The Civic District has always been a home for arts and culture in Singapore, but as you might have heard, the precinct is stepping up a level with the introduction of Arts Weekend Civic District. Taking place on the last weekend of every month, Arts Weekend Civic District is a series of (mostly free) performances, exhibitions and activities hosted by some of the district’s iconic institutions. Here’s where you can get involved from Mar 30 to Apr 1—the last weekend of this month:
The Arts House
The Arts House is one of Singapore’s most revered buildings—it’s one of the country’s oldest and at different points in time served as both the Supreme Court and Parliament House. Revisit this storied past at Standing Through Time: The Arts House from the 1800s, a self-guided exhibition featuring maps, paintings and photos. From Mar 26
Asian Civilisations Museum
If you love all things Vietnamese, then make a beeline for the ACM as they host Pho-nomenal Vietnam. Part of the Saturdays@ACM program, this celebration of Vietnam encompasses storytelling, traditional cultural performances and hands-on craft activities. Mar 31, 1-5pm
Empress Lawn (in front of Victoria Theatre)
There isn’t a better way to spend a lazy weekend evening than by enjoying live music while lounging in a green space. Music@Empress gives you the opportunity to do just that, and this edition of the event also has a Vietnamese flavor to it—both acts hail from the country. You can look forward to performances from acoustic band 16s and the dan da (lithophone) stylings of Thao. Mar 31, 6pm
Esplanade
The site of many memorable free shows, the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre hosts Novo Winds, Toa Payoh South Community Club’s band, who will perform under their new conductor and musical director, Joseph Teo. Expect to hear everything from ABBA hits to numbers from Beauty and the Beast during their 45-minute set. Mar 30, 7:30pm, 8:45pm and 10pm
Esplanade Park
In case you’ve somehow missed the flood of photos on your various social media feeds, i Light Marina Bay is back with 22 installations, and for the first time, part of the festival is taking place at Esplanade Park. Apr 1 also marks the conclusion of i Light Marina Bay 2018, so don’t miss out! Until Apr 1
National Gallery Singapore
Home to the world’s largest collection of modern Southeast Asian art, the National Gallery is already a popular weekend destination—particularly with free general admission for Singaporeans and PRs. For Arts Weekend Civic District, they’ll also be hosting Tabletop City, a drop-in activity where visitors can craft miniature buildings with recycled materials. Mar 30 and 31
Victoria Concert Hall
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra teams up with Russian-British violinist Alina Ibragimova for a concert spanning the works of three legendary Russian composers—Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich. Tickets are available from $20 through Sistic. Apr 1, 4pm
For more information, visit the Arts Weekend Civic District webpage or follow @NACSingapore on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
