SMU’s unique location in the heart of our beautiful and historic city gives us many reasons to embrace and celebrate the social and cultural flavours of Singapore. Each year, the SMU Arts Festival provides our Arts and Cultural Fraternity with a meaningful platform to engage and foster closer ties with other art lovers in the Bras Basah-Bugis district. This is in line with the University’s Vision 2025. As a student-led activity, the SMU Arts Festival is a good example of SMU’s holistic pedagogy aimed at a well-rounded education, enhanced through experiential learning. Our students provided creative inputs on the entire Festival programming, including its marketing, sponsorship, ticketing, operations and production. Even this Festival Guide is the work of SMU students. Art is a powerful language that transcends borders. Through specially curated workshops and performances at this year’s Festival, we aspire to capture the interests and issues that matter to our youth through the theme of Pages. There is something in store for everyone. We are very proud of our student arts clubs, and I hope you will join me in supporting the rich line-up of activities found in the pages that follow. I look forward to meeting you at the SMU Arts Festival 2017! Professor Paulin Straughan Dean of Students Singapore Management University