No Space for Art: Is the Fringe Dead? (Singapore)

In a span of less than five years, the Singapore arts and cultural scene has seen the demise of several independent arts spaces. From The Necessary Stage’s black box theatre in 2022 to The Projector in 2025, and to The Substation and Centre 42 having to relinquish their venues back to the authorities, these losses have been deeply mourned by the local arts community and audiences. In 2024, the Singapore Fringe Festival lost their title donor. But the support from the public and artists rallying around the festival’s crowdfunding initiative made it possible for the 2026’s ground-up Fringe to take place.

There is cause for alarm in the diminishing spaces for the incubation and presentation for bold, inventive, and socially pertinent art-making. We are suddenly left bereft of spaces for crucial discourse, collaboration, and civic engagement amongst diverse communities. It compels the question: does this spell the end of fringe arts? Are independent creators who push the envelope and challenge the mainstream being edged out because of market forces, or worse, a dismaying decline of interest? What can we collectively do to ensure that fringe arts will not only survive but thrive in our landscape?

Join us for a candid and insightful panel discussion with Anais Adjani, Kok Heng Leun, Melissa Lim, and Noorlinah Mohamed, facilitated by theatre educator and dramaturg Charlene Rajendran.

Speech to text interpretation is available upon request. Please email your request to [email protected] by 5 December 2025.

Terms of Ticket Sales

1. Once sold, tickets are strictly non-refundable or exchangeable unless the Singapore government mandates the closure of events in Singapore. All information given is correct at the time of publishing, but is subject to change without prior notice. The Promoter reserves all rights to amend any terms and conditions without prior notice, and, in the event of any dispute, the Promoter’s decision is final.

Conditions of Entry

1. No admission for children aged 12 and below.
2. All children must be accompanied by adults.
3. Tickets are required for all patrons.

General

1. Mobile phones must be switched off or switched to silent mode in the theatre.
2. Patrons are required to follow all house rules and regulations set out by the venue. The House Rules are displayed within the venue premises.
3. No food and drinks are allowed in the venue.
4. There will be no intermission for this panel discussion.
5. Speech to text interpretation is available upon request via email to [email protected] by 5 December 2025.

Photography / Videography Recording Rules

1. Strictly no photography, videography and audio recording allowed for this event.

Accessibility

1. We welcome patrons who need accessible seating arrangements — including wheelchair users, those who require access to open captions, and those with assistance dogs.
2. Due to varying production designs and seating configurations, please contact us at [email protected] before booking your ticket so we can share more information about seating and routes with you. You can also find more information about accessibility at the Fringe website.
3. For queries or more information, please contact us at [email protected].

_{All information is correct at time of publishing but may be subject to change without prior notice.}

_{The Promoter reserves the right to amend the above without prior notice. In the event of any dispute, the Promoter's decision is final.}