Monstrous Fun! @ The Arts House presents family-friendly activities inspired by local literature and the Goodman Open House @ Goodman Arts Centre returns to celebrate the unique artistic talents of its tenants
Singapore, 10 May 2023 - This June, Arts House Limited (AHL) presents a myriad of fun-filled activities across two weekends at AHL’s venues, The Arts House (TAH) and Goodman Arts Centre (GAC). The annual children’s multilingual literary arts festival Monstrous Fun! @ The Arts House returns from 16 June to 17 June 2023 with imaginative arts and craft activities inspired by home-grown stories, bilingual storytelling sessions, interactive tours, and a Magical Monster Hunt. On the following Saturday, 24 June 2023, GAC will open its doors once again for the Goodman Open House @ Goodman Arts Centre with open studios, engaging workshops, a pop-up artist market, and a closing parade showcasing the vibrant artistic talents of GAC’s tenants and participants.
See local children’s stories come to life with interactive literary art activities at The Arts House
Returning for its second edition, Monstrous Fun! @ The Arts House invites families to embark on a literary adventure and let their imagination run free in the fantastical world of children’s stories by Singapore-based authors. Families can expect a wide range of captivating literary-based programmes in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil for children aged 3-12 years at TAH.
Encouraging children to delve into the imaginative world of folklores and local tales, Monstrous Fun! presents a line-up of interactive programmes that brings these stories to life. This includes the immersive The Arts House Story Tour that takes children on a journey to discover the history behind Singapore’s oldest government building and the Giant Poetry Wall that invites young ones to try their hand at crafting their very own poems. Participants can also anticipate the return of the well-loved Magical Monster Hunt with mystical mysteries and puzzles to uncover, and activities that blend arts and craft with children’s stories such as wire sculpture making and mask painting.
Experience a new world of listening and engaging with stories through captivating literary sessions in our four national languages, with programmes ranging from bilingual author-reading sessions, to dramatic storytelling and role-playing activities as well as illustration and comic drawing workshops. With a dizzying array of programmes that are specially curated to encourage children’s curiosity in all things literary, there is something for everyone to enjoy at Monstrous Fun! @ The Arts House.
Celebrate the diverse artistic talents of Goodman Arts Centre’s tenants at the Goodman Open House
Goodman Arts Centre opens its doors once again for a meaningful and fun-filled day of programmes and activities for families ranging across a variety of art forms such as music, dance and visual arts. Showcasing the unique talents of artists at Singapore’s largest arts enclave while engaging the community through the arts, this year’s Open House presents an eclectic array of open studios, workshops, performances, all-day activities, and a pop-up market.
For this year’s edition, the Open House programme has partnered long-term GAC tenant, Kamini Ramachandran, Director of Moonshadow Stories and The Storytelling Centre Ltd, as Guest Artistic Director to conceptualise this year’s programmes.
Kamini’s programming focuses on audience participation as a way of introducing various art forms to visitors. Expect garden trails, live painting demonstrations and storytelling sessions that activate different outdoor pockets of the enclave. Step into artists’ studios for personal viewing and sharing sessions with the artists. Join in with dancers and musicians and wind down with a sound bath. The festivities culminate with a Tenants Parade in celebration of the artists, where participants are invited to showcase their special creations from the day’s exciting workshops and activities.
Kamini Ramachandran, Director of Moonshadow Stories and The Storytelling Centre Ltd said, “As a Goodman Arts Centre tenant who has been a part of the Goodman Open House for many years, I am honoured to be Guest Artistic Director for this year’s Open House. In celebration of our vibrant GAC tenants, we are excited to introduce a new Tenants Parade for the community to come together and showcase their diverse artistic talents. We look forward to welcoming audiences this June for a day brimming with exciting art activities."
Sim Wan Hui, Director, Programming and Producing, at Arts House Limited said, “Arts House Limited is committed to bringing accessible art activities to the community. We bridge the arts and audiences by transforming ideas into reality through our distinctive spaces and programmes. We are pleased to offer a refreshing slate of creative art experiences this June, from literary-based multilingual programmes for young ones to a multitude of art activities to inspire families, youth and art enthusiasts of all ages from different walks of life."
For programme information and high-resolution images, please refer to our digital media kit here.
Many programmes are free (some require registration), and some workshops are ticketed. More details on ticketing and the full list of programmes for Monstrous Fun! @ The Arts House and Goodman Open House @ Goodman Arts Centre may be found in the following annexes:
- Annex A: Full programme line-up for Monstrous Fun! @ The Arts House
- Annex B: Full programme line-up for Goodman Open House @ Goodman Arts Centre
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For more information, please contact:
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Emily Teo Senior Associate Tate Anzur M: +65 8790 4998 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Rachel Leow Associate Tate Anzur M: +65 9680 9350 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Follow #MonstrousFun on:
Website: https://artshouselimited.sg/tah-monstrous-fun
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theartshouse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartshouse
Follow #GoodmanOpenHouse on:
Website: https://artshouselimited.sg/gac-goh-2023
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodmanartscentre
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodmanartscentre
About Arts House Limited
Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching lives through the arts. AHL is the cultural place manager of Singapore's Civic District. It manages two key national monuments - 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 performing arts space Drama Centre as well as three creative enclaves for artists, arts groups and creative businesses - the Goodman Arts Centre, Aliwal Arts Centre, and Stamford Arts Centre.
AHL organises the Singapore International Festival of Arts - an annual pinnacle performing arts festival; as well as the Singapore Writers Festival - a multi-lingual festival presenting the world's leading literary talents. In addition, AHL manages Our Cultural Medallion Story – the showcase on Singapore's Cultural Medallion recipients at The Arts House.
Arts House Limited is a public company limited by guarantee under the National Arts Council. First set up as The Old Parliament House Limited in 2002, it was renamed Arts House Limited in 2014. For more information, visit https://artshouselimited.sg/
Annex A: Programme line-up for Monstrous Fun! @ The Arts House
Date: 16 - 17 June 2023, Friday and Saturday
Time: 10am to 5pm
Location: Various venues at The Arts House
Ticketing: Free and ticketed programmes available
All-day Activities (Free)
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Time |
Venue |
Programme |
Tenant/Parent |
| Drop-in activities
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16, 17 June 10am – 5pm |
Gallery II |
Create Your Own Pet Monster By IQkidz This activity is conducted in English.
Have you always wanted to create your very own pet monster? Now you can! Learn how to use everyday materials found in your house and transform them into your own little monster, however you like it to be. Maximise your creativity and save the environment at the same time in this activity using upcycled and found materials. Suitable for families with children aged 3 and above. |
About IQKidz IQkidz strives to give young children a positive learning experience through a fun and enriching curriculum. Encouraging children to enjoy the freedom to explore independently and express creativity in multiple ways, IQkidz believe every child is born creative, and their facilitators are merely scaffolding the discovery of the innate talents in children through a spectrum of planned, exploratory activities to help them connect with their world. |
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16, 17 June 10am – 5pm |
Gallery II |
Make Me A Max Sculpture By IQkidz This activity is conducted in English.
Max has just moved to a new home, but all the other cats are afraid of him because he's blue! Follow Max around his new neighbourhood as he tries to find a friend, and you can be Max’s friend too by making a wire sculpture of him and bringing it back home with you. Look out for the QR code at the activity station to watch the story of Max read out loud. Suitable for families with children aged 6 and above. This activity is inspired by the book, A Blue Cat’s Tale, available for loan at a public library near you. |
About IQKidz IQkidz strives to give young children a positive learning experience through a fun and enriching curriculum. Encouraging children to enjoy the freedom to explore independently and express creativity in multiple ways, IQkidz believe every child is born creative, and their facilitators are merely scaffolding the discovery of the innate talents in children through a spectrum of planned, exploratory activities to help them connect with their world.
Inspired by the book: A Blue Cat’s Tale Written by Sangeetha Madhavan, original paintings by Michelle Chang, published by Straits Times Press, SPH Media Limited.
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16, 17 June 10am – 5pm |
Gallery II |
Paint An Animal Mask from Old Singapore By IQkidz This activity is conducted in English.
Do you know that old Singapore once was covered in jungle, filled with many wild animals roaming around? Be inspired by the tales of old Singapore and its animals and paint your own animal-inspired mask to roam around The Arts House! Look out for the QR code at the activity station to watch the stories of some of these animals read out loud. Suitable for families with children aged 6 and above. This activity is inspired by the book, Tiger Tales: Almost True Animal Stories from Old Singapore, available for loan at a public library near you. |
About IQKidz IQkidz strives to give young children a positive learning experience through a fun and enriching curriculum. Encouraging children to enjoy the freedom to explore independently and express creativity in multiple ways, IQkidz believe every child is born creative, and their facilitators are merely scaffolding the discovery of the innate talents in children through a spectrum of planned, exploratory activities to help them connect with their world.
Inspired by the book: Tiger Tales: Almost True Animal Stories From Old Singapore Written by Joyceline See Tully; illustrated by Chloe Chang; published by Pepper Dog Press. |
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16, 17 June 10am – 5pm |
Gallery II |
The Giant Poetry Wall By IQkidz This activity is conducted in English.
Words make sounds when read out loud – they sometimes even rhyme! Have you ever tried creating your own poems? Pick a spot at our Giant Poetry Wall and try your hand pairing words together to form rhymes – you might be surprised at what you can do. Don’t forget to take a picture with your poem and tag us at #theartshouse! Suitable for families with children aged 5 and above. This activity is inspired by the book, Do You See What I See?: Poems for Children, available for loan at a public library near you. |
About IQKidz IQkidz strives to give young children a positive learning experience through a fun and enriching curriculum. Encouraging children to enjoy the freedom to explore independently and express creativity in multiple ways, IQkidz believe every child is born creative, and their facilitators are merely scaffolding the discovery of the innate talents in children through a spectrum of planned, exploratory activities to help them connect with their world.
Inspired by the book: Do You See What I See? : Poems for Children Written by Felix Cheong ; illustrated by Anngee Neo; published by Straits Times Press, SPH Media Limited. |
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16, 17 June 10am – 5pm |
The Arts House |
Let’s Go on a Magical Monster Hunt! This activity is conducted in English.
Oh no, someone stole the story chest from our Monsters, and we need to hunt down the thief and get it back! Join forces with our brave Monsters to solve puzzles and unlock clues to help them find their story chest and way back to the magical Land of Tales. Pick up a copy of the Monster Hunt map and start your hunt around The Arts House by looking out for the puzzle boards to solve and unlock clues. Make sure the Monsters’ story chest gets transported back safely! Suitable for families with children aged 3 and above. |
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16, 17 June 10am – 5pm |
The Culture Medallion Gallery |
The Cultural Medallion Literary Pursuit This activity is conducted in English.
Do you know? The Cultural Medallion Award is the highest award given for the arts in Singapore, and among them are writers and poets whose works often bring new and interesting ways of looking at the world we live in. Since knowledge is treasure and wisdom is gold, join in this pursuit to hunt for all things literary about our Cultural Medallion recipients! To play, scan the QR code provided at the Our Cultural Medallion Story showcase and start hunting for the answers within the gallery by following the steps provided! Suitable for families with children aged 7 and above. |
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16, 17 June 10am – 5pm |
The Arts House, Level 1
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The Monstrous Fun Book Fair Inspired to read more terrific tales and snazzy stories? Swing by our Monstrous Fun Book Fair to pick out interesting titles to add on to your book collection! Specially curated for young readers, pick from a wide range of genres and languages to satisfy the curious reader in you. Suitable for families and children aged 3 to 12. Closetful of Books will only be available on 17 June 2023. |
About Maha Yu Yi Maha Yu Yi Pte Ltd is a family-run business established in 1969. Their books range from picture books to novels and comics for toddlers, primary school children, and secondary school students. They have the best collection of Chinese children’s books in Singapore and are highly recommended by teachers and parents alike. About Closetful of Books Closetful of Books is a roaming bookstore that specialises in children's literature. Founded in 2013 on the firm belief that every child can become a super-duper voracious reader, they are dedicated to helping educators nurture in their students a love for stories through their book fairs, interactive author visits and comprehensive library services. |
Guided Tour (Ticketed)
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Interactive guided tour of TAH and CM |
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Time |
Venue |
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16, 17 June 11am, 2pm, and 4pm |
The Arts House |
The Arts House Story Tour By IQKidz This session is conducted in English.
What was The Arts House used for in the past, and who were the people who sat in the rooms and walked the corridors? Join in this educational tour of The Arts House to learn the history behind Singapore’s oldest government building. Find out interesting facts about the building and its people, and discover important events that happened in The Chamber that shaped Singapore to who we are today. Look out for the QR code at the end of the tour to watch a story about the Red Box, a box that is closely related to the events of The Arts House’s history.
Suitable for families with children aged 5 and above. This activity is inspired by the book, What’s Inside the Red Box?, available for loan at a public library near you. |
About IQKidz IQkidz strives to give young children a positive learning experience through a fun and enriching curriculum. Encouraging children to enjoy the freedom to explore independently and express creativity in multiple ways, IQkidz believe every child is born creative, and their facilitators are merely scaffolding the discovery of the innate talents in children through a spectrum of planned, exploratory activities to help them connect with their world. Inspired by the book: What’s Inside the Red Box? Written and illustrated by Phua San San; published by Straits Times Press, SPH Media Limited. |
Workshops and Storytelling Sessions (Ticketed)
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English Language Workshops and Storytelling sessions |
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Time |
Venue |
Programme |
Artist/Writer/Partner |
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16 June, Friday 11am – 11.30am 30 mins |
Playden |
Storytelling: The Boy Who Drew Cats & The Golden Fish By Juriah Atan Presented by Asian Storytelling Network This session is conducted in English.
Draw close and listen to stories that travelled across the oceans from far away. How did the teachers cope with a boy who was always painting, when he should have been studying?! What do you know about the fisherman whose story lives on to this day on a famous island resort? Learn more about yourselves and the world around you in interactive storytelling session. Suitable for children aged 4 - 8 years old. |
About Juriah Atan Juriah Atan is an experienced professional international storyteller, educator and workshop facilitator. Since 2006, she has been telling stories to all age groups from preschoolers to seniors. Over the years she has presented to both local and international audiences, and participated in storytelling festivals. She has facilitated storytelling workshops for students, teachers, parents and seniors. Juriah is comfortable in telling in both English and Malay.
About Asian Storytelling Network Asian Storytelling Network, Singapore's first professional storytelling company, offers storytelling programmes for every occasion and venue. Their storytellers will weave a web of delight, transporting the audience from their everyday world into the world of story. |
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16 June, Friday 2pm – 2.30pm 30 mins |
Blue Room |
Storytelling: The Boy from the Dragon Palace & The Secret Message By Anamika Bhati Presented by Asian Storytelling Network This session is conducted in English.
The boy was happy to eat a special treat which was really quite simple. But the flower seller didn’t understand his magical powers. And what about the bird in the golden cage? What present did he ask his master for? What was the secret message he received?
Be entertained by stories that make you wonder and think. Perhaps there are precious messages in the stories after all. Suitable for children aged 4 - 10 years old. |
About Anamika Bhati Anamika Bhati is an international storyteller, author, curator and podcast producer. She is also a speech and drama trainer. She works closely with children in schools, libraries and at festivals. Her stories involve cultural diversity and inclusion to develop lateral thinking and wider perspectives in young students. Anamika spent her childhood in Kenya and is now based in Singapore, and has worked with audiences in Singapore and overseas.
About Asian Storytelling Network Asian Storytelling Network, Singapore's first professional storytelling company, offers storytelling programmes for every occasion and venue. Their storytellers will weave a web of delight, transporting the audience from their everyday world into the world of story. |
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16 June, Friday 4pm – 5pm (TBC) 60 mins |
Blue Room |
Design Your Own Marvellous Cake with Quek Hong Shin! By Quek Hong Shin Presented by the Singapore Book Council This session is conducted in English.
As your child’s birthday approaches, it’s time to get creative and celebrate in a memorable way.
Join author Quek Hong Shin for an introductory illustration workshop to reimagine the cover design of The Marvellous Sugee Cake.
In this session, illustrator Hong Shin share about character and cover design, and show them how to add their own flavours to the cake with self-portraits. Let’s get ready to celebrate your child’s special day with a personalised hand drawn cake!
Suitable for children aged 4 – 7 years old. |
About Quek Hong Shin Quek Hong Shin is a children's book author and illustrator. His titles were twice nominated for The Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award, and The Incredible Basket, published by Epigram Books, was the winner of Best Children's Book at the 2019 Singapore Book Awards.
About Singapore Book Council The Singapore Book Council (SBC) is an independent charity with IPC status. Established in 1968 to support Singapore authors and literature, SBC is committed to developing a multicultural, diverse literary arts sector through our festivals, training workshops and courses, as well as book awards to recognise excellence. Our programmes focus on creative writing, reading, illustration, translation and storytelling. For more information, please visit www.bookcouncil.sg |
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17 June, Saturday 11am – 11.30am |
Playden |
Storytelling: The Boy from the Dragon Palace & The Secret Message By Anamika Bhati Presented by Asian Storytelling Network This session is conducted in English.
The boy was happy to eat a special treat which was really quite simple. But the flower seller didn’t understand his magical powers. And what about the bird in the golden cage? What present did he ask his master for? What was the secret message he received?
Be entertained by stories that make you wonder and think. Perhaps there are precious messages in the stories after all.
Suitable for children aged 4 - 10 years old. |
About Anamika Bhati Anamika Bhati is an international storyteller, author, curator and podcast producer. She is also a speech and drama trainer. She works closely with children in schools, libraries and at festivals. Her stories involve cultural diversity and inclusion to develop lateral thinking and wider perspectives in young students. Anamika spent her childhood in Kenya and is now based in Singapore, and has worked with audiences in Singapore and overseas.
About Asian Storytelling Network Asian Storytelling Network, Singapore's first professional storytelling company, offers storytelling programmes for every occasion and venue. Their storytellers will weave a web of delight, transporting the audience from their everyday world into the world of story. |
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17 June, Saturday 11.30am – 12.30pm (TBC) 40mins |
Blue Room |
All the Time to Be Kind By Ames Chen Presented by the Singapore Book Council This session is conducted in English.
Why does Ah Gong (‘grandfather’ in Chinese) take so long to iron his uniform?
Join author Ames Chen in an interactive storytelling session as she reads Ah Gong’s Uniform from The Invisible People series. Ames will lead the children in a craft activity to design paper watch straps and watch faces. It’s a timely reminder that every moment is an opportunity to be kind and show gratitude to the unsung heroes in our society.
Suitable for children aged 5 - 8 years old. |
About Ames Chen Ames is a mum with 3 young children. As a family they love being outdoors, cycling, taking long walks and having picnics. Between mothering duties, she writes Children's storybooks and reading classes. Her first 6-book series titled The Invisible People highlights unexpected occupations like cleaners and construction workers from the eyes of a child.
About Singapore Book Council The Singapore Book Council (SBC) is an independent charity with IPC status. Established in 1968 to support Singapore authors and literature, SBC is committed to developing a multicultural, diverse literary arts sector through our festivals, training workshops and courses, as well as book awards to recognise excellence. Our programmes focus on creative writing, reading, illustration, translation and storytelling. For more information, please visit www.bookcouncil.sg |
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17 June, Saturday 2pm – 2.30pm 30mins |
Living Room |
Storytelling: The Boy Who Drew Cats & The Golden Fish By Juriah Atan Presented by Asian Storytelling Network This session is conducted in English.
Draw close and listen to stories that travelled across the oceans from far away. How did the teachers cope with a boy who was always painting, when he should have been studying?! What do you know about the fisherman whose story lives on to this day on a famous island resort? Learn more about yourselves and the world around you in interactive storytelling session. Suitable for children aged 4 - 8 years old. |
About Juriah Atan Juriah Atan is an experienced professional international storyteller, educator and workshop facilitator. Since 2006, she has been telling stories to all age groups from preschoolers to seniors. Over the years she has presented to both local and international audiences, and participated in storytelling festivals. She has facilitated storytelling workshops for students, teachers, parents and seniors. Juriah is comfortable in telling in both English and Malay.
About Asian Storytelling Network Asian Storytelling Network, Singapore's first professional storytelling company, offers storytelling programmes for every occasion and venue. Their storytellers will weave a web of delight, transporting the audience from their everyday world into the world of story. |
| Chinese Language Workshops and Storytelling sessions | |||
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16 June, Friday 11.30am – 12.15pm 45 mins |
Living Room |
Bilingual Storytelling:《Where Is The Dog? 狗狗在哪里？》& 《Who Stole Our Fruits? 谁偷了我们的水果？》 By Wong Swee Yean (黄瑞燕) Presented by Maha Yu Yi This session is conducted in English and Chinese.
Have you tried searching for a dog by following its bark but could not find it no matter how hard you tried? When the fruits in the garden go missing at night, have you wondered who stole them? Come and join in the adventures of the little detectives, Ethan and Evan, as they look for answers to things that puzzle them. Children can enjoy storytelling, singing and games in this session! 小朋友, 你们有这样的经历吗? 听到狗的吠声，但是怎么找都找不到狗儿? 或是，晚上看到树上挂着水果，早上再去看却发现水果消失了，是有人偷偷摘下了吗? 想知道发生什么事吗? 那就快快跟我们的两位小小侦探，伊顿和伊凡 ，一起去探险，调查这两件神秘事件! 除了听故事，还会有唱歌和游戏！ Suitable for families and children aged 3 - 8. |
About Wong Swee Yean (黄瑞燕) Swee Yean is a well-regarded storyteller in Singapore. She tells stories to all ages and her stories nurture imagination and encourage self-discovery.
About Maha Yu Yi Maha Yu Yi Pte Ltd is a family-run business established in 1969. Their books range from picture books to novels and comics for toddlers, primary school children, and secondary school students. They have the best collection of Chinese children’s books in Singapore and are highly recommended by teachers and parents alike. |
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16 June, Friday
3.30pm – 4.30pm |
Playden |
Storytelling and Drawing:《当披着羊皮的狼遇见披着狼皮的羊》 By Josef Lee (李文良) Presented by Maha Yu Yi This session is conducted in Chinese.
What happens when a wolf in sheep’s skin meets a sheep in wolf’s skin? Will they become friends or enemies? Come and find out from Josef Lee, the author and illustrator of the book. Josef will also show you how to draw yourself in a sheep skin or wolf skin! 当一只披着羊皮的狼遇到一只披着狼皮的羊，会发生什么事呢？他们会成为朋友还是敌人？ 让绘本作家李文良告诉你，同时也教你如何画出披着狼皮或羊皮的你！
Suitable for families and children aged 5 - 12. |
About Joseph Lee (李文良) Josef Lee is a Singaporean picture-book writer / artist and his illustrated short stories have been shared online on his blog, 'Josef Lee's Bedtime Stories for Adults' since 2008. Till date, he has created 18 picture-stories. In April 2017, Josef successfully published his first picture-book-'Wake Me Up At Happyland' via a crowdfunding campaign. Since then, his works have attracted the attention of various publishers from Taiwan and China. Within 2 years, he has published a total of 9 picture-books and 1 novel adaptation. Another of his work is currently being adapted into a children's play in China, and slated to be performed all around China.
About Maha Yu Yi Maha Yu Yi Pte Ltd is a family-run business established in 1969. Their books range from picture books to novels and comics for toddlers, primary school children, and secondary school students. They have the best collection of Chinese children’s books in Singapore and are highly recommended by teachers and parents alike. |
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17 June, Saturday
11.30am – 12.30pm
60 mins |
Living Room |
Comic Workshop: 文佩老师华文漫画营 By Lim Wenpei (林文佩) Presented by Maha Yu Yi This session is conducted in Chinese. Kids will have fun guessing Chinese characters by looking at pictures, doodling, and complete a four-panel comic strip! 一起来玩“看图猜字”游戏、尝试随心所欲的创作，及完成一个四格漫画！ Suitable for families and children aged 7 - 12. |
About Lim Wenpei (林文佩) Lin Wenpei is children's book author, a cartoonist, and an illustrator. She has published more than 40 children’s books in Singapore and Malaysia. Some of her books have been selected for the Singapore Popular Readers’ Choice Awards.
About Maha Yu Yi Maha Yu Yi Pte Ltd is a family-run business established in 1969. Their books range from picture books to novels and comics for toddlers, primary school children, and secondary school students. They have the best collection of Chinese children’s books in Singapore and are highly recommended by teachers and parents alike. |
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17 June, Saturday
3.30pm – 4.30pm
60 mins |
Playden |
Storytelling and Role Play: 我来说 你来演 《菲菲，你真棒》故事会 By Ng Mun Poh (吴敏宝) Presented by Maha Yu Yi This session is conducted in Chinese.
Murphy is a blind dog. He has low self-esteem because of that and often feels like he does not belong. Yet he is a very special assistance dog. He soon encounters people in his life who made him realise he has the capacity to make this world a better place, in his own unique way.
Listen to this beautiful story told by theatre practitioner Mun Poh, and participate in role-playing the characters in the story. 菲菲是一只非常特别的援助犬，但是因为它看不见，总觉得自己和周遭格格不入。菲菲是否能明白，它其实可以用自己独特的方式，让这个世界变得更美好? 剧场工作者敏宝会跟小朋友讲菲菲的故事，同时通过戏剧习式，让小朋友体验和探索故事中各个人物的感受和想法 Suitable for families and children aged 7 - 12. |
About Ng Mun Poh (吴敏宝) Mun Poh is a theatre practitioner, performer and educator. She has been in many TYA (Theatre of Young Audiences) productions such as The wee Question Mark series, Day I Met the Prince, ImmortalX among others. She is also a performer and storyteller in The Nursery Rhymes Project under The Theatre Practice. As strong advocate for children’s drama education, she performed and taught in many schools and organizations in Singapore.
About Maha Yu Yi Maha Yu Yi Pte Ltd is a family-run business established in 1969. Their books range from picture books to novels and comics for toddlers, primary school children, and secondary school students. They have the best collection of Chinese children’s books in Singapore and are highly recommended by teachers and parents alike. |
| Malay Language Workshops and Storytelling sessions | |||
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16 June, Friday 11am – 12pm And 17 June, Saturday 4pm – 5pm 60 mins each session |
Blue Room |
Storytelling and Meet-the-Mascot: Si Pencuri Ketawa By Rilla Melati Presented by Mini Monsters This session is conducted in Malay.
Join award winning local author and storyteller, Rilla Melati, in this 45-min storytelling session this school holiday. Follow the story of Si Pencuri Ketawa and journey along with the adorable Mini Mons who live in Gardens by the Bay. Listen to the story and be enthralled as the Mini Mons come alive in a cartoon animation.
This interactive session is filled with animation, a pop quiz segment and Malay language activities. Learning Malay is easy with the Mini Mons! Suitable for families and children aged 3 - 7. |
About Mini Monsters Mini Monsters is a locally grown, educational company committed to producing cross-media content for children and offering an interactive, fun approach to the teaching and learning of languages. As a bilingual edutainment institution, the company works to strengthen Singapore’s bilingual capabilities by developing, publishing and producing good quality educational materials, books, courses, syllabus and digital content that are relevant to today’s generation of young audiences who are re-learning their Mother Tongue. |
| Tamil Language Workshops and Storytelling sessions | |||
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16 June, Friday
1.30pm – 2.15pm
45mins |
Living Room |
Bilingual Storytelling: ‘Kondamma Kendama’ and ‘Vannappen’ By Azhagunila This session is conducted in Tamil and English.
When Kumaran’s favorite toy lands in his hands, his life takes an unexpected nosedive, spiraling him into a darker world… Is the price of the toy worth losing the joy and happiness in life? Join author Azhagunila as she tells beloved stories of wishes, Kendamas and nature in this bilingual storytelling session. Suitable for families with children aged 4 - 8. |
About Azhagunila Azhagunila is the author of Oranju, Sang Kancil, Sirukattu Chunai and Mozhivazhi Kanavu; the latter won the Singapore Literature Prize 2022. She has also published four picture books for young readers: Kondama Kendama, Melissavum Merlionum, Melissavum Japaniya Moothatiyum and Pa Ang Bao. Her other works include two e-books, Vasipenum Vaanam and Thotra Kavithaigal. Her four stories were made into digital comics Kathaineram for Tamil Youth Festival 2021. |
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17 June, Saturday
1.30pm – 2.30pm
60mins |
Blue Room |
Bilingual Reading & Activity: Karuppum Sivappum Azhago Azhagu; கருப்பும் சிவப்பும் அழகோ அழகு By Jayasutha Samuthiran This session is conducted in Tamil and English.
Karuppum Sivappum Azhago Azhagu is a story about a dark-skinned girl Agila who deftly navigates various remarks about her skin colour as she grows up alongside her little brother. With the help of her loving parents who empower her with the right words and positive attitude, she encourages those around her to recognise that all skin tones are beautiful. Suitable for children aged 7 - 12, accompanied by parents. |
About Jayasutha Samuthiran Jayasutha leads retail excellence across the world as Global Brand Manager for Glenfiddich. Effectively bilingual in English and Tamil, she is also a professional emcee/moderator and television personality when time permits. As a budding writer, she published her first children's book on colourism early this year. Jayasutha is also a proud mother to a little girl and a baby boy on the way, both of whom inspire her to do better every day. |
Annex B: Programme line-up for Goodman Open House @ Goodman Arts Centre
Date: 24 June 2023, Saturday
Time: 10am to 5pm
Location: Various venues at Goodman Arts Centre
Ticketing: Free and ticketed programmes available
Programme Highlights
All information is correct as of 10 May 2023 and may be subjected to changes. For the latest updates and more details, please visit https://artshouselimited.sg/gac-goh-2023
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Drop-in Activities
‘Zine Party’ - by radioriotgrrrl
Artists Mengju Lin and @radioriotgrrrl are throwing a party for all things zines! Get crafty and repurpose materials for making your own zine.
Singapore Book Council Bring your old books and trade them for a new one at Singapore Book Council’s Pre-Loved Book Swap. Meet other book lovers and bookworms while chatting about your favourite authors and current reads. Respond to prompts in a Writing Workout Challenge to craft a poem or story.
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Mengju Lin Mengju's artistic practice revolves around the agency of non-human things - especially images, sound, text and objects - and how they protest. Her current research involves punk ideology and guerrilla metaphysics. She is a co-founder of @radioriotgrrrl with Nadhirah Khalid, and she plays in a band called Terrapin with artists Jeremy Sharma and Lai Yu Tong.
Singapore Book Council The Singapore Book Council (SBC) is an independent charity with IPC status. Established in 1968, as the former National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS), SBC aims to Build Our Imagine-nation by developing creativity, imagination, original thought, and empathy. Our programmes focus on creative writing, reading, illustration, translation and storytelling.
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Open Studios
Billy Soh
Peek into photographer and visual artist Billy Soh’s open studio as he experiments with various techniques of artmaking.
Abu Jalal
Have a chat with veteran artist Abu Jalal in his studio and get to sketch, doodle and paint with him.
Singapore Book Council
Bring your old books and trade them for a new one at Singapore Book Council’s pre-loved book swap. Meet other book lovers and bookworms while chatting about your favourite authors and current reads.
Association of Singapore Tamil Writers
Celebrate the birthday of eminent poet Kaviarasu Kannadasan through activities organised by the Association of Singapore Tamil Writers.
Studio Mang Step inside this chic creative space and find out what inspires weish, Phua Juan Yong and Marc Gabriel Loh. Paper Monkey Theatre Get up close with a collection of puppets and meet the team behind the puppetry magic at Paper Monkey Theatre. Browse through their garage sale and give a pre-loved puppet a new home. |
Billy Soh Billy Soh is a multi-disciplinary artist with different areas of practice that revolves around photography, paper making, sound and installation art. Billy is a co-founder of the playitforwardsg.org, an initiative that place-makes public spaces for music making through public piano installations, and also currently chairs the Singapore Contemporary Young Artists.
Abu Jalal Abu Jalal believes that each artwork is a way to share and challenge the natural and ideological perceptions of the viewers. Driven by his powers of observation, his aesthetic variations transform the common notion into a basic concern towards society, environment and human sciences.
Singapore Book Council The Singapore Book Council (SBC) is an independent charity with IPC status. Established in 1968, as the former National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS), SBC aims to Build Our Imagine-nation by developing creativity, imagination, original thought, and empathy. Our programmes focus on creative writing, reading, illustration, translation and storytelling.
Association of Singapore Tamil Writers Association of Singapore Tamil Writers was formed in 1976 and registered as a non-profit society in 1977. It was formed to cater to the interests of Tamil writers in Singapore. The Association now has about 115 members all of whom are writers or poets. The Association organises four major annual events. They are the Muthamizh Vizha (Festival of Tamil), Kamban Vizha, M.K. Ramachandra Book Prize and Kannadasan Vizha (commemoration of the great poet and lyricist).
The Association organises various contests in conjunction with its annual events and also gives three awards annually, including the Tamizhavel Award, the Kannadasan Award, and the Mu Ku Ramachandra Book Prize to commendable writers (both veteran and young) and literary works
Studio Mang weish weish is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans a diverse range of genres and disciplines. Aside from her varied work with collaborators across music, theatre, film, dance and literary scenes, she also performs solo with her signature live looping technique. With her bands, she has graced stages like St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival, the F1 Grand Prix, BIGSOUND Australia, Georgetown Festival, HUSH! Macau, Java Soundsfair Jakarta and many more. In recent years, weish has written both music and text for ambitious multidisciplinary productions, experimenting with divergent and form-bending modes of storytelling that have been presented at multiple festivals including the Singapore International Festival of the Arts, M1 Singapore Fringe Festival, as well as exhibited in the National Gallery. Her unique works have taken her around the globe – from Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City to the Golden Melody Awards in Taipei. International collaborations have also seen her building sound art installations in London, working with DJs in Tokyo, and writing the theme song of award-winning movie Shirkers on Netflix.
Phua Juan Yong Phua Juan Yong is an artist whose primary focus is image-making through 3D software. In recent years, his work has centered around pursuing the qualities of traditional paintings through digital means. That fascination has since evolved into an exploration of the broader relationship between the physical and the digital, be it in presentation, experience and consumption. Phua first sculpts the elements in VR then paint over them digitally, before lighting and composing the image on 3D software. The works are made digitally and then translated using different methods such as silkscreens, acrylic on digital archival print, etc. His works spans across projection mapping on National Gallery to featured works on Nowness Asia Picks, Mens Folio and Singapore Artweek.
Marc Gabriel Loh Artist and designer Marc Gabriel Loh has worked on artwork for several musicians and in recent years, his work has evolved to encompass performance, live visuals, stage lighting and music videos.
Paper Monkey Theatre Paper Monkey Theatre is a unique bilingual puppetry theatre – a magical place where children and adults are educated, enlightened and entertained. We advocate Asian values and culture to inspire imagination, education and community through the art of puppetry for children. Our team is made up of like-minded artists and friends who endeavour to deliver an unforgettable collective experience where the audiences are reminded of our Asian culture and values. Paper Monkey Theatre collaborates and connects many international puppetry companies and puppeteers.
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Scheduled Programmes
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Performances
Silver Ensemble Performance - by Reverberance
Come listen to an energising percussion and wind performance by musical collective Reverberance’s Silver Ensemble, comprising musicians above the age of 50.
Live Watercolour Demonstration - by Aaron Gan
Watch Aaron Gan’s bold watercolour gestures and strokes transform a blank canvas to a striking new work while he paints outdoors.
Live Painting - by Raymond Lau
Gather around visual artist Raymond Lau and witness his physical creative process as he paints on one of his signature large canvases.
‘Unlock’ - by Frontier Danceland
Be inspired to start dancing as you watch Frontier Danceland’s duet dance performance unfold outdoors.
‘Story Picnic’ - by The Storytelling Centre Limited
Get your picnic baskets and join our captivating storyteller outdoors and listen to yummy tales.
Sound Bath - by Neil Chua
Attune yourself with nature through the immersive healing frequencies performed by musician Neil Chua.
Graffiti Jam - by Ebao Chill with visual artist Ebao as he transforms the outdoor walls at Block D with his signature graffiti art. |
Reverberance Reverberance is the First Prize Winner of the Singapore Chinese Music Competition (SCMC) in 2020 (ensemble category). They are a Chinese Wind-percussion ensemble comprising of top award winning and youthful local musicians. Most of the musicians have graduated with a master’s degree, an initiative with the kind support from the National Arts scholarships program. As alumni of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, like-minded enthusiasts came together with a similar goal of promoting music of different genres and also to explore the infinite possibilities of the ensemble. We inspire and energise audiences with our burning passion and love for traditional art. As a relatively new ensemble, Reverberance consists of members with a common dream of making wonderful music together and spreading our passion to the community. Apart from pursuing our interest in making music, we also see much potential in developing music within our community, particularly with the senior citizens and silver population.
Aaron Gan Aaron Gan is the 2015 UOB Painting of the Year, Gold Award, Established Artist Category, Singapore winner. Born in Singapore in 1979, Gan graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Dean’s List) from the University of Western Australia in 2003. In 2012, he gave up his corporate career to fulfil his childhood promise to become a professional artist. Following his numerous sell-out shows, Gan’s artworks have been collected and commissioned widely both in Singapore and internationally. These include The Prime Minister’s Office, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Library Board, GIC, Wheelock Properties, Julius Baer, The Association of Banks in Singapore and others.
Raymond Lau Raymond belongs to a new and emerging generation of Singaporean artists at the forefront of Singapore’s evolution into a Renaissance city. A vocal and colourful individual, Raymond excels in both realist and abstract renditions in oil and acrylic. For Raymond, painting is therapeutic as it helps him find peace and fullness. It is not surprising therefore that his body of work reveals a gentler, softer side of an outwardly bold and brassy individual.
Frontier Danceland Frontier Danceland is a local non-profit contemporary dance company founded by Low Mei Yoke and Tan Chong Poh in July 1991. The main focus of the company’s repertoire of original works is on fusing Western dance techniques with Asian aesthetics and culture. These are largely influenced by contemporary life in Singapore and social issues facing Singaporeans.
The Storytelling Centre Limited The Storytelling Centre Limited is a non-profit organisation based in Singapore. Our core mission is to foster and advance the art of storytelling through performances, collaborations, artistic exchanges, mentorships, training and community outreach. We firmly believe that stories are storehouses of Singapore’s unique multidimensional legacy. The oral traditions of folktales, mythology, legends and fables are avenues for preserving, showcasing and developing Singapore’s rich and diverse heritage. Our focus is on ensuring the sustainability of the art form by nurturing emerging Young Storytellers.
Neil Chua Graduated from the prestigious Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Neil is the first and youngest musician of the Conservatory to receive a Master Degree in Ruan (阮). Neil is also the Founder of RuanAtWorkz Musical Arts, a non-profit society in Singapore which promotes traditional culture, music, art and other forms of traditional values. He is the first musician to be invited to represent Malaysia to participate in the highly acclaimed OneBeat, which is a U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs exchange programme in 2014 whereby he had the opportunity to interact, educate and promote Ruan (阮) to students and musicians from around the world in the UA.
Ebao Iqbal a.k.a EBAO is an illustrator, street artist and graphic designer. He is part of an art collective, DPLMT and has worked with brands like Adidas, Skechers, MTV, MCCY and Ministry of Finance. His illustrations are made solely for the purpose of blowing your mind. He lets you see things for what they can possibly be, never for what they obviously are.
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Workshops
‘Abstract Map-Making’ by Valerie Ng
Make a colourful map together with abstract artist Valerie Ng, inspired by nature and trails using acrylic paint, collage and drawing on paper. (suitable for ages 7 and above; sharp implements involved)
Parent and Child Creative Movement Workshop - by RAW Moves An inclusive dance class that cultivates a safe space for children with diverse abilities to explore their creativity and imagination through the practice of creative movement.
Introduction to Staged Readings - by The Stage Club
An introduction to the process of staged readings where you get to participate with members of The Stage Club through feedback and conversations. (suitable for ages 16 and above)
‘Soil and Society’ - by Cultivate Central
Dig in – literally – to this hands-on workshop on the relationship of soil to society, and map out your own garden trail.
Introduction to Contemporary Dance - by T.H.E Dance Company
Think you can’t dance? No problem - T.H.E Dance Company’s introductory workshop in contemporary dance will teach you your first steps.
‘The Art of Shibori Tie Dye’ – by Sujak Rahman Create patterns through this tied and bound resist dyeing technique. Embrace the Japanese spirit of wabi sabi and appreciate the beauty of imperfection. |
Valerie Ng Valerie Ng's abstract paintings are a gestural expression of mood and movement. Working mostly in oil on canvas or acrylic on paper, they are created as a result of her explorations in colour, light, depth, form and texture, as well as inspired by the natural elements, hues and shapes in the environment. She strives for a dynamic balance of energy and atmosphere through a unique transfer of marks in the action of painting.
RAW Moves Ltd Established in 2011, we are a contemporary dance company, which focuses its establishment, connection and direction of work with the spirit of inquiry.
The Stage Club Established in 1945, the Stage Club is Singapore's longest running English language theatre company with a long tradition of producing high quality productions of school texts and award-winning plays.
Cultivate Central Cultivate Central is an urban permaculture design practice and consultancy. We are on a quest to create regenerative food commons, spaces, systems, content and programmes that inspire action towards health and earth care. We want to make growing food, reducing food miles, composting and working with soil second nature amongst urbanites.
T.H.E Dance Company The Human Expression (T.H.E) Dance Company was founded in 2008 by Artistic Director Kuik Swee Boon. Rooted firmly in Singapore yet universal in its perspective, T.H.E’s contemporary dance works reveal the body as a medium for exploring and celebrating the human condition. Dance artists at T.H.E are immersed in the Company's signature methodology, HollowBody, which guides them to access their deeper instincts and impulses through movement. The Company's movement vocabulary is distinct in its intensely personal aesthetics, yet thrilling in its diversity. Driven by a sincere desire to uncover the intricate, complex and oft-times overlooked dimensions of human existence, the Company’s incisive observations are an essential mirror to the issues and rhythms of contemporary life.
Sujak Rahman Sujak Rahman (b. 1949) practices and teaches batik painting for more than 40 years. His work is inspired by the human spirit, especi ally the beauty and strength of women in their symbolic role as the mother. His works are minimal and modern, yet also rich and traditional. Since 1976, he has held numerous solo exhibitions in Singapore and Japan also numerous group exhibitions around the world. His work has been acquired for private collections in Singapore and abroad.
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The GAC Tenants Parade
For the first time, Goodman Arts Centre celebrates our artists through a Tenants Parade. Visitors can participate in workshops and activities throughout the day and show off their artwork and moves by joining the parade. The parade will be led by music tenants with various instruments, followed by dance and movement tenants. All arts tenants have been invited to showcase their art forms at this inaugural parade. |
Conceptualised by Guest Artistic Director, Kamini Ramachandran, the Tenants Parade is an informal and fun opportunity to gather the various artists and arts groups based at Goodman Arts Centre. The act of walking together as a group of artists presents itself as an artwork for audiences to view and participate in. The Tenants Parade celebrates the arts practitioners who call GAC their home.
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