Singapore, 28 Aug 2023 - This October, StoryFest 2023 returns in a refreshing new format with Story Walk , an outdoor storytelling experience that invites all to step into the world where stories come alive against the backdrop of the Civic District. Presented by Arts House Limited (AHL) and The Storytelling Centre Limited (TSCL), this walking experience invites participants to rediscover the beauty of the arts and culture precinct through the art of storytelling; spotlighting iconic monuments, institutions and public spaces in the district.

Story Walk is a stroll along the riverside punctuated by three art benches as opportune moments for oral stories to be shared. It features artworks that are part of the District’s recently unveiled public art trail, Benchmarks , a placemaking initiative by the Civic District Alliance ^[1] to further enliven the vibrant precinct. Participants will be taken on a guided walk accompanied by the telling of stories which will bring to life the precinct's rich history, its surroundings and the art benches themselves.

These unique stories were woven together by local veteran author, Verena Tay, who drew inspiration from the artists’ concepts and origin stories of the three art benches, combining historical facts with elements of fictional tales. The experience will be led by Singaporean storytellers, Wesley Leon Aroozoo, Laura Kee and Hafiz Rashid, and participants can look forward to a variety of stories, from humorous escapades that took place in rice godowns to tales of seafarers who made the waters their home. Go back in time to when the Singapore River welcomed ships from far and wide, or discover what went on inside some of the heritage buildings in the district – there is something for all to explore at Story Walk .

Hafiz Rashid with Re-Store / Neutral Artefact Black by Immanuel Koh, Wesley Leon Aroozoo with This is Not a Bench by Lua Boon Kai

Laura Kee with A Micropolyphonic Stage by Joyce Beetuan Koh

StoryFest’s Creative Producer, Kamini Ramachandran shared, 'The Civic District has always been a place that has held the stories of many communities. The monuments and heritage sites are custodians of history, oration and performed words. We also have The Singapore River winding through as a link to tales from our past. Story Walk is an artistic response to remember the many storytellers who sat by the River and shared tales. I would like our participants to become curious about the stories that reside within the walls of monuments and in the forms of artworks. Slow down, listen and discover.’

As part of the experience, a guided-paper craft activity awaits at The Arts House, featuring original prints on postcards by local artists Victor Emmanuel and Stellah Lim. Participants are invited to draw on their Story Walk experience and get creative by designing their personalised art bench mementos. Families with children can look forward to linocut prints with motifs of river otters, while adults can overlay wood grain patterns.

Two Story Walk sessions will be held each day on 6 and 7 October for an hour-long each, with the morning session suitable for families with children (ages 6-8) and the evening session tailored for general audiences.

A digital iteration of the programme will also be available next January as part of Light to Night Festival 2024.

Tickets are priced at $10 each, with limited slots available per session. Visit storywalk.peatix.com for ticket purchase. More information on StoryFest 2023 sessions can be found in the Annex.

You may find StoryFest 2023 images, in the digital media kit here.

For tickets and more information, visit https://storyfestsg.com/2023.
Follow #StoryFestSg at:
Website: https://storyfestsg.com/2023
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyfestsg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyfestsg/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/StoryFestSingapore

###

For more information, please contact:

About Arts House Limited
Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching lives through the arts.

AHL manages six arts spaces that aim to support our arts sector and bring communities together. These include two national monuments - The Arts House, multidisciplinary arts centre, and Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, a heritage building that is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

It also runs the performing arts space Drama Centre as well as three enclaves for arts groups and creative businesses - the Goodman Arts Centre, Aliwal Arts Centre and Stamford Arts Centre. It is the cultural place manager of Singapore's Civic District.

AHL organises two national pinnacle festivals – the Singapore International Festival of Arts focused on the performing arts, and the Singapore Writers Festival - a multi-lingual festival presenting the world's leading literary talents. In addition, it 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/

About 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.

The Storytelling Centre Limited firmly believes 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.

About Arts in the Civic District

Arts in the Civic District aggregates arts programmes in the Civic District and presents the precinct as a lively and vibrant arts and culture destination in Singapore. It features programmes ranging from museum visits and live performances to arts and culture activities, curated by the Civic District stakeholders: Asian Civilisations Museum, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, National Gallery Singapore, Singapore Symphony Group, The Arts House, Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall. For more information, visit https://artshouselimited.sg/civic-district

^[1] The Civic District Alliance (CDA), formed in November 2020, consists of Asian Civilisations Museum, Esplanade -Theatres on the Bay, National Gallery Singapore, The Arts House and Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall. The CDA is committed to promoting the arts and creating enriching experiences for visitors to the Civic District. For more information, please visit https://artshouselimited.sg/civic-district.