Experience fresh approaches to wellness through art at inaugural Gallery Wellness Festival

Catering to the mind, body and soul, National Gallery Singapore’s inaugural Gallery Wellness Festival 2022: Art Restores will see guided movement workshops, audio tour experiences of paintings and sculptures, bullet journaling in response to artworks and even sound baths presented in new and different ways to harness the restorative power of art for holistic well-being. From 3 – 12 June, Gallery Wellness Festival introduces wellness techniques through art experiences, to equip audiences with tools to navigate challenging times and stressors of everyday life, under the theme Art Restores.

Wellness has become a key priority in present times following the periods of isolation and disruption brought upon by the pandemic, which have taken a toll on people’s mental health. Providing fresh approaches to support one’s well-being, the Gallery Wellness Festival introduces a roster of art experiences rooted in practices of mindfulness, introspection and reflection, which participants may adapt and apply to daily life. These holistic programmes, including meditation and slow art sessions, are held in the Gallery and take inspiration from the artworks on display in its exhibition halls.             

Ms Suenne Megan Tan, Executive Festival Director and Senior Director, Museum Planning and Audience Engagement, National Gallery Singapore, says, “Gallery Wellness Festival 2022: Art Restores is a testament to the Gallery’s ongoing efforts to explore and expand our programmes to address timely concerns of our community and highlight the relevance of art in daily lives. We hope that through the Gallery Wellness Festival, these multi-disciplinary artistic programmes can uplift senses and enhance the well-being of our audiences.”

Gallery Wellness Festival 2022: Art Restores is part of Wellness Festival Singapore 2022, a Singapore Tourism Board initiative and the first nationwide effort to promote holistic well-being. It supports the vision for Singapore to be a leading urban wellness haven.
 

Holistic approach to wellness through novel experiences with art

Curated for all ages, the Festival’s programmes are categorised under three pillars – Movement; Mindfulness; and Culture – showcasing physical wellness through movement; emotional and mental wellness through mindfulness exercises; and societal well-being through exchange of cultural ideas and practices; offering people different avenues to care for their well-being. Programme highlights include: 
            

Movement

• Somatic Movement Series, guided sessions that encourage free expression through movement, accompanied by traditional instruments or an eclectic playlist: This series consists of three separate sessions, each focused on a unique type of movement that awakens mind and body. Under the guidance of a facilitator, participants will learn how to freely express themselves through movement and re-engage with the sensations of their body. The three sessions are Embodied Landscapes with Chloe (Featuring a Southeast Asian mix by local DJ Linda), Art of Silat with Hafeez (Featuring live drums by Riduan) and Elemental Qi Gong with Diana (Featuring gong meditation by Kristin).
• Closer – A Movement Audio Guide: Experience internationally renowned artist Antony Gormley's works in a visceral way through a series of somatic scores developed by Elizabeth de Roza and Laurie Young. Presented via an audio guide, the listener will be guided to consider how they can use their own body to interact with the sculptures on display for a novel encounter with art. 
   

Mindfulness

• Slow Art Guide, a slow visual appreciation of artworks: Inspired by the principles of slow looking and mindfulness, the Slow Art Guide is a self-guided audio experience of one artwork in the Gallery. There are three episodes available, each featuring a different artwork from The Care Collection – a selection of artworks from the National Collection developed in collaboration with Singapore Art Museum to spark reflection and discussion. Group sessions will also be available during the Gallery Wellness Festival. In these sessions, participants are invited to first partake in the self-guided experience, before being paired up to share and reflect on their experience.
• Exploring Bullet Journaling Workshop, an introduction to a reflective and mindful daily practice to battle hectic urban living: This introductory workshop encourages participants to bring mindfulness and focus into daily routines through bullet journaling. The workshop will highlight questions through themes from The Care Collection and encourage participants to reflect and pen thoughts in writing and drawing.
   

Culture

• Sound Bath Experience, an immersive soothing session for tweens and teens: Bathed in a soundscape of music created using everyday objects, participants will be immersed in waves of soothing and echoing sounds that release their stress and fatigue. Each participant will receive a toolkit at the end of the activity to continue the experience at home. The programme is recommended for children aged 10 – 14 years old. 
• Stories in Art: Listen as a storyteller paints a picture worth a thousand words and tells stories inspired by artworks in the Gallery’s collection. This programme is recommended for families with children of ages 4 – 10.  

Visitors looking for more art and wellness experiences during the Festival may also participate in drop-in activities taking place at the Spine Hall in the Gallery’s Basement Concourse Level.
 

Commitment to being a place that promotes art and well-being

Building on its ongoing efforts to expand its offerings to become an even more inclusive and accessible space for art appreciation and well-being, the Gallery will launch The Calm Room in tandem with Gallery Wellness Festival.

The Calm Room is a dedicated space for visitors including those from neurodiverse communities, who may feel over-stimulated or overwhelmed by their environment. Designed in consultation with an appointed Access Consultant and individuals from neurodiverse communities, every detail in the Calm Room – from wall colours to textile choices and light settings – has been purposefully chosen to create a sensory-friendly space for all. The Calm Room’s features include soothing ambient soundscapes, special seating pods for privacy and sensory kits which are available upon request, to help visitors take time to calm down, regulate stress responses and renew their focus during their museum visit.

Ticketing and registration are required for select programmes. For more information, visit www.nationalgallery.sg/gallerywellnessfestival or refer to the annex available in the downloadable version of this release. Media assets are available at this link.