SINGAPORE - Over 10,000 participants, including local performers and artists, will be involved in next year’s Chingay Parade, the Republic’s largest community arts showcase.
When participant Thierry Yeo was asked to help create art pieces for the upcoming event, he excitedly agreed.
The Singapore Polytechnic student has been passionate about art since he was six years old, and the opportunity to participate in a public art installation – one of various community engagement programmes to celebrate Chingay – was too good to pass up.
“This is the first time I get to express myself on such a big canvas. I feel incredibly honoured to be chosen to create art pieces for Chingay and expand Singapore’s arts scene,” said the 17-year-old, who is studying media, arts and design.
He added that it was a great opportunity to be a part of something much bigger than himself.
Chingay started in the early 1970s as a way of bringing cheer to Chinese New Year festivities after firecrackers were banned.
Over the years, it has evolved into Singapore’s biggest multicultural celebration.
Set to take place on Feb 3 and 4 next year, the parade will welcome audiences back to a live showcase at the F1 Pit Building after two years of digital and hybrid parades.
Attendees can enjoy the return of large, colourful floats alongside mini community-created floats.
The National Education show for primary school pupils will also return after a two-year hiatus.
Mr Lim Hock Yu, chief executive director of the People’s Association, which is organising Chingay 2023, said: “Chingay has always been about the people, about bringing people together to celebrate our unique and multi-faceted cultural mix.
“Chingay 2023 will start a fresh chapter that involves wider community participation, including the younger generation, to reimagine and tell of our Singaporean culture – of our multiculturalism, our youth and our community arts – in a more innovative, trendy and appealing format.”
The theme of Chingay 2023 is Embrace Tomorrow, which calls on all Singaporeans to treasure the present and look to the future of the nation with hope.
Eight local artists and 480 young people will come together to create art installations that embody the community spirit and showcase Singapore’s multicultural heritage in a creative and fun way.
Artist Sam Lo, who is behind one of the installations, said: “The design concept is a celebration of our new beginning and excitement for life as we embrace the unknown, emphasise the collective, and boldly leap into the future together as one.
“As the parade makes its long-awaited return to the streets in 2023, we will once again witness this unified spirit with individuals from all walks of life coming together, stronger.”
Revellers will be given a chance to showcase their talents at the F1 Pit Building and Chingay@Heartlands, with dancing and singing performances.
Heartland residents will also be able to enjoy snippets of the main parade, as the floats and featured performances will be taken to several residential estates.
Tickets for Chingay 2023 are available for sale from Friday at Sistic. Ticket prices range from $20 to $60.
PAssion Card members can get a 20 per cent discount on all admission tickets.
For more information, visit https://www.chingay.gov.sg or the Chingay Facebook and Instagram pages.
