Synopsis:

The O.P.E.N. will be holding an open call inviting Singaporeans from all walks of life, aged 21 and above, to participate as discussants. There will be a selection process to pick participants to represent the various demographics. Those who make the final list will attend a workshop on collaborative and deliberation techniques as well as etiquette and the ethics of public discussion prior to the event.

Please email angelo@artshouse.sg for more information and to register for an initial conversation.

A historic moment in Singapore, and definitely in the arts, where public discussants will have, for the first time, a dialogue in the open on a central question that has been referred to them. This year, opening the entire SIFA 2017, The O.P.E.N. looks at art as res publicae or art as public interests. The root word of 'republic', 'res publicae' is a Latin phrase loosely defined as 'public interests'. In the spirit of this definition, ART AS RES PUBLICAE will be exploring open questions of artworks, dialogue and negotiation. The central question that has to be unpacked: What is the 'intangible value' in an artwork?

ART AS RES PUBLICAE is a public education programme about art, aimed at understanding what an artwork is and assessing whether the artwork raises our consciousness for living in a republic.

Every year, The O.P.E.N., SIFA's pre-festival of ideas, serves as our broad public education programme exploring world issues. Every alternate year, SIFA has a legacy of conducting public education programmes to research relevant questions in Singapore society. In 2015, we looked at land use in "The Lesson" directed by Drama Box.

This year, distinct artworks will be used as case studies for public discussants every night. Invited commentators will offer their perspectives to contextualise the discussions, which will be facilitated by an experienced moderator.

In this conference workshop, the task ahead for ALL will be to explore the distinct artworks to generate deliberative reflection, bring civic consciousness to the fore and better understand what the artworks are about.

Fun, safe and responsible, ART AS RES PUBLICAE will let you hear the discussants at work and even contribute with questions from the floor.

Commissioned by Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA).

28 June 2017
We convene to discuss "Some of the Complexities surrounding Pluralism in Singapore". Tan Kheng Hua and Claire Wong, will read scenes from Singapore playwright and lawyer Eleanor Wong's script WILLS AND SECESSION.

This will be followed by these commentators:
- Reverend Miak Siew (moral, religious, spiritual perspective)
- Choo Zheng Xi (civil society, legal perspective)
- Dr June Yap (value of arts in society)
- Alfian Saat (writer perspective)
- Imran Taib (diversity perspective - the false divide and the unheard voices)

29 June 2017
We turn the spotlight onto "Singapore's Future of Care in Ageing: Long Term Care, Quality, Well-Being, and Dignity".

Video excerpts will be screened from DEMENTIA, a Hungarian production by Proton Theater directed by Kornél Mundruczó, presented in SIFA 2015. The production concerned a nursing home that was being emptied out, with dementia and ageing clients being abandoned, as the land on which it stood was more valuable and lucrative for sale to developers.

The commentators are:
- Radha Basu, Lien Foundation (philanthropy perspective)
- Assoc Prof Philip Yap Lin Kiat (medical perspective)
- Anita Kapoor (media advocacy perspective)
- Angela Liong, (arts perspective)
- Dr Vivienne Wee (gender perspective in care-poverty cycle)
- Dr Jeremy Lim (collaboration perspective: strategic partnerships [from research to implementation] between public and private in health, live sciences)

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