Though Singapore just be a small red dot on the world map, our little lion city is full of culture and heritage. From the food we eat and the clothes we wear, to our everyday practices. There is so much more to learn about Singapore.
This year, Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) is taking a thematic approach as it invites us to discover, embrace, and explore stories of our heritage to keep it alive. As we are encouraged to stay home as much as possible during these times, we will be looking at some of the digital programmes instead!
Past Editions
SHF 2020 went all out on digital platforms from June 19 to July 5, with over 80 online programmes instead of site visits, live performances, and workshops. 2020’s edition of the festival highlights the neighbourhoods of Kallang, Pasir Ris, and Tanjong Pagar.
Despite the changes, there are some advantages to it. Viewers can access these programmes at their own time from the comfort of their own homes and best part is, it is free!
The festival only gets better. Let’s look at some of the online programmes lined-up for us!
Programmes
There are so many programmes lined-up! Learn more about Singapore’s heritage with these programmes!
Nanyang Tea Challenge Digital Edition 2021 (Food and Practices)
More and more teenagers are starting to slow down and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Thus, more of them are starting to appreciate the Chinese tea culture. These programmes allow you to got in touch with some of these hobbyists and observe how they demonstrate the wonderful art of tea-making.
Hosted by tea retailer, Pek Sin Choon, this year’s challenge is the fourth edition and requires contestants to pair its Nanyang tea brand with local cuisines during the finals of the challenge. Pek Sin Choon is one of Singapore’s oldest tea merchants since 1925.
What are you waiting for? Join in as you watch and vote for your favourite contestant!
Nanyang Tea Challenge Digital Edition 2021: 30 May, 1.30pm
Project Teahouse: Play from Home (Food and Places)
Looking for fun games to play while learning about Singapore’s heritage? Project Teahouse is a digital showcase which features 9 award-winning games from Heritage Game Jam 2020 – a game design competition which took place last year.
Put together by the Sagakaya Collective, you are given the chance to try out various heritage-inspired online games from home! Learn how to make chicken rice, help an elderly hawker work out or sell ice cream from a cart with just a few clicks!
Project Teahouse: Play from Home: Now till 30 May
Cinema Reclaimed: Live Dialogue (Places and Practices)
Cinema Reclaimed is a special film collaboration between researchers Toh Hun Ping and Ben Slater around the topics of medicine and modernity. SHF 2021 gives you the opportunity to get in touch with both researchers as they give a little background of the films featured.
They will be taking you on an exciting tour, going through the popularity of medical-themed scripts among Singapore filmmakers. This was actually an ongoing trend since the Malay studio era. These films might have been filmed in hospital setting or exploited possibilities of sudden illness.
Cinema Reclaimed: Live Dialogue: 29 May, 11.00am
Behind our Stall: The Hawker Story (Places and Food)
Enjoy this short film series as they celebrate some of the beloved hawkers. Put together by the students of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts’ Bras Basah Bugis Youth Panel, this series dives into the stories and journeys of hawkers from three different stalls. The team hopes to inspire all Singaporeans to appreciate the hardwork of our local hawkers.
There will be a video dedicated to these hawkers’ stories accompanied by a dance concept video paying tribute to these hawkers performed by groups of talented youths.
Home Museum (Object and Practices)
What are some of the things or objects that contribute to Singapore’s heritage? Nyonya cooking utensils, keris (Southeast Asian blade), vintage food moulds, these are just some of those items. Join three collectors as they showcase items from their ‘home museum’.
Watch interviews with conducted with Jasmine Adams, Dr Ong Jin Teong and Jamal Mohamad. Each of them will be telling stories about their collections and showcase some of the highlights from their own museum.
These are some of the exciting programmes you and your family could enjoy brought to you by Singapore HeritageFest From now till May 30th, spend some time with your family and enjoy some these programmes as you learn more about Singapore’s heritage.
