Enabling Lives Festival 2024: Celebrating Disability Inclusion with 60+ Partners Across Singapore

Enabling Lives Festival returns for its fourth edition from November 30 to December 3, 2024. Organized by SG Enable, this signature event champions disability inclusion with over 40 engaging programs across 10 vibrant locations throughout Singapore, aiming to inspire and foster an inclusive society.

As a cornerstone of SG Enable’s i’mable initiative, the Enabling Lives Festival encourages everyone to take positive steps toward inclusion, inviting the public to embrace and support persons with disabilities. Through interactive activities and thought-provoking experiences, the festival aims to shift mindsets and empower people of all abilities to learn, work, and play together.

This year’s festival is bigger than ever, with over 60 partners joining in the mission. Gardens by the Bay will host disability-accessible tours, while the Punggol Regional Library, known for its unique facilities designed for persons with disabilities, will offer workshops in collaboration with CaringSG, including the CAREcottage Bazaar where visitors can discover handmade crafts created by caregivers.

Inclusive businesses like Edible Garden City and Foreword Coffee are also on board, highlighting the value of workforce inclusivity. Edible Garden City will offer inclusive farm tours, and Foreword Coffee at Esplanade Mall will host fireside chats featuring deaf artist Lily Goh from ExtraOrdinary Horizons, shining a spotlight on the experiences of Singapore’s deaf community.

Enabling Village Open House 2024

On November 30, 2024, the Enabling Village opens its doors for a special one-day Open House, showcasing its groundbreaking approach to inclusive urban design. From barrier-free pathways to hearing loops and Braille signage, the Enabling Village stands as a model for accessible and collaborative space, inviting the public to experience inclusive innovation in action.

This immersive event offers visitors an exclusive look at the Village’s inclusive gym, preschool, and playground, along with hands-on experiences in assistive technology and accessibility. Guided tours by docents will bring you through these spaces, complete with engaging workshops, live performances, and shopping at the signature i’mable Gift Market and Christmas at The Art Faculty.

Highlights:

• i’mable Gift Market: The beloved annual market returns with over 30 makers from the i’mable Collective, a community of talented creators with disabilities. Browse unique, handcrafted gifts, tasty treats, and meet the inspiring artists and artisans behind these items.
• Artistic Showcase – ‘Inclusion in Motion: Moving Art Forward’: Curated by ART, this showcase spans eight activation spots across the Village, presenting a vibrant display of dance, theater, and art led by artists with disabilities. Don’t miss Speaking of Which, a spoken dance performance choreographed by NAC Young Artist Award recipient Zhuo Zihao, and explore two serene pods designed for quiet reflection. Other activities include inclusive storytelling and workshops on Cyanotype and Gelli-plate printing.
• Interactive Workshops: Unleash your creativity with Wildflower Studio’s Chill and Paint in Monochrome session, offering a unique painting experience in shades of gray, or embrace the holiday spirit at Santa’s Workshop – Nutcracker Series, where you can decorate ornaments in the calming presence of cats.

New Festival Partners

This year, Enabling Lives Festival 2024 partners with top venues across Singapore to deliver inclusive events that celebrate the talents and experiences of persons with disabilities and their caregivers. Mark your calendar for these engaging satellite events:

Punggol Regional Library | December 1, 2024

At the Punggol Regional Library, visitors can enjoy an array of programs designed to uplift persons with disabilities and their caregivers. CAREforward by CaringSG offers family-friendly activities, including a dance performance by young artists from RAW Moves, hands-on experiences, and storytelling sessions. The CAREcottage Bazaar invites attendees to browse unique crafts created by caregivers, while another festival highlight will be the launch of The Healing Journal: A Caregiver’s Path to Self-Care, a heartfelt guide by two caregivers that offers self-care tips and insights for navigating caregiving challenges.

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay | December 1-2, 2024

The iconic Come Together stage at Esplanade will feature talented musicians with disabilities, celebrating inclusivity through powerful performances that transcend boundaries. Enjoy music that emphasizes collaboration, artistry, and the joy of shared experiences.

Gardens by the Bay | December 2-3, 2024

In a pilot program designed for persons with visual impairments, Gardens by the Bay introduces a tactile and sensory tour, immersing participants in nature’s beauty through touch and sound. Additional programs include a walking tour for the hard of hearing community, a sensory-friendly tour for children with autism, and open-to-all craft workshops at the Flower Dome. Pre-registration is required for some experiences.

New Programmes at Enabling Lives Festival 2024

The Enabling Lives Festival returns with its fourth edition, bringing new and inclusive performances, workshops, and experiences. This year, festival satellite partners present a variety of creative, immersive events that celebrate abilities, creativity, and community spirit. Here’s a look at what’s in store:

• Urban Farm Exploration by Edible Garden City: Get a firsthand look at urban farming and how this inclusive social enterprise employs persons with disabilities to meet weekly produce demands for nearly 100 restaurants. Learn about the sustainable practices and inclusive workforce that drive this unique initiative.
• Celebrating Talents & Abilities through Food & Art: A collaborative experience by Juice Stories and APSN, this program highlights the skills of persons with disabilities through a food, art, and craft exhibition, along with terrarium-making. Participants can enjoy the artistry and creativity on display in a vibrant, interactive setting.
• Stories of Impact at Foreword Coffee, Esplanade Mall: This pop-up event brings social impact to the café space with a marketplace for inclusive businesses, coffee appreciation sessions tailored for persons with disabilities and caregivers, and engaging fireside chats featuring deaf artist Lily Goh, who will share insights into the deaf community’s experiences in Singapore. Foreword Coffee aims to foster greater awareness and understanding through these events.
• Sowing the Seeds: Wandering Words by Maya Dance Theatre: This captivating online performance blends poetry, dance, and photography, featuring dancers from the Diverse Abilities Dance Collective (DADC) and original works by local poet Catherine Joan Devadason, who has Down syndrome. The performance celebrates diversity through the power of movement, visuals, and spoken word.

Discover more about Enabling Lives Festival 2024 here.