Apr
20
2009
The Singapore Short film festival is an entire festival dedicated to showing short films. It is hosted by the Substation, which is the city’s only multi-disciplinary alternative arts space. The Substation was founded in 1990 by the late Kuo Pao Kun, and was the first independent contemporary arts space. It is located in Singapore’s civic district and surrounded by many of the 5 star Singapore hotels. Co-Artistic Directors Audrey Wong and Lee Weng Choy work closely with the Associated Artists, and through the years have worked with some of Singapore’s most highly acclaimed artists.
The Substation has many venues for diverse activities, such as a black box theatre, a dance studio and art gallery. They have two multi-function classrooms and a Random Room for experimental and other events. They often collaborate with other companies and artists in the presentation of a wide variety of programs. The dance studio hosts traditionally trained dancers to local rock bands. The gallery features the work of established visual artists and helps to promote new work and fresh poets. There is strong focus on the development of new and experimental theatre, while also hosting conferences on Singapore arts and culture. The Short Film Festival is a popular and diverse event.
The site of the Substation alludes to its previous manifestation, a power sub-station. It is an historic building, constructed in 1926. The power sub-station ended its activities in the 1970s and the building remained vacant for many years. In the 1880s new ways to develop and explore the Singapore arts and culture scene were a primary focus of the Ministry of Community Development. Kuo Pao Kun submitted a proposal for the building to be transformed into a performance arts space in 1986. It was the first building to be recognized under the Art’s Council’s “Arts Housing Scheme.”
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