Our Projects
Asian Arts Media Roundtable
The Asian Arts Media Roundtable is a meeting of media professionals and arts writers from Southeast Asia and other parts of the world. The inaugural AAMR took place in Singapore in 2019. AAMR 2021 was presented online as part of the Singapore International Festival of the Arts, and featured Master Conversations, a workshop series led by prominent international theatre designers.
Critics Live!
Critics Live! is a critics-led programme series aiming to give audiences an insight into how critics formulate their responses to performances. Critics Live has been organised since 2019, with editions held across various platforms, from physical venues, to Zoom and Telegram voice chat. Past panellists include Alice Saville (UK), Elisabeth Vincentelli (US), Amitha Amranand (TH), Jose Solís (US), Clarissa Oon (SG) and Sharaad Kuttan (MY).
AE x Goethe-Institut Critical Writing Micro-Residency
Funded by Goethe-Institut, the Critical Writing Micro-Residency is a digital micro-residency focusing on the development of critical writing about arts and culture in Southeast Asia. The residency programme positions the online editorial space as generative, discursive and playful. The residents are mentored by ArtsEquator’s Editor, Nabilah Said.
10 Things About Traditional Arts/Malay Culture
In 2020, ArtsEquator introduced a new series of short animated videos, each focusing on a lesser known traditional artform, supported by the National Arts Council. From 2021 to 2022, Wisma Geylang Serai is commissioning ArtsEquator to produce 10 videos about various aspects of Malay culture.
Burning Questions
Burning Questions is a series of talks offering space for regional voices to discuss unasked questions facing the arts community. The 2020 edition was supported by Splice Lights On, with livestream support by HowlRound TV.
W.O.W Classics
W.O.W (Women on Women) Classics is a collaboration between ArtsEquator and award-winning writer Elaine Chiew to introduce literary classics written by Singaporean women to young Singaporean women readers. Each participant then creates a digital video about their experience. W.O.W Classics was funded by The Arts Fund.
Introduction to Reviewing Courses
In 2020, ArtsEquator organised three programmes on reviewing for theatre, dance and books. These introductory courses comprised lectures, practical exercises, guest lectures and discussions, and was led by ArtsEquator’s Editor, Nabilah Said, ArtsEquator’s CEO Kathy Rowland and dance critics Chan Sze-Wei, Jocelyn Chng and Bernice Lee.
Critical Residency Programme with AsiaTOPA 2020
In 2020, ArtsEquator attended AsiaTOPA 2020 in Melbourne to review performances featuring Asian artists in the festival. This was part of a Critical Residency programme supported by AsiaTOPA, Arts Centre Melbourne, National Arts Council and the Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth Singapore.
Critics Reading Group
ArtsEquator’s Critics Reading Group was a monthly reading circle targeted at deepening the knowledge and critical dexterity of critics. Each session features readings, discussions, guest sharing sessions and more. The inaugural Group ran from 2018 to 2019, and was moderated by ArtsEquator’s resident theatre critic, Corrie Tan and ArtsEquator’s CEO Kathy Rowland.
Year In Review
Year in Review is Centre 42’s annual round-up of the performing arts in Singapore. Since 2018, ArtsEquator has been a co-organiser of the event. It has taken place on various platforms, from physical venues, to open space formats on Zoom and even the airwaves of Telegram.
Lyn Gardner Theatre Criticism Training Programme
ArtsEquator ran a programme which saw young critics being mentored by Guardian theatre critic Lyn Gardner. They reviewed shows from the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2018, and then received one-on-one mentoring and guidance. The reviews were published on ArtsEquator.
AE x George Town Festival
ArtsEquator attended the George Town Festival in 2018 to interview artists and audiences, review festival performances, network and expand the profile of Singapore as an important centre for regional arts practices.