Goodman Arts Centre is pulling back the curtain. On October 24, the historic creative complex will launch its first-ever Home | Ground festival—a six-hour celebration honoring the people, spaces, and stories that define this unique artistic village. For one day only, the compound transforms into an interactive playground of performances, workshops, and exclusive studio tours.
A Past Worth Celebrating
The site has worn many hats over the decades. It has served as Tun Seri Lanang Malay Secondary School, Lasalle College of the Arts, and the School of the Arts. Today, nearly 70 arts tenants occupy its grounds, cementing its reputation as a vital hub in Singapore’s cultural landscape. Home | Ground was born from a desire to honor these rich, layered histories while embracing the vibrant creative community that calls the centre home today.
A Day of Discovery
The lineup blends nostalgia with hands-on creative exploration:
- Kiss the raindrops pays tribute to the site’s educational roots, featuring performances and installations alongside storytelling sessions by Natalie Hennedige and Suhaili Safari that channel the spirit of the former Tun Seri Lanang Secondary School.
- Home | Frequencies of ilmu brings live music and dance to the stage, with sets from local artists including Nada, Kiat, and Cherry Chan.
- The wonderfully titled i thought you knew workshop series unlocks artistry in the everyday. Attendees can master the meditative art of shirt-ironing with textile artist Nicole Goh, or join a deeply touching session where fathers learn to braid their children’s hair.
- Ground Goods transforms the grounds into a lively festival village packed with food trucks, local makers, and craft vendors.
Meet the Makers
The jewel in Home | Ground’s crown is Open Studios. From 10am, over 20 resident artists and collectives will fling open their doors, inviting the public directly into their workspaces. It is a rare, unfiltered peek at works-in-progress and artistic processes—with the ultimate bonus of speaking face-to-face with the creators themselves. For anyone who has ever wondered what happens behind those studio doors, this is the answer.
Beyond the Centre
The community spirit spills into the surrounding neighbourhood with the launch of Heritage Activation Node @ Mountbatten (HAN@Mountbatten) , a collaboration with the National Heritage Board. This initiative uncovers the area’s hidden histories by tapping the living memories of residents, heritage businesses, and the artistic community, firmly grounding the festival in a broader cultural dialogue about place and belonging.
Plan Your Visit
Home | Ground takes place on October 24. Open Studios runs from 10am, while the main festival activities kick off from 4pm to 10pm. Admission details have yet to be announced, so check the official event page for updates as the date approaches.
Find out more about Home | Ground here.