Singapore Arts Festival The first Singapore Arts Festival was organized by the Young Musicians’ Society and the Ministry of Education, with financial support from Mobil Oil Singapore. The opening on 24 April 1977 at the Victoria Theatre featured the Pembroke Girls’ Choir from Australia and the Singapore Youth Orchestra. The festival showcased local talent, and awards were given to successful entrants such as the Phoenix Dance Troupe, the Rose Eberwein Dancers and Les Petites Fleurs. There were also performances by the Maris Stella High School Orchestra and Singapore American School Concert Band.

Since then, the festival has become a multi- million dollar event organized by the National Arts Council. Originally staged biennially, it is now held annually, and has built a reputation for showcasing contemporary performing arts, particularly from Asia. Besides the main productions, the festival includes an outreach programme of largely free performances. In 2006, the festival presented 1,758 artists from 26 countries and regions.