F1 mania, artist retrospectives, street festivals, social initiatives and more – September kicks into high gear with plenty of thrilling things to do this Sep 2023.
The Studios (2023 season)
Now till Sep 3, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
This season, The Studios will turn the lens inwards under the specific theme “Landings”. Six productions and a host of companion programmes will explore how we relate to the land we reside on, how urban redevelopment affects us, and what we are willing to sacrifice. The 2023 season will also move beyond its home in the Esplanade Theatre Studio to include the recently opened Singtel Waterfront Theatre, and expand the programme to include both Singapore-based and international artists.
Wine Lust
Now till Sep 10; islandwide
Wine festival Wine Lust returns with its seventh edition with wine tasting events, masterclasses, special wine and corkage privileges, and ticketed events to wine and food pairings across 15 locations. Presented by F&B and hospitality group, 1-Group, the event sees the festival’s first-ever weekend wine bus tour, The Grape Escape, to various 1-Group dining destinations for a unique opportunity to sip, savour and sightsee.
Whisky Classics Marked by Maker’s
Sep 1 to 30; various locations
Maker’s Mark brings cocktail enthusiasts on a riveting taste adventure with its Marked by Maker’s immersive experience. It has teamed up with bartenders from 16 of Singapore’s most notable bars to reinterpret everything you thought you knew about whisky classics. These craft innovative cocktails showcase Maker’s Mark as the central element, blending its smooth and distinctive flavours with their own unique twists. The reimagined whisky experience culminates in an exclusive two-night pop-up at White Shades on Sep 22 and 29 September where music, craft and whisky classics are reimagined.
Tropical Afternoon Tea
Sep 1 to 30; Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa
“Empowering Lives: Food for Good” is part of Community Chest’s 40th anniversary fundraising initiative held in collaboration with chef Violet Oon. Sofitel Singapore Sentosa is contributing to this cause via its Tropical Afternoon Tea that features authentic Peranakan flavours and Peranakan-inspired cocktails. The hotel will donate $5 with every order of Tropical Afternoon Tea, directly benefiting the vital social service agencies supported by Community Chest.
G*d Is A Woman
Sep 8 to 23, Wild Rice @ Funan
Get ready for a side-splitting satire about Singapore’s cancel culture. When a group of irate artists creates a fake petition to cancel Ariana Grande, little did they know that some would take the petition a little too seriously to the point where Ariana Grande’s upcoming concert comes under threat. With competing petitions and anxiety-ridden Zoom calls between Los Angeles and Singapore, those who are wanting to save the concert now come up against those who are easily offended. Will the concert be saved?
Grand Prix Season Singapore
Sep 8 to 17; islandwide
Adrenaline-pumping activities, unforgettable racing action and glitzy parties come together in a thrilling blend at the Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS). The bustling streets of Singapore’s city centre will roar to life with Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2023; race-themed retail, F&B and lifestyle offerings at the Orchard Road precinct party; the largest platform for emerging artists in Asia, Music Matters Live, at Clarke Quay; multicultural performances in Kampong Gelam; and GPSS Beach Feastable in Sentosa.
Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2023
Sep 15 to 17, Marina Bay Street Circuit
It’s another year of thrilling races and entertainment. Join the F1 mania during the three-day event and catch nail-biting action on the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Don’t miss the entertainment too, with world-class acts including 88rising, Post Malone, Robbie Williams, Kings of Leon, Culture Club and more. Tickets are nearly sold out, so if you haven’t gotten yours, do so now.
Cheong Soo Pieng: A Retrospective
Sep 16 to Oct 1; Artspace @ Helutrans
Artcommunegallery, with the sponsorship of Dr. Lee Hung Ming, presents Cheong Soo Pieng: A Retrospective featuring over 100 works by the renowned artist, a pioneer of the Nanyang art style. The retrospective exhibition offers a comprehensive look into all aspects of the prolific artist’s career over the span of 40 years.
Andrew Gn: Fashioning Singapore and the World
Now till Sep 17; Asian Civilisations Museum
The retrospective marks the first time Asian Civilisations Museum is spotlighting a Singaporean fashion designer. In the five sections showcasing more than 100 archival works, the public will discover Andrew Gn’s impact on fashion, his cultural identity as a designer, and learn how his work bridges the dichotomies of East and West, tradition and modernity, and the local and the global.
FairPrice Finest Festival – The Finest Experience
Sep 21 to 24; Capitol Singapore
This four-day roadshow is the highlight of FairPrice Finest Festival. It takes the Finest Experience outside the stores, packed with lots of food, activities and entertainment, special promotions and on-site prizes to be won. There will be Festival promotional products and a wide range of delicious wines to pick from throughout the event, to be held at Capitol Singapore’s outdoor plaza from Sep 21 to 24.
Fiba Intercontinental Cup Singapore 2023
Sep 21 to 24; Singapore Sports Hub
Asia’s first FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023 kicks off at Singapore Sports Hub on 21 to 24 September 2023 and it will be an unmissable event for families and sports enthusiasts. The competition will see six participating basketball clubs battling it out on the court for the coveted trophy. Outside the court are immersive mural installations at OCBC Square, a chance to craft your very own basketball or design your own shirt, basketball challenges where winning participants can be cash prizes.
Notes From the Ether: From NFTs to AI
Now till Sep 24; ArtScience Museum
ArtScience Museum’s latest exhibition, Notes From the Ether: From NFTs to AI, offers a gateway into a new frontier of digital art driven by technologies that are shaping artistic expression today. The show invites both enthusiasts and newcomers to encounter artworks by contemporary artists who are pushing the boundaries of creativity through Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Singapore Cable Car’s 50th anniversary celebrations
Now till Sep 30, Mount Faber Peak
Pokemon-themed cable cars, wrapped in the recognisable red and white colours of Poke Balls, are the highlight. At Mount Faber Peak, snap pictures at various photo points – including vintage cable car cabins – with a variety of Pokemon.
Seeing the Invisible
Now till Sep 30, Gardens by the Bay
This is the second season of the augmented reality (AR) art exhibition that features AR works by 12 international artists such as Ai Weiwei, Refik Anadol, El Anatsui, Isaac Julien CBE RA, Mohammed Kazem, Sigalit Landau, Sarah Meyohas, Pamela Rosenkranz and Timur Si-Qin. Many of the works address themes revolving around nature, the environment and sustainability, as well as explore the interplay of the physical world with the digital one. Visitors can view the artworks through their devices and even interact with some of the pieces.
Singapore Design Week 2023
Sep 21 to Oct 1; various locations
The theme for Singapore Design Week (SDW) 2023 “Better by Design” celebrates DesignSingapore Council’s 20th anniversary by bringing its motto to life over 11 days and more than 80 events during the festival. A new festival highlight is the Design Districts where each district will reflect the unique character and charm of its community, and offer a wealth of immersive design experiences within walking distance.
Shop Small Pop-Up Market
Sep 25 to Oct 1; Suntec City Atrium (Tower 1 and 2)
Shop Small began as a movement founded by American Express in 2010 to ignite passion for small and local businesses and to encourage shoppers to support them. This pop-up features 16 local businesses such as Creamier, Woods in the Books and Drips Bakery, as well as social service agency ART:DIS. There will also be a slew of activities led by local businesses such as candle- and jewellery-making workshops, and kid-friendly events. American Express Card Members who spend S$50 or more at the pop-up will receive a goodie bag of Shop Small vouchers and limited-edition merchandise (worth over $130) designed by local artists.
5 Of A Kind Street Art Festival 2023
Sep 29 to Oct 1; Downtown East
Dive into creativity and diversity at this three-day street art festival with local and international artists. Celebrate the vibrant tapestry of urban subcultures, from dance, music and street art to fashion and food, as it kicks off its anticipated second edition at D’Marquee @ Downtown East.
Clay Camp
Sep 27 to Oct 3; various locations
In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Mud Rock will be hosting its first five-day Clay Camp and offering participants Masterclasses with award-winning master ceramicists, alongside lectures, career talks, live demonstrations, and guided museum tours. Clay Camp will be free for public visitors, with some ticketed events. Those who want the full experience can get the Clay Camp All-access Tickets for $350 where they can enjoy privileged perks and priority access to all Clay Camp programmes.
World Food Fair
Sep 28 to Oct 1; Singapore EXPO
Take your tastebuds on a journey to Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam and a host of other popular food destinations under one roof. Explore a plethora of international delights at wallet-friendly prices, including Unagi Rice Bowls by Ishiro, Indian Claypot Rice from Seni Satti Sorru and Penang Asam Laksa from D’Laksa. Look out for promotions, new launches and freebies at the fair, such as Skinnie Biscotti flavours from The Cookies Factory, as well as Gsure – the first low GI plant-based complete nutrition beverage in the market.
Singapore Archifest 2023
Sep 29 to Oct 28; various locations
Organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), Singapore Archifest 2023 is back for its 17th edition with a diverse line-up of over 80 programmes themed “Interim: Acts of Adaptation”. The festival centres itself in the Kampong Gelam precinct, acting as a playground for experimentation and dialogue. In addition to festival mainstays such as Archifest Conference and Exhibition, festivalgoers can expect a breadth of new programming – with incubator design workshops, residencies, and thought-provoking talks. The festival’s traditional pavilion format has also been reimagined as six dispersed urban installations, providing meaningful art encounters that encapsulate the character of the precinct.
Sensory Odyssey: Into the Heart of Our Living World
Now till Oct 29, ArtScience Museum
Visitors are taken on a voyage through seven ecosystems from around the world. These environments are brought to life through ultra-high-definition video projection, spatial audio, and unique scents that engage and magnify visitors’ perceptions of sight, sound, and smell.
Semangat yang Baru: Forging a New Singapore Spirit
Now till Oct 29, National Museum of Singapore
This is a pilot exhibition by Founders’ Memorial which showcases challenges faced by the country’s first-generation leaders during the nation-building years from the 1950s to 1970s. It is co-presented with the National Museum of Singapore.
LKY100 – The Boy Who Became Prime Minister
Now till Jan 14, 2024
Discover a different side of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at Children’s Museum Singapore’s exhibition, LKY100 – The Boy Who Became Prime Minister. The exhibition, held in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Mr Lee’s birth, traces his story from childhood to his career as a statesman, and examines the values he espoused and the legacy he left behind.
Now Boarding: Experiencing Singapore through Travel, 1800s–2000s
Now till Feb 25, 2024; National Museum of Singapore
Come on board for an exhibition that traces the evolution of Singapore’s identity as a travel destination, through the lens of those who arrived at our shores from past to present. Get up close with a special selection of over 600 artefacts, including the iconic Changi Airport flight information display flip board, Raffles Hotel doorman uniform, and the Neptune Theatre Restaurant’s signage.
Gallery Children’s Biennale
Now till Mar 31, 2024, National Gallery Singapore
The 4th edition of Gallery Children’s Biennale 2023 is themed “Let’s Make a Better Place” and will showcase 11 art installations by international artists that spotlight four core values: Care, Collaborate, Imagine and Respect.
Raffles Place Audio Tours
Ongoing; Raffles Place
Raffles Place Alliance presents two audio tours – the Heritage and Art Tours – to help visitors explore the area through the lens of art and history. The Heritage Tour focuses mainly on the history of Raffles Place and its monumental locations, while the Art Tour allows visitors to marvel at the works of art that surround the area, created by artists from Singapore and around the world.
