PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION

Corporate Communications Division 9, King George’s Avenue 208582 Tel: (65) 6340 5430/5432/2032 Fax: (65) 6348 5977 Website: www.pa.gov.sg

27 June 2017

PASSIONARTS FESTIVAL 2017 OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF THE START OF OVER 500 ART ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMES ISLAND-WIDE WITH OPENING EVENT, LANDARTS @ BISHAN- PARK

PAssionArts Festival 2017, a nationwide community arts festival, themed ‘Arts of Wonder, One Nation’, is collectively presented by PA’s network of 88 Community Arts & Culture Clubs (CACCs) working alongside 150 local artists/art groups across the nation.

2 The Festival will officially kick off on 1 July, Saturday with the opening event LandArts @ Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is the Guest-of- Honour and will tour the various art exhibits. He will meet the residents and artists who created the LandArts. About 10,000 residents are expected to turn up at the LandArts @ Bishan-AMK lasting for 3 days from 30 June to 2 July 2017.

3 LandArts @ Bishan-AMK Park will present many art highlights, including an interactive Kids’ Art Village for the young and their families to enjoy and participate. For example,

i. ‘My Avatar Kinetic Video Installation, a kinetic art installation created by Artist Eugene Soh, using drawings by 150 pre-schoolers from Ang Mo Kio GRC, 50 of which were chosen to be converted as the avatars.

ii. Whimsical Tales Art Installation, a paper art installation co-created by 300 pre-schoolers facilitated by Artist Eunice Lim (resident of AMK GRC).

4 Another interesting highlight at LandArts is the Poetry Forest and Giant Batik Painting Display (40 metres by 20 metres) painted by renowned batik artists Ika Sarkasi), which includes poems written in four languages by students and acclaimed poets, including Marc Nair (2016 Young Artist Award Recipient), Pan Cheng Lui (Former Chief Editor, Shin Ming Daily), Nadiputra (1986 Cultural Medallion Recipient) and Thangaraju s/o Muthu Veerasamy (Recipient of many literary awards), etc.

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5 Other art installation highlights include:

a) A Water Lily Garden and Plank Art Display: Large-scale water lilies (7-metre in diameter), Stalks (3.5-metre in height), Stalks (2.5-metre width by 1.5-metre height) and lily bud flowers (3.5-metres width by 1-metre height) created from intricately hand-painted planks. Many pieces of hand-painted planks featuring multi-racial figurines, iconic landmarks, and landscapes of places that resonate strongly with the community. A total of 20,000 planks were used for the installations. Contemporary musical performances alongside the artworks will showcase a fusion of different art forms.

b) Art of the Galaxy: 300 art pieces displayed on crescent moon and stars structures co-created by 400 residents, The Everyday Revolution (a Support Group comprising Parents and Children with autism), Pathlight School and local artists, including Vijaya Mohan (Guinness World Record Rangoli Artist), Mr Vincent Seet, Mr Low Tho Seng and Band of Doodlers.

c) Senses: Featuring numerous pairs of animatronic eyes and mouths co-created by youths from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), Band of Doodlers and residents from Bishan- GRC.

6 LandArts @ Bishan-AMK Park will kick-start PAssionArts Festival 2017, which will be held from 1 July to 9 August 2017. Residents can look forward to over 500 art activities and programmes island-wide, including visual art displays and performing arts co-created by residents and artists. The Festival aims to use arts to epitomise the creativity and aspirations of Singaporeans from all walks of life and foster a sense of togetherness. Through the collective efforts of the 88 CACCs, the Festival also aims to bring quality community art displays to all members of the public and to use arts to celebrate National Day 2017.

Prime Minister Community Initiatives Award (CIA)

7 Prime Minister will also be giving out the Community Initiatives Awards, which he established in 2012. Administered by PA, the Community Initiatives Awards fund ground- up initiatives by constituencies aimed at fostering an inclusive, caring and cohesive community.

8 Performing at the Festival kick-off is Bishan East-Thomson Chamber Orchestra, one of the 10 winning projects to receive the award from the Prime Minister. The orchestra has brought together youth performers staying in both the HDB and private estates to perform for the community, helping them broaden their social circle and experience through their shared passion in music.

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9 People’s Association cordially invites your journalist, cameraman and photographer to the official opening of the PAssionArts Festival 2017 at LandArts @ Bishan- Ang Mo Kio Park on 1 July 2017, Saturday.

10 For more details on photo/footage opportunities, please refer to the programme in Annex A. Interviews with participants can also be arranged onsite or ahead of the official opening.

11 Please RSVP with Ms Jiayi Lim via email: [email protected] or contact number 9831 6890 by Thursday, 29 June 2017, 5.00pm.

12 Event details are as follows:

Date: Saturday, 1 July 2017

Time: 4:30PM – 8:00PM (Media Registration at 4.45pm. Media Briefing will start punctually at 5pm)

Venue: Bishan – Ang Mo Kio Park River Plains, Entrance via Carpark A (Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, Singapore 569981)

Contact persons : Mr Vincent Chia Head (Special Projects) HP: 98897842 Email: [email protected]

Ms Jiayi Lim HP: 9831 6890 Email: [email protected]

Issued by : Corporate Communications Division People’s Association Tel: 6340 5430, 6340 5432, 6238 2032

About People’s Association

The People’s Association (PA) is a statutory board established on 1 July 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion, and to act as a bridge between the Government and the people. We offer a wide range of community programmes and volunteering opportunities for Singaporeans from all walks of life. Our network includes more than 1,800 grassroots organisations (GROs), over 100 Community Clubs, five Community Development Councils, National Community Leadership Institute and Water-Venture. More information at www.pa.gov.sg.

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About the Programme

Our mission is to inspire different communities through collective quality arts and culture experience, for residents to celebrate, build and grow meaningful relationships to make friends and build our sense of home. Connect with us through www.facebook.com/PAssionArts.Sg.

Bringing arts and culture to everyone, everywhere, everyday!

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Annex A

PAssionArts Festival 2017 Opening Event – LandArts @ Bishan – Ang Mo Kio Park

Date: Saturday, 1 July 2017, Saturday Time: 4.30pm to 7pm Venue: Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (River Plains, Entrance via Carpark A)

PROGRAMME

Time Description

4.45pm Media Arrival & Registration

5.30pm Arrival of Guest-of-Honour:

Grassroots Adviser Mr Lee Hsien Loong Prime Minister MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC

5.35pm Plank Art Features Plank Art (human figures, landscapes and community nostalgic icons) contributed by Singaporeans.

5.40pm Welcome by Pathlight School (Teck Ghee Photo Opportunity #1 Division) percussion group GOH and Grassroots Advisers to join Pathlight School students to play percussion against the backdrop of the Plank Art.

5.45pm Art of the Galaxy Features 300 artworks (comprising four genres, displayed on crescent moon and stars) co-created by:

 Local artists including Vijaya Mohan (Guinness World Record Rangoli artist), Mr Vincent Seet, Mr Low Tho Seng and Band of Doodlers  400 residents

View a contemporary dance performance by Northlight and Laselle dancers amidst the crescent moon and stars. 5

6.00pm Children Marching Band Leave the Art of Galaxy on the way to Kids’ Art Village.

View the Kinderland’s Children Marching Band.

6.05pm Kids’ Art Village At the entrance to the Kids’ Art Village – view the Family Orchestra, comprising children from Kids’ Philharmonic and children from lower income families in - division.

6.10pm My Avatar Kinetic Video Installation Appreciate kinetic art installation created by artist Eugene Soh, using 50 drawings by pre-schoolers from AMK GRC, which were chosen to be converted as the avatars.

6.15pm LumiArt3 Appreciate carousel installations featuring horses and mystical creatures made from cardboard, co-created by 500 Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC residents

6.20pm Whimsical Tales Appreciate outdoor paper art installation co-created by 300 pre-schoolers and artist Eunice Lim.

6.25pm Sensorial Teepees Photo Opportunity #2 Dress up three teepees approximately GOH and Grassroots Advisers will 2.4m in height. participate in dressing up the teepees together with the children. Residents participate in co-creating the artwork by dressing the teepees in ribbons.

6.30pm Water Lily Garden Photo Opportunity #3 Appreciate the installation accompanied by GOH will be invited to spot his the Nova Winds musical performance. contribution to the community art that was completed at West.

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6.45pm Poetry Forest and Batik Painting Appreciate poems written in Four languages co-created by local renowned poets, students (such as Anderson Junior College) and residents. The poems are inspired by a batik painting by renowned artist Ika Sarkasi.

6.55pm Senses Featuring numerous pairs of eyes and mouths co-created by NYP students, Band of Doodlers and residents from Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

7.05pm Presentation of Prime Minister Community Initiatives Award 2017 GOH to proceed to present the awards.

7.25pm Performance by Bishan East-Thomson Chamber Orchestra, which is also one of the recipients of the Prime Minister Community Initiatives Award, as GOH takes his leave.

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Annex B

PAssionArts Festival 2017 Opening Event: LandArts @ Bishan – Ang Mo Kio Park

Date: 1 July 2017, Saturday Time: 4.30pm to 7pm Venue: Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (River Plains, Entrance via Carpark A)

Location Map

Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (River Plains, Entrance via Carpark A) along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1

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