The Society of Friends of Encore!, a non-profit organisation promoting European culture in Singapore, announces the return of the highly successful Encore! The European Season in Singapore.
Spanning a year – from May 2010 to May 2011 – Encore! will again feature an impressive line-up of European arts and cultural performances, all of which celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of the European Union’s member states.
The 3rd season will kick-off with the launch of the 20th European Union Film Festival (EUFF) by His Excellency, Antonio Sanchez Jara, the Ambassador of Spain to Singapore and the current Presidency of the European Union in Singapore.
Encore! was established in 2008 to raise the profile and identity of all European events, productions and artists in Singapore. In its second year, Encore! featured nearly 150 events from more than 50 presenters and venues, effectively reaching out to a broader segment of the community in Singapore and developing new audiences.
Organised by the European Chamber of Commerce and European Cultural Institutions such as the Goethe Institute, Italian Cultural Institute, British Council, and Alliance Française, it is hoped that the annual event will translate into better appreciation of European culture in Singapore.
Mr CHEW Kwee San, Council Member of the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation (TCTF) says, “TCTF is delighted to continue its support as founding partner of ENCORE! This collaboration promotes Singapore-Europe relations, and makes European arts and culture accessible not just to arts enthusiasts, but to a wider audience of young and old Singaporeans alike.” He adds, “We will be inviting our charities to the events as well, as we believe that such opportunities can be an educational experience for them.”
Joshua Bell will be performing with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in Singapore (12-13 June)
The events in Encore! encompass many different genres of European arts and culture, including music (classical, popular and commercial), dance, theatre, film, visual arts, literature, fashion, performance and street theatre.
Programming for the first part of the season running from May to July, will include Chopin concerts from Poland; the Irish Chamber Orchestra from Ireland; classical concerts from Finland; the Italian Film Festival; a dance performance entitled Heroine by Germany and Belgium; the UK’s Academy of St Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell; France with Voilah! a cultural festival showcasing the richness of the French “art de vivre”; the 20th European Union Film Festival organised by Spain and featuring the films of many other countries; and many more.
The events will be hosted in an equally diverse range of venues from the prestigious Esplanade Theatres on the Bay to the various community libraries.
Four major foundations – the Shaw Foundation, Tan Chin Tuan Foundation, Lee Foundation and Celton Group – have provided the impetus to get the ball rolling. Encore! The European Season in Singapore has also received support from MediaCorp, Singapore Press Holdings, JC Decaux, Designare magazine, and European corporations operating in Singapore such as BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, Natixis, Air France-KLM, The Fullerton Hotel, Aprim, Alstom, AXA, Brenntag, CIC, DCNS, Essilor, Eurocopter, Hermes, SCOR, ST, Thales and Veolia, who have all been instrumental in terms of their financial support.
For more information, go to //www.europeanseason.com.
