A creative arts festival by *SCAPE showcasing youth through a diverse range of art across dance, music, visual arts, and interdisciplinary forms.
Courtesy of *SCAPE
The heart of youth creativity beats stronger this season as *SCAPE proudly announces the return of its heralded Creative Arts Festival, comma.
For its second year, the festival reaffirms its commitment to youth development and community building by presenting an immersive showcase from 12 to 28 January 2024, including the much-anticipated Music Day Out! on 13 and 14 January.
Held in the Somerset Belt, comma aligns with the precinct’s mission to engage and empower youth. Leveraging Somerset’s vibrant spaces at *SCAPE and Somerset Youth Park, this festival empowers young creators to meet, collaborate, and showcase their work by turning these spaces into active hubs of youth-led art, innovation, and expression.
The exhibitions and performances delve into the creative minds of young artists, revealing the unique interpretations of their place in the world today.
Courtesy of Amanda Tan and Jonit On
A ‘Disruption’ in Artistic Expression
Themed ‘Disruption’, this year’s festival concept reflects *SCAPE’s current state of its placemaking refresh, inspiring the event’s overall aesthetic.
The theme not only challenges youth artists to defy norms and break barriers but also invites audiences to experience *SCAPE’s ongoing transformation. Its unique setting provides a compelling backdrop to showcase and celebrate young artists, dancers, and musicians.
Courtesy of Fuse, Aisyah Hanafi and Pamela Law
Organised specifically to spotlight budding youth talent, comma sets itself apart by featuring a dynamic array of performances and exhibitions by young creators that celebrate youthful creativity while serving as a safe space for those who are interested in exploring and discovering new art disciplines and bridging different genres.
As a key programme of the Somerset Belt, industry stakeholders such as RAW Moves (Contemporary Dance), World Supremacy Battlegrounds (Street Dance), and Steady State Records (Music) will also be involved to enhance mentorship, cross-disciplinary engagement, and professional growth for the artists of tomorrow.
Music Day Out!
comma’s Music Day Out! celebrates independent music and its DIY ethos – presenting an electrifying showcase of artists from the ground up.
Its upcoming 2024 edition features a cutting-edge lineup of Singaporean artists that includes all-girl hardcore trailblazers Fuse, shoegaze heroes Blush, math-pop stalwarts Woes, and many more. The region’s best-kept secrets will also be joining them, with exhilarating sets from Leipzig (Indonesia), No Good (Malaysia), Gabba (Philippines), and more.
Music Day Out! not only showcases live performances but also emphasises industry growth through informative sharing sessions. These sessions will focus on critical topics such as touring strategies and artiste best practices.
Get your tickets for Music Day Out! here.
Creative Showcases at *SCAPE Playspace
Vibrant exhibition spaces at *SCAPE Playspace will be dedicated to comma’s youth creatives. Each space is set to showcase a variety of innovative and disruptive youth expressions, spanning game design, entrepreneurship, and the energetic dance form krumping.
A unique and immersive experience with local visual artist Jamela Law’s Scars, Skins and Styles: Physical Transfigurations that pushes the envelope with digital and virtual technologies melding with themes of fashion, mental health, identity, and personal evolution.
‘A body doing its own painting’ by Experimentation Ground artist Hee Suhui
Experimentation Ground is a showcase where art refuses to be categorised. During the second week, audiences at The Ground Theatre will be treated to two transformative works that daringly blend disciplines to redefine the essence of performance.
Afiszan Amat’s Tapping merges everyday digital actions with performance, prompting reflection on technology’s impact on daily lives while Hee Suhui’s Ill Behaviour mixes sound art, performance art and physical storytelling, offering a raw, humorous take on personal and collective experiences.
Dance Events
Dance enthusiasts are also invited to dive into the rhythm and partake in a series of interactive dance events.
At HOMEGROUND, dance studios, communities and crews converge to showcase and celebrate their passion and prowess, elevating street dance to new heights.
The *SCAPE Dance Residency highlights contemporary dance work from four emerging local choreographers that will also be featured in Singapore Art Week 2024.
Additionally, the Street Dance Intensives Masterclasses will allow participants to be mentored by renowned dancers such as Sue from Chibi Unity (Japan) and Tank Bautista (Philippines).
Apart from Music Day Out! and Street Dance Masterclasses, all other programmes at comma are Free Admission.
In addition, comma festival goers this year can look forward to indulging in a variety of food options at the festival village held at the *SCAPE Playspace.
Other activities feature young entrepreneurs or crafters in thrift fashion, handmade jewellery, and zine-making.
To find out more or register for comma, click here.
