ABOUT: SINGAPORE WRITERS FESTIVAL

THE SINGAPORE WRITERS FESTIVAL (SWF) IS ONE OF ASIA'S PREMIER LITERARY EVENTS.

The Singapore Writers Festival is one of Asia’s premier literary events.  Inaugurated in 1986, the festival serves a dual function of promoting new and emerging Singaporean and Asian writing to an international audience, as well as presenting the world’s major literary talents to Singaporeans. SWF has delighted book lovers by featuring literary luminaries such as Singapore writers Shamini Flint, Alvin Pang, Suchen Christine Lim, You Jin, as well as international writers such as Steven Levitt, Michael Chabon, Neil Gaiman, Bi Feiyu, Andrew Motion and Marc Smith. To date, it remains one of the few literary festivals in the world that is multi-lingual, celebrating works in Singapore’s official languages – English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. With the heart of the Festival District at the Singapore Management University’s Campus Green, this year’s panels, readings and performances will be spread out over 10 days and take place at The Arts House, the National Museum of Singapore, the Singapore Art Museum, the Peranakan Museum and The National Library.

VISION

A city where writing empowers and transforms lives.

MISSION

The mission of the festival is to not only present the world’s major literary talents to the people of Singapore, but also to promote new and emerging Singapore and Asian writing to a wider public.

NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL

The National Arts Council (NAC) was set up as a statutory board in September 1991 to spearhead the development of the arts in Singapore.

Anchored on the twin strategies of excellence and engagement in the arts, the Council aims to build a vibrant arts sector by creating a conducive environment where the arts is accessible to all and artistic talents have the necessary resources and capabilities to excel and achieve sustainability in the long term.

To develop artistic talents in the performing, visual, literary and traditional arts, the Council provides total support through grants, training, arts housing subsidies, commissioning of works and overseas presentations. It adopts a holistic approach to develop the entire value chain, from seedling arts start-ups, nurturing and developing artists, arts groups and arts businesses, to internationalization. NAC also organizes major festivals, events and competitions to showcase local and international talents, as well as to identify new talents. Arts awards are given to artists in recognition of artistic excellence and to patrons for arts sponsorship.