Following the pandemic, the importance of mental health became the talking point on the tip of everyone’s tongues, where it became paramount and all-important to include in our daily lives. That of course, includes those in the arts. During the pandemic itself, a group of arts workers came together to discuss and expand on conversations around the conditions of working in the arts today. This group, known as CITRUS practices, is now ready to share their work with the world, with the very first CITRUS fest this June.

CITRUS practices stands for Care, Intimacy, TRaUma-informed and Safer practices, in the name of infusing and enabling greater sustainability in the arts by engaging with people and organisations – within and beyond the arts – to connect and expand conversations around the structures and conditions of working in the arts today. After all – their aim of the arts is to deeply care for, refresh and nourish both arts workers and audiences alike.

With CITRUS fest, held in conjunction with Wellness Festival Singapore 2024, the team is organising a three-day ‘potluck’ festival of communal dinners, workshops and conversations by and for arts workers, and more. Presented in partnership with the NAC’s Arts Resource Hub, all programmes will be held at 42 Waterloo Street, all of which are free of charge.

Programmes include an opening dinner led by freelance culinary instructor and consultant Priscill Koh and artist Ang Xiao Ting from The Theatre Practice and Practice Tuckshop, with a three-course communal vegetarian dining experience highlighting sustainably-grown local produce, and will include a selection of rescued veggie pickles and condiments. Ang Xiao Ting will also lead her band of ‘Tuckshop Guniangs’ in the closing programme, which brings Practice Tuckshop’s Recess Time programme, combining the art of cooking, making conversations and storytelling into a single encounter, discussing issues of food rescue and sustainability while enjoying a delicious meal.

Elsewhere, Port of Reciprocity (Irfan Kasban) and Rumah Rimau Dapor (Zarina Muhammad) present the Rest & Digest Corner, providing a space for joy, decompressions and relaxation throughout the festival. The team will also be presenting Gentle Ferocities, a gathering in which participants and presenters share and facilitate discussions of listening to each other, where you’ll even be able to make a small handmade effigy/talisman to take home.

Much more about care and concern for others in the arts is also discussed and addressed in other workshops, such as The Backstage Affair’s it’s not worth talking about? about how backstage practitioners practice care in their own small ways, or the rarely discussed issues of parenting while being an artist in The Artist Is Apparent, as artists who are also parents discuss how to juggle the two roles with each other, and share informal and formal strategies and hacks that have made it more possible for parenting (and caregiving) arts workers to maintain or grow aspects of their practice, including but not limited to creative work, residencies, networking and touring.

Other programmes also include photography as a tool of communication in Care as Action in Meaning-Making, conflict and communication 101 through interactive activities and talk about how to remain grounded during conflict, forum theatre on how to care better in arts spaces in Rehearsing for ‘Better’, or even the very open Curiosity Circles where participants will be supported to form small group discussions around one or more topics of choice.

Be sure to book yourself a spot at your programmes of choice, and spend the weekend resting, healing, and learning how to be a better person by caring for both yourself and those around you, be it in the arts or other environments, with the very first CITRUS fest.

CITRUS fest runs from 28th to 30th June 2024 at 42 Waterloo Street. More information available here