MEDIA RELEASE Embargoed until 7.30pm, 30 July 2020 HERITAGE AND CULTURE LIGHT UP THE CITY FOR SINGAPORE’S 55TH BIRTHDAY Celebrate National Day and be inspired by our arts, history and culture as 10 of Singapore’s historic buildings and cultural institutions are illuminated in red and white Singapore, 30 July 2020 – 10 National Monuments and arts and cultural institutions across the Bras Basah.Bugis Precinct and the Civic District will be lit up for the first time from 23 July to 30 August 2020 in a show of solidarity and celebration for Singapore’s 55th National Day. 2 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) will be bathed in red and white-themed light projections to symbolise how Singaporeans are #UnitedThroughCulture during this National Day period. The light-up is a joint effort by agencies and institutions under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth: Arts House Limited, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, National Gallery Singapore and National Heritage Board (NHB). 3 Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, said, “National Day this year will be different without the usual large-scale parade and gatherings. However, it is even more important now for all of us to come together and mark our unity and resilience as a nation. The national colours of red and white symbolise our shared values, and also reflect our diversity and growth as a nation. We hope that the light-up across these historically significant buildings in the city centre will inspire Singaporeans to stay strong in overcoming the challenges of the present, just as we have done in the past and will continue to do in the future. Together, we can emerge stronger from these difficult times as one united Singapore.” United in Red and White 4 The 10 buildings have been integral to nation-building, our achievements and our values as a country, and represent different chapters in Singapore’s story. They will be illuminated in red and white, the colours of Singapore’s National Flag, from 23 July to 30 1 August in a show of unity across the arts and culture sector, and to encourage and inspire Singaporeans this National Day. 5 The ACM, National Gallery Singapore and National Museum are well-loved museums housed in National Monuments, and showcase different aspects of Singapore’s arts, heritage and culture. The ACM celebrates Asian imagination, craft and identity, as well as the diverse heritage cultures of Singapore and their global cross-cultural connections through a world- class collection of Asian antiquities and decorative art; the National Gallery Singapore houses the world’s largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian modern art; while the National Museum focuses on Singapore’s social history and our place in the world. 6 As a tribute on our nation’s birthday, ACM’s façade, which faces the historic Singapore River where our modern history began, will be lit in alternating swathes of red and white light. 7 Home to our national art collection, National Gallery Singapore’s façade will be illuminated in national colours of red and white in a show of unity. In addition, the exterior of its veiled canopy facing the Padang will feature projections of 60 original artworks by artists in Singapore. In an open call, the Gallery invited visual artists to provide a new perspective into the National Collection, in relation to current realities experienced. Selected artworks will form a rotating projection on the Gallery’s central veiled canopy, illuminated by colourful lights on its façade. 8 At the National Museum, the whole façade of the museum will be blanketed in a special projection of the National Day 2020 theme: “Together, A Stronger Singapore”. The theme will be projected in all four official languages. 9 The four National Monuments illuminated in the historic Bras Basah.Bugis precinct are testaments to the different communities who have chosen to make Singapore their home, and of our larger social history. The Armenian Church is a reminder of the contributions of the small but influential Armenian community who were among the earliest merchants to arrive in Singapore after it was established as a trading port in 1819. The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd is the oldest Catholic Church in Singapore; the Central Fire Station is the oldest surviving fire station in Singapore and is still used by the Singapore Civil Defence Force today; while CHIJMES functioned as a Catholic convent, and once housed the oldest Catholic girls’ 2 school here. They will be lit in the colours of the National Flag, with red representing universal brotherhood and the equality of man, and white representing pervading and everlasting purity and virtue. 10 Esplanade, The Arts House and VTVCH form the backbone to Singapore’s arts scene. Esplanade is Singapore’s national performing arts centre and is an iconic feature of the Marina Bay and Civic District. The Arts House is believed to be Singapore’s oldest surviving building and the first home of Singapore’s Parliament, and is currently the home of literary arts, while VTVCH is one of Singapore’s oldest performing arts venues. 11 Esplanade’s spiky domes will be lit in red and white till the end of August and Singapore’s Lion Head symbol will be added on to the domes’ lighting design on National Day. At the Esplanade Forecourt Garden facing the Padang, parts of the garden will be lit in three shades of amber in July, splashed red and white in the first three weeks of August, and will end off with calming shades of blue and lavender from the last week of August till Moonfest, Esplanade’s festival in celebration of the mid-autumn season in September. 12 The Arts House will spotlight two spectacular installations inspired by two Singaporean writer/illustrators on its lawn: In Universe by Troy Chin and popular children’s series Sherlock Sam and the Supper Club by writers A.J. Low and illustrator Drewscape, while the main House will be lit in white. Meanwhile, at the VTVCH, its façade as well as interior spaces will be lit in the national colours, creating a dramatic and patriotic hue of the Grand Dame, set against the majestic Singapore skyline. 12 Along with the light-ups, ACM, Esplanade, National Gallery Singapore, National Heritage Board, National Museum, The Arts House and VTVCH will be presenting various National Day programmes – both onsite and digital – from end July to end August. Details can be found at the websites and social media platforms of the institutions. 13 Please refer to Annex A for a full list of participating buildings, and their light-up dates and times. Details can also be found on the Bras Basah.Bugis Website. Hashtags: #SGCultureAnywhere #UnitedThroughCulture #StrengthThroughHeritage 3 - END - For media enquiries, please contact: Cherell Soon Michelle Wong Mobile: 8102 9131 Mobile: 9182 4908 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] About Arts House Limited Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching lives through the arts. AHL manages two key landmarks located in the heart of Singapore’s Civic District -- The Arts House, a multidisciplinary arts centre with a focus on literary programming, and the Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, a heritage building that is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. It also runs the Goodman Arts Centre and Aliwal Arts Centre, two creative enclaves for artists, arts groups and creative businesses, and performing arts space Drama Centre. AHL presents the Singapore International Festival of Arts, the annual pinnacle celebration of performance and interdisciplinary arts in Singapore commissioned by the National Arts Council. AHL was set up in 11 Dec 2002 as a public company under the National Arts Council and was formerly known as The Old Parliament House Limited. It was officially renamed Arts House Limited on 19 Mar 2014. About the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay Esplanade is Singapore’s national performing arts centre. It has a year-round line-up of about 3,500 performances presented by Esplanade, its partners and hirers. As an arts centre for everyone, Esplanade also creates opportunities for seniors, youth, children and underserved communities to experience the arts. More than 70% of the shows that take place each year at the centre are non-ticketed. The centre works in close partnership with local, regional and international artists to develop artistic capabilities and content, push artistic boundaries and engage audiences. Esplanade supports the creation of artistic content by commissioning and producing new Singapore and Asian work for the international stage. It also develops technical capabilities for the industry nationally. To bring even more of the arts to a wider audience and provide more platforms to support Singapore’s next generation of artists, Esplanade is building a new theatre along its busy waterfront. Named Singtel Waterfront Theatre, the 550-seat venue will open in 2021. 4 Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is operated by The Esplanade Co Ltd (TECL), which is a not-for-profit organisation, a registered Charity and an Institution of a Public Character. The Charity Council awarded TECL the Charity Governance Award – Special Commendation for Clarity of Strategy in 2016, and the Charity Transparency Award for four consecutive years since 2016. TECL is funded by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and its Community Programmes are supported by Tote Board Family, comprising Tote Board, Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club. Visit Esplanade.com for more information and Esplanade.com/Offstage for an all-access backstage pass and insider’s guide to Singapore and Asian arts and culture.