Artist Alvin Goh guiding residents of Toa Payoh Central to paint the Dragon Playground on the art installation. Photo Credit:
People’s Association – PAssionArts

More than 60 heartland villages across Singapore will come alive with arts, stories, and shared heritage.

SINGAPORE – The PAssionArts Festival returns this year with a special SG60 edition, transforming neighbourhoods across the island into vibrant art villages from July to September 2025. Organised by the People’s Association Arts & Culture Division and its Community Arts and Culture Clubs (CACCs), the festival is themed “Our Neighbourhood Gems”, celebrating 60 years of nationhood through the everyday stories, icons, and places that make Singapore home.

A centrepiece of this year’s celebrations is the Giant Delight SG60 Edition—a large-scale art installation featuring oversized wooden and acrylic sculptures crafted by residents. Set to debut during the National Day Heartland Celebrations on 10 August 2025, these structures pay tribute to neighbourhood symbols and invite communities to co-create artistic representations of their local identity.

PAssionArts Festival 2025 also welcomes contemporary artist Sam Lo as Festival Director. Known for his work on the Chingay Parade (2022–2024), Sam brings a bold creative vision rooted in community art and storytelling. Under Sam’s direction, the festival aims to deepen connections between residents and their surroundings through participatory art.

Festival villages will host diverse experiences including workshops, performances, and themed installations. Highlights include Kebun Baru’s Giant Birdcage, inspired by its bird-singing club; The Heartland Express in Bukit Timah, honouring the former railway corridor; and a vibrant Peranakan House installation in Marine Parade, paying homage to Joo Chiat’s cultural legacy.

Live performances also feature prominently. Keat Hong will host the Festival of Songs, Stories & Soul on 13 July, while the Seletar-Serangoon Music Festival on 26 July will spotlight student music groups and local jazz ensembles. Over in Tampines, residents can enjoy the SG60 Concert on 2 August, blending retro music with community showcases.

The Festival officially launches on 12 July 2025 at Radin Mas and will span more than 60 locations. Residents of all ages are invited to join in co-creating artwork, attending performances, and expressing what their neighbourhood means to them.

Source: People’s Association