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Singapore International Festival Of Arts, Singapore Overview

The Singapore International Festival of Arts is a popular festival of arts held at the Arts House that transforms into the Festival House for the duration of the event. It is situated at 1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore and is a popular form of entertainment for art lovers from all walks of life and communities in Singapore. It thus becomes an arena for artists from all over the world to display their art forms and participate in discussions & workshops while interacting with the audience over a glass of wine and sumptuous food.

With fun and frolic as its backdrop, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) is a grand event which people look forward to, every year. Formerly known as the Singapore Arts Festival, this lavish event is organised and managed by the Arts House Limited, and funded by the National Arts Council. It is greatly responsible for inspiring the myriad audience to ignite their imagination and think with an open mind. The events include music & dance performances along with theatre arts and visual arts with the local community as well as several artists of international repute. Different programs are held at different venues stretching across the heart of the city.

Singapore International Festival of Arts Date 2020

15th May to 31st May 2020

The timings of each event vary, and so do the prices of tickets. Every show is held at a different time and comes with a different ticketing price. A few of these shows require one to register beforehand to avoid last-minute chaos.

How Did it All Begin?

Inaugurated in 1977, the SIFA commenced as an event to celebrate and popularise local talent from Singapore’s diverse communities. After 2012, it was suspended for a short while before returning in 2014 under the guidance of Ong Keng Sen, the festival Director. It was he who renamed the lively event from Singapore Arts Festival to the Singapore International Festival of Arts. From 2018, management of the gorgeous festival has been taken over by Gaurav Kripalani, the new Festival Director. Over the last few decades, the SIFA has played a significant role in enhancing and improving the cultural life and the artistic practices in the Lion City.

Celebrations during Singapore International Festivals of Arts

With a plethora of different kinds of shows, the Singapore International Festival of Arts is not just about pomp and pomposity but also about being more aware of the spectacular art culture in Singapore as well as other regions around the world. Often considered to be the heartbeat of the SIFA, the Arts House is transformed into the Festival House every year during the festival period. The cosy, intimate spaces are utilised as a venue to host entertaining book clubs, informative artist talk shows, captivating reading rooms, and splendid exhibitions that take place during the festival. It motivates the audience to reflect upon the themes of the SIFA.

Here, people exchange their views, discuss the festival theme, gorge on some scrumptious food, and actively take part in the lively festival buzz. From rustic street dances to formal Ballets, from thrilling public film screenings to dramatic theatre performances, the SIFA offers a platform for those marvellous shows that are usually not seen being performed every other weekend.

Singapore International Festival of Arts, Singapore Arts House — The Arts House, Singapore (Source)

Location of Singapore International Festival of Arts

The resplendent Singapore International Festival of Arts is held at multiple locations every year. From Esplanade Park to the Bedok Reservoir, the site keeps getting updated each year. A few of the venues are located at obscure places which are usually not accessible to people. Hence, this spectacular festival is not only an entire world which showcases amazing talent, but it is also an opportunity for you to explore the concealed gems of Singapore.

Singapore International Festival Of Arts Venue — Source

Before You Go, Keep These in Mind

You can either purchase tickets online from www.sifa.sg or book them in person from any authorised SISTIC ticketing agent.
Purchasing tickets at the door is solely subject to availability. Hence, the pre-booking of the tickets is strongly recommended.
For most of the programmes, the front rows are reserved for students, and the tickets come at a lower price to ascertain that they can afford to see these performances.
Photography and videography are not permitted unless stated otherwise.
Arriving late for a show is firmly discouraged. Ideally, the audience should be seated at least fifteen minutes before the show commences. The latecomers are only admitted during a suitable break, the timing of which varies from one show to the other. In some performances, the latecomers may only be allowed inside after the first interval begins. This policy is maintained mainly to respect the talented performers as well as the other members of the audience.