How This Creative Arts Space Is Showing Solidarity For The Scene
Gateway Theatre's response to these tough times includes partnership programmes to support the creation of exciting new work by artists and practitioners in Singapore.
It's an understatement to say that the past years have been a difficult time for artists in Singapore. What with measures putting on pause productions, exhibitions and the like, it can be difficult terrain to navigate.
What's reassuring, though, is that there are players in the scene making continued efforts to support art practitioners here.
READ MORE: A Stunning Video Of Three Singapore Dancers Expressing The Beauty Of Movement
One such example is Gateway Theatre, a creative arts space located in the heart of Bukit Merah that's armed with a host of modern facilities and a mission to support artist creativity and public imagination.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Gateway has begun an Arts Solidarity Plan that aims to support non-profit arts groups, artists, independent practitioners and freelancers.
Part of the performing arts scene's present-day realities is the pivot to live-streamed or video content, in place of in-person stagings. Gateway Theatre tackles this with a suite of in-house resources that include spaces, equipment and a technical support team to ease the process of showing work online.
"Artists need greater support in order to create works," says Priscilla Khong, director of Gateway Theatre. The solidarity plan thus works with that arching vision. "The future of our local arts industry is at stake, and in this time of great change and uncertainty, their work is all the more relevant and necessary in bringing hope and inspiration to
audiences."
READ MORE: This 190-Sq-Ft Space Is The Independent Artist Sanctuary You Need To Know
Besides discounting the cost of renting and booking Gateway's many event spaces, the plan also includes partnerships with artists and groups developing new work for children, youths and families.
Below, a look at some of Gateway Theatre's initiatives and facilities.
Some of the latest offerings from Gateway Theatre are geared around virtual creative spaces. Think of it as new standards for a new normal. It's part of what the theatre calls its "Di.GT.al Initiative" to offer straightforward solutions for producing and live-streaming videos. The green screen studio (pictured) for example, is Singapore's first black box space to be equipped with this technology and is one of the largest mid-sized studios of its kind here.
Besides more traditional facilities like black boxes, a theatre hall with a stage, dance studios with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, recording studios and flexible-use gallery spaces, Gateway also has a unique outdoor Sky Garden. Landscaped with manicured lawns, trees, a water feature and even an outdoor stage, this green space offers an additional avenue of outdoor space for events like receptions and fitness lessons.
Gateway Theatre's solidarity approach extends beyond just the logistics of venue and space. Its partnerships programme is looking for collaborators to develop new work made in Singapore that aligns with the platform's goals of imparting positive message and social values. Samantha Scott-Blackhall, programme director of Gateway Theatre says: "Through our partnership programme, we hope to encourage and help artists do their best work".
Pictured here is Fill The Vamp, a musical theatre collective formed in 2020 by Kimberly Chan, Natalie Yeap and Vanessa Kee. Earlier this year, the group put together 'House Is Open', a video game musical theatre experience supported by Gateway Theatre as a venue sponsor. Even more recently, Gateway also supported the staging of Toy Factory Productions' third season of its playwright mentorship programme, The Wright Stuff Festival.
To enquire about Gateway Theatre's Programme Partnerships, reach out to them at partnerships@gateway.sg