SINGAPORE — Yet another busy week that saw, among others, a number of theatre productions; the fourth MinimArt showcase fair for young artists; a short festival by Teater Ekamatra to bid farewell to Telok Ayer Performing Arts Centre, which closes at the end of the month; and the launch of nine books as part of The Arts House’s ninth anniversary celebrations.

Members of the arts community also announced a proposed arts manifesto, which they aim to release next month. Still in its early stages, its statements include the idea of art being political, and challenged instead of censored. Also opened last week was the Singapore Art Museum’s South-east Asian Film Festival. Incidentally, another regional film event, the inaugural ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards in Malaysia, disallowed the controversial film Sex.Violence.FamilyValues — even as it enjoyed a good run in Singapore. W!ld Rice announced there will be no Singapore Theatre Festival this year as title sponsor Man backed out. Instead, the theatre group will showcase Alfian Sa’at’s plays. Finally, the Asian Civilisations Museum’s Peranakan exhibition opened in Korea, with Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong gracing the event. MAYO MARTIN