#OwnYourDreams
For the 12th year running, the National Youth Council is bringing SHINE Festival to town once again to kickstart Youth Month this July. Always striving to create an engaging environment where young Singaporeans can realise their aspirations and make an influence, they are back this year with a rofowerful message to inspire youths to #OwnYourDreams.
Running from 30th June to 2nd July, the Festival will be focusing on four main pillars: Music and Dance, Art and Media, Sports and Gaming, and – new this year – Makers and Creators. The rising trend of young entrepreneurs has driven SHINE Festival to give them exposure via crowdfunding, as well as to encourage other youths to step out of their own comfort zones.
Professional gaming is also something new that SHINE Festival will be celebrating this year. Recognising that gaming is an upcoming sport among youths, the Festival seeks to inspire and encourage youths to follow their dreams and passions, no matter how unconventional they may be. Who says you can’t make winning DOTA 2 tournaments your occupation?
SHINE x *SCAPE Talent Development Programme
Don’t think that SHINE Festival is just all talk. It’s easy to just tell youths to follow their passions – what stumps most is how. A comprehensive Youth Talent Development Programme (TDP) running from 15th May to 29th June has been put together by the National Youth Council as part of SHINE Festival, featuring talks, workshops, and mentorship programmes in the four pillars.
Mentors have also been recruited for the mentorship programme, with familiar names such as Jon Chua from The Sam Willows and Kevin Foo from Beep Studios making the number. Mentors for the other pillars include AMOK for Media, SCOGA for Gaming, O School for Dance, and HyperIsland for Makers and Creators.
Participants of the TDP have received extensive guidance from their mentors and will be putting what they’ve learnt to the test, creating music tracks, branded client videos, prototypes, professionally choreographed videos, and prototypes at the end of the programme – taking their potential careers in their respective tracks to the next level.
However, if you’ve missed your chance to be part of the Talent Development Mentorship Programme, you may still sign up for talks and workshops tailored to prepare you for your dream industry here.
Music Acts
If you aren’t part of the TDP, you may also look forward to a sleuth of activities laid out to inspire you to pursue their dreams. Expect busking stations, extreme sports demos, interactive installations, merchandise, a gaming competition and dance competition, numerous music acts, and tons of yummy food.
Headlining acts include a series of international and local performers, such as K-pop sensation Jessica Jung, as well as The X Factor Australia participant Natalie Ong. Look forward to the overflowing talent that will be showcased over the three days – with successful local musicians such as Inch Chua, Stopgap, The Sam Willows, Linying, ShiGGa Shay, Gentle Bones, Charlie Lim, THELIONCITYBOY, Dru Chen, and Sezairi, these musicians are here to prove that the local music scene has finally entered its golden age!
Next-Generation Hawkers & Food Trucks
Not many young Singaporeans see themselves entering the hawker trade, but some brave souls have made preserving our local food heritage – and their family’s legacy – their mission.
Check out the live cooking station which will be featuring young hawkers that will be whipping up their delicious treats along Orchard Road. Savour hawker fare such as the well-loved Singapore Style Ramen from A Noodle Story, or Popiah from Kway Guan Huat. Only one ingredient can make them taste so good – passion.
Other locally-run food trucks will be on-site as well. Look forward to yummy treats from Kombi, The Travelling C.O.W., Coffee Bandits, and the ever-so-popular Milo Van.
The Kickstarter Marketplace
On the 1st of July, expect a road closure along Orchard Road, making space for a variety of activities such as a Digital Colouring Tunnel, where you’ll be able to colour in the art template on touch-screens to create your own masterpiece. You may also meet-and-greet your favourite local personalities, except that the tables are turned – instead of asking them all the questions, they will be diving into a Ball Pit of Quesitons, and picking questions to ask you instead.
Browse through the Kickstarter Marketplace Fair, where you can take a look at Singapore’s best funded Kickstarter products, and other products from the Makers and Creators community. Get yourself a handmade candle from Endorphins, or adorable, inspirational socks from Talking Toes. Or, spectate a key match and watch streams of various games that will be played live inside the SCOGA Gaming Container in the middle of Orchard Road.
July, A Month Dedicated To Youths
SHINE Festival is part of the larger Youth Month Celebrations, a month dedicated to celebrate the dreams, talents and contributions of Singaporean youths. Expect perks created just for youths such as giveaways, discounts, and promotions from some of your favourite F&B outlets and lifestyle retailers – think Zouk Singapore, GoPro, and New Balance. Stay tuned to the NYC FB Page for more details, or subscribe now to get first dibs on the information!
Anticipate exciting projects and festivals lined up just for youths, by youths. For one, you can check out the Youth Expedition Project (YEP) Photojournalism Exhibition, “Many Lenses, One YEP”, which will be falling on 15 and 16 July. The exhibition will be showcasing 20 of the most inspiring short stories and photographs taken from a Youth Expedition Project experience, where youths have undertaken a 2-week community service program overseas in countries such as India and China.
Besides that, Youth Corps Singapore will also be hosting free workshops such as Mobile Photography – where you will learn that it isn’t all about the gear when it comes to photography – or even Clay Pottery and Ukulele, where you can pick up new skills that may be of your interest. For more information regarding tickets and workshops, you may check out their Facebook event page here.
The activities are endless, and the opportunities limitless. Don’t miss any of them by heading down to Orchard Road – along ION to *SCAPE – from 30th June to 2nd July.
For more information, check out their website here.
