As the Esplanade in Singapore marks its 15th birthday with a yearlong celebration aimed at raising funds for a new waterfront theater, one reporter looks back on the impact the venue has had on the arts in Singapore.
At first, there were worries about just who in Singapore the Esplanade was for. Would it only cater to the elite and wealthy, who would wear tuxedos and ball gowns to attend operas? Would anyone come at all once the doors were open? Those fears were allayed almost immediately. Hundreds of thousands visited the Esplanade within the first year, the numbers growing to the millions in subsequent years. And though some of the Esplanade’s programming could be defined as fancy, a bulk of the visitors came for non-ticketed events, meaning people from all walks of life got to experience the Esplanade’s offerings.
Music at the Esplanade has really been a big selling point, with two music festivals in particular raking in the visitors. With diverse musical programming, officials at the Esplanade are able to draw in a variety of different visitors from all different age groups. The festivals are a way for visitors to explore different kinds of music, including everything from jazz and world to indie acts. A recent effort to include Singaporean musicians has also brought a new facet to the performances, acting as a platform for local talents.
Another way the Esplanade has stood out as a jewel in the community is its commitment to theater. At first, critics feared programs would only include Broadway-type traveling shows, limiting diversity on the stage. While the Esplanade did stage several big acts, today, many of those shows have migrated to other venues around Singapore. Now, the Esplanade offers everything from experimental theater to stagings of Singaporean plays and actors to large, international productions. Many shows are in different languages, meaning there is something presented for everyone there.
Perhaps one of the Esplanade’s biggest contributions to the Singaporean art scene is its dance programming. Because of key dance events in October, this month has also been unofficially designated as Singapore’s dance month, spurring a selection of spinoff festivals on different days. Esplanade’s festival continues to grow in popularity and scope, scheduling everything from ballet to traditional dance forms to international styles like flamenco.
But the Esplanade isn’t only about performing arts. Officials at the facility have recently began pushing to display visual arts in some of the spaces in and around it. At first, officials received backlash from some artists complaining that the spaces aren’t specifically designed to show art. However, with more and more art in Singapore popping up in unexpected places, the Esplanade can plan on enjoying more art showings in its unique spaces.
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To read more about the Esplanade’s impact on art in Singapore, go to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/lifestyle/5-ways-esplanade-impact-singapore-arts-scene-9303264.