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News & events > Asia-Europe Cultural Festival: 2023 Edition | Programme announced!

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22 Oct 2023 - 01 Nov 2023

Asia-Europe Cultural Festival: 2023 Edition | Programme announced!

The Asia-Europe Cultural Festival is a public arts festival that celebrates the artistic diversity of Asia and Europe and promotes the dialogue and exchange amongst artists from the 2 regions. In 2023, the Festival will be held for the first time in Singapore from 22 October to 1 November. This year’s Festival will allow audiences in Singapore to experience a variety of events spanning dance, film, photography and music by artists from many countries such as Italy, Malaysia, Cambodia, France, Estonia, Japan and Singapore

The Festival programme will be presented alongside the newly launched ASEF LinkUp | Asia-Europe Cultural Diplomacy Lab, a 3-day event that connects curators, arts managers and artists with diplomats and cultural attaches based in Singapore and the ASEAN region. The Lab aims to create new spaces for encounters and capacity building, where various agents involved in cultural diplomacy can meet and share knowledge.  

The Festival will open on 22 October with the Singapore première of the documentary film, The Perfect Motion, by French filmmaker Xavier de Lauzanne. The film tracks the creation of a production by Cambodia’s royal dancers called “Metamorphosis”, and the history of the Royal Ballet since 1906. The screening will be followed by a live dance performance from the Princess Buppha Devi Dance School and a Q&A session with its Director, HRH Prince Sisowath Tesso and the filmmaker.  

On the opening night, with the support of the Embassy of Estonia in Singapore, renowned Estonian director Teet Kask will present the theatre performance The Golden Temple. Inspired by Yukio Mishima’s novel “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion”, this piece is an ode to the undefined depth of the human condition. The original music score is performed live by a cello player and a singer that become the protagonists of the tale, together with two movement artists (one Estonian and one Japanese). For the re-stage of the performance in Singapore, the director has collaborated with Singapore-based cello player Robert Choi.  

On 27 October, with the support of the Embassy of Italy in Singapore, the Festival will present the dance performance X by Italian choreographer Olimpia Fortuni and sound artist Katatonic Silentio, with Malaysian dancer and choreographer January Low. This performance attempts to create a bridge and share a journey, nourished by Asian shamanic traditions and Western archetypal symbols. The dance performance is a collaboration between 3 artists, showcasing the importance of artistic exchange and cultural diversity. 

The Festival will culminate on 1st November at 5pm with a roundtable discussion, titled Framing the Future: Photography's Impact on Climate Awareness in Southeast AsiaThis event is presented in collaboration with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Viet Nam and the NOOR Foundation. Bringing together talented photographers, journalists and scientists, this conversation will delve into the role of photography in shaping the narrative of climate crisis awareness in Southeast Asia.

All events are free by registration. Book now!

Download the festival booklet here.

INFO: E culture@asef.org  | T (+65) 6874 9754


EVENTS CALENDAR


Sunday, 22 October 2023, 4 pm 

The Perfect Motion Film Screening & Preah Thong Dance Performance

Asian Civilisations Museum, Ngee Ann Auditorium



Sunday, 22 October 2023, 8 pm 

The Golden Temple 

School of the Arts (SOTA), Studio Theatre




24 – 27 October 2023 

ASEF LinkUp: Asia-Europe Cultural Diplomacy Lab  

Closed-door event




Friday, 27 October 2023, 5.00 pm

ASEF LinkUp: Asia-Europe Cultural Diplomacy Lab presentation

By invitation only

Asian Civilisations Museum, River Room




Friday, 27 October 2023, 8 pm 

Asian Civilisations Museum, River Terrace 




Sunday, 29 October 2023, 4 pm 

The Perfect Motion Film Screening

Asian Civilisations Museum, Ngee Ann Auditorium




Wednesday 1 November 2023, 5 pm 

Framing the Future: 

Photography's Impact on Climate Awareness in Southeast Asia 

Asia-Europe Foundation, Conference Room



The Asia-Europe Cultural Festival is organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), funded by the European Union, with the support of the Embassy of Italy in Singapore, the Embassy of Estonia in Singapore and Casa Asia.


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With the support of: 

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Asia-Europe Festival: 2023