hidden histories. This year's theme, 'The Migration Edition', takes a timely look at how the intricate fabric of Singapore has been woven by the many communities that call Singapore home – from the Baweanese and Peranakans to the country's ecosystem of migrant workers – through a series of talks and videos that aim to spark conversations about nationhood and how migration is central to Singapore's story.

The popular drive-in movie screening is making its monthly return to Downtown East, setting camp at Begonia open-air carpark. It kicks off on August 8 with the award-winning musical The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Zendaya belting out show tunes while telling the story inspired by the Barnum's American Museum and the lives of its star attractions. Unlike those retro drive-in cinemas of the yesteryears, this one features a cutting-edge screen that spans 12-metres in height and 8-metres in length, as well as a bespoke audio set-up where you can get your own 'surround' sound directly in your car via an FM frequency.

Feast your eyes on the facade of one of the National Gallery Singapore as it illuminates in the national colours of red and white in a show of solidarity – all in commemoration of the nation's 55th year of independence and our spirit of resilience this year. The rotating projection on the Gallery's central veiled canopy features 60 original artworks from its Open Call. These artworks are further accentuated by the colourful lights on its façade.

Activists from SG Climate Rally, Speak For Climate, Foodscape Collective and more have banded together to organise a digital festival featuring lively panel discussions and interactive workshops to spark conversations and generate meaningful climate action. Festival opener More Than Tweaks: Discussing Alternative Visions for Singapore brings together former chief economist of the GIC Yeoh Kam Leong together with other prominent activists and academics to discuss different and better futures for Singapore. This panel is for the big dreamers, moving past incremental change to present robust, feasible climate futures that we can all champion.

Before you catch the National Museum of Singapore's new exhibition Home, Truly: Growing up with Singapore, 1950s to the Present, which is set to open later this year, have a taster with its online prelude and companion: @ Home, Truly: A Digital Experience. The digital experience digs further into Singapore's early years of nation-building, unearthing what seems like ordinary yet historic moments from then to today, through the various conversations between a curious nine-year-old, and her beloved Gong Gong (grandfather in Mandarin). Each conversation is brought to life with illustrations by different artists and presented as a chapter exploring an aspect of the historic moment. The digital experience also features an interactive chatbot named Chatbird that presents engaging games and quizzes, allowing you to explore the themes of @ Home, Truly even further.

What do you get when you pair up five established producers with five emerging artists from Singapore's music scene? An exciting five-part video series where sonic worlds collide. It follows five pairs of musicians coming together for the very first time to create original songs around their experiences, thoughts and feelings during the circuit breaker. The catch? These unlikely pairs of musicians from completely different genres are given a weekend each to do so from scratch.

Part of the Walking in the City series, the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) presents specially commissioned artworks on the hoardings currently installed around the perimeter of the museum buildings along Bras Basah Road and Queen Street. The second commission of the series is by Singaporean artist Heman Chong, who represented Singapore at the 50th Venice Biennale. Artist Heman Chong presents two exhibitions: titled Safe Entry and Writing While Walking And Other Stories. Safe Entry, presented on the hoarding along Bras Basah Road, is a cheeky take on the QR code which has become ubiquitous in Singapore recently. Writing While Walking And Other Stories, on the other hand, comprises 2,581 words written by artist Heman Chong and his iPhone 11 during an eight-hour walk around Singapore.

If you're looking to get up close and personal without leaving your own personal cave, you can take a virtual walk on the wild side with Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS). Go behind-the-scenes with the Backstage Pass which offers a private 30-minute session where participants can explore the Elephants of Asia enclosure and get an exclusive up-close experience with the majestic gentle giants. You can also virtually take part in their enrichment activities, learn more about their feedings, and swap fun facts about them with the keeper from the animal care team. The popular Group Sessions, on the other hand, has expanded to feature more feathered friends from Jurong Bird Park's High Flyers Show, and Night Safari's nocturnal stars from Creatures of the Night. The interactive sessions also give us a unique glimpse into their routines and enrichment activities – all from an insider's POV.

Calling all film buffs – there's a new streaming platform in town and you'd want to bookmark this. A digital extension of local independent cinema The Projector, The Projector Plus (also known as P+) is a spankin' new 'digital home' where the community can come together online for the alternative content the cinema is ultimately known for. Expect films that are a reflection of The Projector's curatorial approach to its physical cinema – think cult classics, indie flicks, and titles that might be challenging to get a theatrical release in Singapore. It's also the only cinema with an online platform to showcase films that are rated R21.

The Projector and the Embassy for Italy team up to bring the Virtual Italian Film Festival to the independent cinema's spankin' new streaming platform The Projector Plus from July 30 to September 30. The festival opens with a free online screening of The Champion (II Campione), and followed by a selection of six diverse films for pay-per-view including the award-winning film The Traitor (Il Traditore), indie refugee drama Twin Flowers (Fiore Gemello), and queer romantic comedy An Almost Ordinary Summer (Croce e delizia).

Discover the different sides of Asia with Asian Film Archive (AFA)'s special programme For the Record, which features documentaries spotlighting bold musical acts from across the continent. Screened at the Oldham Theatre, these documentaries give us a glimpse into the cultural, social and political moments of their respective countries, as well as the various struggles the musicians had to endure to have their music heard. Expect a diverse range of contemporary musical forms and genres, from rock, punk, hip-hop to experimental – even weaving in traditional music from their own cultural heritage. Highlights include Anatolian Trip about an amateur psychedelic rock band from bohemian Istanbul, Sonita which follows an Afghan refugee living in the poor suburbs of Tehran, and Raving Iran which features two DJs in Tehran who are struggling to play the music they love and set up dance parties.

Asian Film Archive (AFA) is showcasing more critically acclaimed, festival favourites, and the most promising of contemporary Asian cinema through its regular series Releases. This season, it features two film – India's Gully Boy, and Japan's To the Ends of the Earth. Both are screened at the Oldham Theatre from July 31 to August 29 and September 4 to 25 respectively. Gully Boy follows an aspiring rapper from the slums of Mumbai who defies his parents' white-collar expectations, battles class and social barriers, and rises to fame. To the Ends of the Earth tells the story of an introverted Japanese reality TV host who embarks on a journey of self-discovery with her crew around Uzbekistan.

The HomeTeamNS REAL Run goes virtual for the first time ever. What began as an initiative to promote regular exercise and an active lifestyle among Singaporeans has grown to honour the frontliners from the Singapore Civil Defence Force and Singapore Police Force for their tireless work amidst the pandemic too. If you're wondering just how a virtual run works, it's simple – all you have to do is register for the 5km, 15km or 24km solo category and complete the run at your own pace and running route of choice. When you're done, provide a screenshot of your running app showing the date, time and distance you covered. Online registration runs until September 24, and you have until October 3 to tighten those shoelaces and complete your route.

A 'secret room' awaits you within the art space of Siri House Dempsey. Brought to life by multi-media artist Mojoko, The Secret Room is the latest art installation that shines a torchlight into the mysteries and intrigues of the past – but with a modern twist. Known for his cross-cultural mashups of historical and contemporary pop imagery, the Iranian-born, Hong Kong-raised, and Europe-educated Mojoko finds inspiration in B-movie thrillers and film noir, deconstructs antiques, traditional paintings, and objects, and puts a modern spin to them. Stroke your chin and marvel at over 20 new artworks that vary in mediums such as rosewood furniture, lanterns, ceramics, and glass.

Immerse yourself in Malay literature and theatre with Baca skrip: #____, a monthly series of online play readings presented by local contemporary theatre company Teater Ekamatra on Zoom. This month, it features multi-hyphenated stage icon Aidli Mosbit with Baca skrip: #IkanCantik, a tapestry of six episodic playlets that explore the age-old idea of beauty. Premiered on stage in 1998, the play also explores issues such as the historical (mis)representation of women, gender roles and sexuality, women in popular culture and the biases, and the privileges of female power dynamics. As part of the production, the cast of young actresses had to shave their heads but was severely condemned by the Islamic community. As the memories of that experience left a painful effect, the play has never been re-staged since. Now, revisit the play from the comfort of your home.

Leading up to World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, one of Singapore’s most established non-profit LGBTQ+ organisations Oogachaga is conducting two community workshops on LGBTQ+ suicide prevention online. Conducted by Oogachaga's counsellor Shamini Nedumaran and executive director Leow Yangfa, the workshops invite members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as allies to discuss on topics such as suicide statistics, myths and facts, suicide language and terminology, suicide warning signs, and basic suicide prevention tips.

Celebrate being a true, blue Singaporean with 16 Viddsee short films, all available to binge-watch on meWatch. Presented by Mediacorp and Viddsee, the Scene City anthology is part of the Lights.Camera.Singapore initiative, which champions cultural cornerstones that contribute to the unique Singaporean identity. The Scene City anthology gives viewers a glimpse into the rich and layered narratives, landscapes, and vignettes of life in the city. Highlights include award-winning works such as Pa, and Light By Bedside. The short films are also aired on Channel 5 every Tuesday at 9.30pm, starting from July 28.

Shaw Theatres is bringing a slice of movie magic to your home with KinoLounge. But what sets the virtual cinema platform apart from its physical counterpart is its specially curated list of movies. Most of the titles are not screened in local cinemas and are only exclusively available on KinoLounge. Currently, it’s showing the squirm-inducing psychological thriller Swallow, and unconventional documentaries The Painter and the Thief, and Spaceship Earth.

Back for its third edition, M1 Patch! A (Live) Theatre Festival of Play invites all to delight in a variety of accessible and experimental programmes of design and performing arts. The festival champions the irrepressible spirit of creation and play, especially through meaningful exchanges such as live performances and real-time engagement. However, due to restrictions, this edition sees seven out of eight works presented online.

Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) resumes activity on with its inaugural permanent exhibition which debuted in March this year. Explore what it means to be uniquely Chinese Singaporean through five specially curated interactive zones that spotlight elements that shaped the distinctive Chinese Singaporean identity – from food, language, and traditions to popular culture and music.

Beyond the centre, SCCC is also introducing a series of online offerings including the SCCC YouTube Channel where you can discover lesser-known stories behind the local customs and traditions, as well as relive the Centre's past programmes. The popular TGIF Music Station has since resumed with a refreshed digital format, live streaming performances by local artists every fortnight via SCCC's Facebook page. Over at the SCCC website, you can explore a modern reimagination of traditional Chinese myths and legends as Re-mix's popular Urban Art Exhibition goes online.

In honour of Arctic Sea Ice Day, non-profit organisation Polar Bears International (PBI) and explore.org are joining forces to launch the eighth season of the Beluga Whale Live Cam. Streamed around the clock, the live cam is broadcasted from the Churchill River where it meets Hudson Bay, and offers us, land creatures, a whale's eye view of the white whales swimming, eating, and nursing their calves. Not only is the livestream calming (and a tad hypnotic), it gets exciting when the playful, 13 to 20-feet whales swim towards the camera. Turn up the volume and you might even hear them 'sing'.

Ever wondered the lesser-known stories behind neighbourhoods such as Tanjong Pagar, Pasir Ris, and Kallang? Uncover 'em all as the digital edition of the Singapore Heritage Festival continues to be available online. Check out the online tours, digitally commissioned works, webinars, online masterclasses such as pastry and belachan-making, and more programmes that ooze nostalgia.

NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore (NTU CCA) welcomes back guests this July with the resumption of Non-Aligned till September 27. Expand your knowledge beyond history books by watching three outstanding moving-image works by John Akomfrah, Naeem Mohaiemen, and The Otolith Group. Named after the political movement that was formed in 1961 on the principles such as world peace and cooperation, human rights, anti-racism, respect and disarmament, non-aggression and justice, Non-Aligned dives into the challenging transition periods from colonial rule to the independence of nations. Not only do they take you through the journey of decolonisation in various nations, but also the impact it has on the lives of its people.

Wine, dine, and let local emerging artist Faris Heizer take you through his process-driven creations at his first solo exhibition at Sprmrkt at Cluny Court. Showcasing relatable or familiar narratives and situations, the painter uses his paintings to tell a story, interweaving his sporadic painting process with meta-narratives while highlighting the flux of interplay between composition and pictorial space. Marvel at seven of his masterpieces featuring caricatured figures that draws attention to the artificiality of his painting's narratives, with the figures existing in an abject reality ruled by its own logic and boundaries.

Many Star Wars celebration was called off this May the Fourth due to the circuit breaker, but there's a new hope. This year, the annual Star Wars run goes online the galaxy's first epic virtual run – all at the comfort of your personal treadmill or running path of your nearest neighbourhood park, and at your own pace. Pledging your allegiance to the light or dark side, then choose to go (Han) solo in a 5.4-kilometre run or a pair up with someone from your household for a combined 40-kilometre run. Then, clock in your distance, and receive a commemorative Finisher Trophy upon completion of the virtual run, including a limited edition 40th anniversary gold Darth Vader trophy for 40-kilometre runners.

Find the hidden message – in your own words – in this provocative online exhibition by Dutch contemporary artistic duo, brothers Liam and Noah Skye. Don't be fooled by the monochromatic black-white-gold paintings – each artwork is different. Masterfully done with different media and techniques, as well as layers that are added or revealed, their paintings invite us to explore what is being covered up and what's hidden in plain sight. The exhibition is presented by Addicted Art Gallery.

Calling all fans of Akira – get ready to be transported to an industrial complex set in 2020 Neo-Tokyo that is dedicated to the iconic 1988 post-apocalyptic cyberpunk anime. Curated by The Unusual Network and produced by Metamo Industries, the interactive online 3D art exhibition engages the senses with stunning visuals including 14 masterpieces by artists from Singapore, Japan, and the Philippines, and a specially designed soundscape that elevates the art-viewing experience.

While you wait for the anticipated return of the Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) – the annual celebration of written and spoken word in Singapore's four official languages – relive events from its archive, available to watch on its YouTube channel. Explore the power of familial love with theatre practitioner Zaaki Nasir, catch a passionate debate about Singaporeans’ appetite for love with poet Gwee Li Sui and comedian Fakkah Fuzz, learn all about writing poetry with veteran poet Anne Lee Tzu Pheng, and more from the playlist SWF & Chill.

Continue experiencing the works of print-based local artist Genevieve Chua beyond her largest solo exhibition Twofold with this brand new initiative by STPI – Creative Workshop & Gallery. Marvel at her works through a 360-degree panoramic virtual exhibition via YouTube which is accompanied by a 15-minute guided tour.

The streets of Singapore are slowly coming to life with Streets of Hope. As part of the National Arts Council's (NAC) #SGCultureAnywhere campaign, the kaleidoscopic showcase of street banners by 153 homegrown artists are taking over St Andrew's Road, Fullerton Road, Esplanade Drive, Stamford Road and more for the next three months. The commissioned project aims to bring together artists across generations, backgrounds and mediums, and uplift spirits through creative works of visual art.

Got #SmallBigDreamersAtHome? Let the little Picassos tap into their imagination with creative play including interactive games, guided art tutorials, and immersive art-viewing experiences at the first online art festival in Singapore. The programmes are designed to unleash their inner artist, all while learning about the inspiring artworks from Singapore and Southeast Asia, including those within the National Collection.

Get those creative juices flowing with UOB Art Explorer. Designed for art lovers of all ages even children, the online visual arts programme aims to introduce new worlds and perspectives through its five art initiatives – Art as Therapy, Art at Home, Art in Colours, Art Virtually and Art in Story.

Presented by the National Archives of Singapore, this permanent World War II exhibition gives you a glimpse into the historic Former Ford Factory where the British forces surrendered unconditionally to the Imperial Japanese Army on February 15, 1942. Navigate the events and memories surrounding the British surrender, the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, and the legacies of the war via the immersive, 360-degree virtual experience. Expect oral history accounts, archival records, and published materials.  

Quench your thirst for culture online with the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM). Travel the region without leaving your house through a virtual exploration of ACM's collection of Asian antiquities and decorative arts masterpieces. Otherwise, try your hand at recreating Asian masterpieces with household items. Get the kids to join in the fun too with ACM's kid-friendly online resources, making learning extra fun.

To spice up the stay-home routine, the National Youth Council (NYC) has launched MehGoWhere, a youth-centric microsite to keep youths engaged while practising social distancing at home. The nifty site offers resources to keep 'em in the know, lighthearted content for a laugh, interesting activities for some brain work, and cool ideas like switching up the next food delivery. Even if it's the serious stuff you're particularly concerned about such as the current situation, mental health, career, and financial planning, the site is brimming with resources that might just answer all your burning questions. MehGoWhere also makes a great tool to connect with fellow youngsters, especially if social distancing is making you feel a tad lonely.

Gutted at the postponement of SIFA? To make up for it, SIFA presents its digital portal, better known as SIFA v2.020 where you can get all your art fix. Expect a line-up of engaging programmes and virtual events including talks led by theatre directors and artists, workshops you can take part at home, and special performances.

It's a blast to the past with Films Of Singapore Daily as the YouTube channel offers classic Malay films from the 1950s and 1960s, compiled by local film researcher Toh Hun Ping. It's not just clips either – you can watch monochromatic classics such as the Hang Jebat, Bujang Lapok, and Pontianak in full with English subtitles.  

Since her 2012 arrest for vandalism in Singapore, street artist Sam Lo (SKL0) has shown no signs of slowing down. Instead, she went the extra mile in proving herself and everyone else that she's more than just the 'Sticker Lady', and that she's a force to be reckoned with. Online micro-documentary The Legal Rebel follows Sam's growth since the incident, having experienced intense scrutiny from the public due to the viability of the charges. As part of Not Safe For TV's (NSFTV) Living in Sin series, The Legal Rebel is available to watch on NSFTV's Facebook and Instagram pages.

In the spirit of doing good, National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) and Blu3 Asia launched 15 Shorts for NVPC's one-stop giving platform Giving SG. As it says on the tin, 15 Shorts is a series of short films directed by prominent local filmmakers including Eric Khoo, Kelvin Tong, and Kirsten Tan, spotlighting the pressing issues in Singapore from animal welfare and youth mental health to sports leadership and heritage conservation. Taken on as a passion project for the directors, these films were created on a low-bono, non-profit basis, all in the spirit of building a City of Good. 15 Shorts is available to stream on cityofgood.sg/15shorts and MeWatch (from May 19).

Experience the world-famous magic of Disney at the comfort of your home via the Virtual Disney World channel on YouTube. There are a plethora of 4K Ultra HD videos that offer immersive, 360-degree POV of the Disney-themed parks. With a variety of rides to choose, from the Slinky Dog Dash and the Haunted Mansion to Frozen Ever After and Under The Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid, you'll be spoilt for choice. To get started, simply select a ride, hook it up to your telly, and hit play. Tap into your imagination – feel free to use whatever tools at home – and imagine yourself taking those rollercoaster rides, going up, down, and around against the vibrant backdrop. Keep the kids engaged as well – they'll thank you for the fun.

On May 12, Singapore commemorates 20,000 days since independence. And though we are encouraged to stay at home, there are ways you can celebrate with the community from your own home. The initiative – called #SG20K – was first introduced by Geylang Serai Community Club (CC), which has been very active with its circuit breaker programming. If you want in on this movement, all you have to do is to take a photo of yourself (solo or with family) in red or white with the Singapore flag and upload the photo to your Instagram account using the official #SG20K hashtag. Though they may be small gestures, it makes people feel less socially distant from their neighbours and community.

Have you ever wondered the meaning of the inscriptions on the Singapore Stone, or the sayings of the Sejarah Melayu about the island's mythical beginnings? Go beyond the history books and delve deeper into Singapore's past with Roots' The Singapore Story Through 60 Objects. The online exhibition invites all curious minds to uncover the lesser-known stories behind the National Collection, spotlighting 60 artifacts in particular.

One for film enthusiasts in Singapore and the region, Objectifs Film Library is showcasing over 40 short films made by 14 Southeast Asian filmmakers that are available to rent and binge at home. Among the shorts are those by award-winning Singapore directors Boo Junfeng and Kirsten Tan, as well as regional filmmakers including Thailand's Pimpaka Towira, Cambodia's Davy Chou, and Vietnam's Nguyen Trinh Thi.

And that's not all – Objectifs is debuting its first film club event on April 30 at 9pm via Zoom, and it features Kirsten Tan and actress Oon Shu An. The two will be discussing the challenges of nailing their 2007 sex comedy, Come, which is set in Korea. Come is currently available to stream for free via Objectifs Film Library until April 30.

ArtScience at Home invites visitors of all ages to experience programmes from their snug space. The new initiative acts as a virtual version of the ArtScience Museum where its education activities such as guided exhibition tours and workshops, along with its flagship public programmes including ArtScience Late, Conversations and ArtScience on Screen are translated for the online space.

The National Museum of Singapore is taking its physical Bicentennial exhibition, An Old New World: From the East Indies to the Founding of Singapore, 1600s – 1819, off-ground and online with its digital version from April 15. The virtual exhibition transports you back in time to the bustling trading port of the East Indies that drew the attention of the Dutch and British East India Companies. Uncover the other factors at play leading up to the events of 1819 through this informative exhibition. There are two modes of navigation to choose from – guided and self-exploratory. The former invites you to explore featured artefacts and the surrounding showcases while listening to narrations by curators Daniel Tham and Iskander Mydin about Knowledge and Power and Seeing the Indigenous.

National Gallery Singapore has just launched an online platform for art lovers amidst the 'circuit breaker'. Called #GalleryAnywhere, it is the Gallery's one-stop access to an array of rich digital and virtual experiences to keep art lovers engaged and entertained with art. The portal offers five distinct segments: Browse, Watch, Listen, Play, Explore – each replicating the different experiences you'd get at the Gallery.  #GalleryAnywhere also features content that allows audiences to connect better with artworks they see in the Gallery. Join artist Chua Soo Bin as he tells you first hand the stories behind three of his photographs in the Truths & Legends exhibition, or listen to musician JJ Lin talk about his masterpiece, Journey of a Yellow Man.

Artists are turning into their home studios to create masterpieces inspired by the global crisis and their stay-home practices – think a trippy visual of instant noodle hoarding at a supermarket and photographs of the many positions of social distancing at home. These interesting pieces can be viewed via an online exhibition by local artist-run institution Instinc, and features works by both international and local artists including Yeo Shih Yun and Ezzam Rahman, among others. If your bare walls could do with some art, the works are also up for grabs where 25 percent of the sale proceeds are donated to WHO's Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

The show must go on – line. The exclusive online broadcasts of selected music performances at the centre are available to watch for free. These include other videos, stories, and podcasts on other arts too. Home audiences can cosy up for Haruka Nakamura Piano Ensemble and Aspidistrafly's first avant-garde joint showcase, Mandopop duo StellaVee's catchy pop tunes, Metropolitan Festival Orchestra and DJ KoFlow's genre-defying performance, and more.

Want a body like an A-list celeb? Starting on April 13, you can tone your body at your home-made gym with Barry's 30-minute full-body workouts. Continue to feel the burn every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8am. The workouts will be led by Barry's instructors, helping you recreate the Red Room right in your living room. The 'Barry's Method' will be condensed into a heart-pumping workout that is effective and easy to follow. Stay tuned to the official Instagram account at @barryssingapore for more updates. 

The museum is currently closed for a major facelift and is expected to re-open in 2021. But that doesn't mean you can't take a peek at the what goes – or rather went – on the inside. Home to a wide variety of postage stamps, the museum also holds special themed exhibitions such as The Little Prince: Behind the Story, Shaking It With Shakespeare, and The League Against Evil: A DC Super Heroes Exhibition. And now, you can explore these exhibitions in your slippers at the comfort of your home. Take a virtual tour around the museum and marvel at the cool collections of stamps, artworks, and other paraphernalia by zooming in.

Dust off your DSLR and tune into Nikon School Singapore as the photography school streams live courses online for the first time – and they're absolutely free. Starting from April 11, the famous camera brand is conducting eight courses this month, with plans for another 10 more in May. The in-depth courses are held via Zoom, and feature award-winning and popular photographers covering various lifestyle experiences from discovering wildlife to framing food  – all behind the camera lens.

You can do almost anything virtually these days, including travel. Explore.org and Polar Bears International are live-streaming the Northern Lights, so you can watch the aurora borealis in its full glory right from your couch. The live cam is planted directly underneath the aurora oval in Churchill, Manitoba, which is one of the best places on earth to witness the Lights.

Some of the zoos around the world have adapted to the situation by allowing the public to 'visit' the zoo via webcams and live-streaming. If you're wondering how our local wildlife are doing, explore Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve through its Animal Cams. The three cameras focus on the view from the main bridge, the biggest bird hide in the reserve and the pond. If you're lucky, you might even see otters frolicking by the water, migratory birds feeding or even freshwater crocodiles making its way down the river.