Lit geeks, December is packed with lots of bookish events. It’s the festive season, so shop for your fellow book nerds, chill at Canvas and talk shop with other literary nerds at these arts fests. Here’s where to go:
We Can! Arts Fest (Dec 6)
This feminist arts fest features visual work and performances galore with lots of mini events to see and do. There’s a Super Sheroes workshop, about how female heroes like X-23, Raven and Batgirl have made a difference, live poetry by once-interviewee Deborah Emmanuel and a book and clothes swap, too. Singapore Art Museum
Speak (Dec 9)
The latest edition of reading series Speak at Canvas features American poet Sally Wen Mao (Mad Honey Symposium) as well as Vanessa Victoria and Stephanie Dogfoot of Sekaliwags fame. You should also look out for transgendered Indian writer Alok Vaid-Menon. As usual, there will be house pours from 5pm-9pm, at $8, while a bucket of five Budweisers costs $25. 20 Upper Circular Road
Epigram and Booktique Christmas pop-ups (Dec 11-13)
Catch up on local lit at the Epigram Christmas pop-up (Dec 11-13) and meet your favorite local authors, like Robert Yeo and Cyril Wong. They are doing a round table session around the topic “What makes a good story” at 7pm on Dec 12. The publisher is, after all, the biggest one for local lit. If you’re too shy to approach your literary heroes, you can support new-ish indie bookstore, Booktique on Dec 12. They’re doing a Christmas party with local crafts for sale, performances of Christmas hits by local duo Twigs and Vines and a $4 discount on book purchases (you have to do some complicated thing involving a bookmark). 1008 Toa Payoh North #03-08 and 1 Raffles Link #B1-17A CityLink Mall respectively
Migrant Worker Poetry Competition (Dec 13)
Listen to the verse stylings of the city’s unsung heroes at this competition. This year, there are triple the number of entries (74 of them) and poems come in six different languages. The event will feature all the winning poems, recited alongside their English translations. The judges for this competition include Singlit poet Alvin Pang, poet and literary critic Kirpal Singh, BanglarKantha contributor Pampa Ghosh, Filipino poet Shane Carreon and others. This year’s event also includes a display of poems by migrant workers in China, Kuwait and Malaysia, who have submitted work in support. Possibility Room, National Library
Verve Arts Fest (Dec 19)
The fifth indie fest has lots of workshops this year, and focuses on all arts disciplines. Check out theater workshops by How Drama and The Improv Company, or branch out into dance and sketching workshops by DanceHall Nation Singapore and the Band of Doodlers. You can also sign up for the festival pass and get access to all events. The Arts House
