The Substation is saved with Substation 2.0

The Substation was previously announced to be permanently closing in March. This was a decision that was made primarily due to The Substation’sfinancial sustainability as an independent arts centre, made worse by Covid-19, and the National Arts Council’s (NAC) decision to convert the space into a centrefor multiple arts groups. But hope springs anew, as it seems that it will not be closing after all, … Continue reading The Substation is saved with Substation 2.0

SeptFest Week 2: Brown Is Haram and Tabula Rasa

The stories and lived experiences of minorities take centrestage in week 2 of The Substation’s SeptFest.  For the second week of The Substation’s SeptFest, we watched two works centred on minorities, in terms of both race, and unique life experiences. Both pieces this week had strong messages about what they wanted to say about their identity, fiercely unique in their personal voice, and speaking loud … Continue reading SeptFest Week 2: Brown Is Haram and Tabula Rasa

SeptFest Week 1: Tea Leaves Glowing In The Wind, Waltz of the Flower, and OEOS

The beginning of the end, as SeptFest returns for a last hurrah.  The Substation’s signature SeptFest comes at a strange time in the venue’s history. Having just announced the permanent closure of The Substation come July, rather than a triumphant celebration of the festival’s return after a 6-year hiatus, SeptFest has taken on far more weight as a final send-off to the 30-year old institution, … Continue reading SeptFest Week 1: Tea Leaves Glowing In The Wind, Waltz of the Flower, and OEOS

NAC responds to The Substation’s latest statement concerning the venue’s closure

Local arts venue and institution The Substation has announced that they are closing for good, prompting a response from the National Arts Council (NAC). Following media reports, The Substation has released yet another statement clarifying their position. Now NAC has sent a second response to clarify once again, regarding their plans for 45 Armenian Street (where The Substation currently stands.) Read NAC’s response in full: … Continue reading NAC responds to The Substation’s latest statement concerning the venue’s closure

The Substation releases response clarifying NAC’s statement concerning the venue’s closure

After formally announcing that The Substation would be closing for good, the National Arts Council (NAC) released a media statement in response, which The Straits Times and other media have reported on. The Substation have noted several misconceptions or incomplete remarks in NAC’s statement, to which they have released a further statement clarifying issues such as its position as a venue, funds and finances. Here … Continue reading The Substation releases response clarifying NAC’s statement concerning the venue’s closure

The Substation to close permanently this July

For over 30 years, the Substation has been home to experimental and cutting-edge artistic works, and a constant key arts institution in Singapore. But come July, it will be shuttering its doors forever and saying goodbye. The Substation Board has announced the permanent closure of the Substation. This difficult decision was made after lengthy deliberations and several discussions with the National Arts Council (NAC) and … Continue reading The Substation to close permanently this July

Preview: SeptFest – In The Margins by The Substation

The Substation’s annual arts festival, SeptFest, which commemorates its founding on 16th September, returns for its 22nd edition from 4th to 28th March 2021 after a 6-year hiatus. Helmed by Co-Artistic Director of The Substation, Raka Maitra, the festival will feature 20 artists and 13 programmes across four weeks. A smaller-scaled format of the festival, SeptFest Fringe was held last September, where a series of … Continue reading Preview: SeptFest – In The Margins by The Substation

we are not going back, we are coming around: Straits Records sets up pop-up store at The Substation

For longtime supporters and lovers of local indie music, the name Straits Records is likely to ring a bell. A distributor of local and regional music since 1995, it was perhaps at its peak while it was operating as a brick-and-mortar store along Bali Lane. But since then, with rising rent, it’s lost its shop front, with owner/founder Ridhwan Ghany aka ‘Wan Vegan’ operating it out … Continue reading we are not going back, we are coming around: Straits Records sets up pop-up store at The Substation

Preview: M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival 2020 – Disability by ArtsWok Collaborative

Organised by ArtsWok Collaborative, in collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, the annual M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival has been a mainstay of the local youth theatre scene for the last five years, and will finally come to a close with this 2020 edition. While the year has been a struggle, with the unprecedented effects of COVID-19, the team has decided to … Continue reading Preview: M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival 2020 – Disability by ArtsWok Collaborative

Review: Coming Home – Theatre Triple Bill by The Substation

Original theatrical works adapted into short films to kickstart the Substation’s new programme. As far as art forms go, it’s not often that one medium gets a smooth adaptation into another. But with The Substation’s Coming Home: Theatre Triple Bill, three theatrical works originally slated to be performed live earlier this year have managed to find a new home in the form of short films, as produced … Continue reading Review: Coming Home – Theatre Triple Bill by The Substation