LGBT in Singapore - Singapore Gay Venues - Non-commercial/non-sexual Venues - Arts Venues

Arts Venues

The following list consists of exhibition and performance venues where many works dealing with LGBT themes or by LGBT arts practitioners have been held. However, they are not exclusively used for such purposes.

• The Substation (website)

Founded in 1990 by the late Kuo Pao Kun, it is Singapore's first independent contemporary arts centre, centrally located in the civic district. Its sub-sections include a black box theater, a gallery, a dance studio, the Blue Room and two multi-function classrooms. It was the venue for the nascent PLU Sunday meetings in the early 90s. The historic PLU 2 pre-registration discussion was also held in the Blue Room in 2003.

• A growing arts, entertainment and lifestyle block managed by Guan Seng Kee Pte Ltd, which houses the following establishments:

1. Space 21: an unrenovated 1,950 sq ft (181 m2) art space and multi-function hall situated on level 3, the second home of Utterly Art.
2. MOX Bar & Café (website) on level 4.
3. Bianco (formerly known as The Attic).

The topmost floor is a vault-like loft under the same management as MOX Bar & Café. It seats up to 150 people and is suitable for exhibitions, fashion shows, and performances. It was the former location of the Sunday services of the Free Community Church (from 2002 to 2004) and Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble (from 2004 to 2005). Currently, it houses Bianco which contains a small bar and has an all-white decor. Dr. Russell Heng's talk When Queens Ruled! A History of Gay Venues in Singapore was held here on 16 August 05 as part of IndigNation.

• Utterly Art (website)

It provides exhibition space and management services to local and Asian artists, and photographers. Utterly Art was the venue for the opening event of IndigNation - an exhibition of paintings by artist Martin Loh entitled Cerita Budak-Budak, meaning 'children's stories' in Peranakan Malay. The event was followed up with Contra/Diction - A Night with Gay Poets held on 4 August 05, Singapore's first public gay poetry reading session which was attended by over 70 people, with standing room only.