From 22 August to 28 September 2025, SMU transformed its campus and the Bras Basah precinct into a vibrant stage for youth expression, original works, and community connection. Themed “2560”, celebrating SMU’s 25th anniversary and Singapore’s 60th birthday, the six-week Arts Fest was the university’s most ambitious edition yet, uniting students, alumni, and collaborators in five flagship productions and campus-wide activations.
25 x 25: A Dialogue Between Legacy and Youth
The festival opened on 22 August with 25 x 25, a multidisciplinary exhibition held at SMU de Suantio Gallery and Campus Green, in collaboration with SMU Libraries. The show invited 25 student and alumni artists to respond to 25 works from the SMU Art Collection, reinterpreting them through new mediums of photography, visual arts, literature, and performance.
The result was a vibrant dialogue between generations: a calligraphy piece reimagined through contemporary spoken word; a traditional ink painting reflected through a photographic lens; and a large-scale light installation that transformed Campus Green into an immersive walk-through experience.
Visitors included SMU students, staff, alumni, and members of the public, many of whom commented on how the works deepened their understanding of SMU’s commitment to fostering creativity beyond the classroom.
Live, Laugh, Lor: 8 Universities, 1 Stage, Many Stories
On 29 & 30 August and 5 & 6 September, Campus Green came alive as Live, Laugh, Lor drew in thousands as part of the Singapore Night Festival. For the first time in Singapore’s history, all eight higher education institutions, including NUS, NTU, SUTD, SIT, SUSS, UAS, and SIM, shared a stage with SMU.
The evenings were filled with dynamic showcases: a five-university street dance crew that coordinated rehearsals across WhatsApp threads and homes; joint a cappella renditions of beloved local songs; and cultural performances that highlighted Singapore’s diversity.
The event wasn’t just about performances, it was a celebration of community. A buzzing food village drew festivalgoers, while Singlish-inspired games created a lively, carnival-like atmosphere. For many, Live, Laugh, Lor captured the very essence of SG60: a story of unity, vibrancy, and youth expression.
COMMISSIONS: A National Soundtrack for SG60
On 11 September, the spotlight turned to the SOTA Concert Hall, where the SMU Chinese Orchestra presented COMMISSIONS, a one-night-only concert that premiered three original works written specially for SMU25 and SG60.
The concert reaffirmed SMU’s long-standing tradition of commissioning local works, a rare initiative for a non-conservatory university. The world premieres included And Beyond by Cultural Medallion recipient Eric Watson, Continuum: 256∞ by rising composer Germaine Goh, and Moonbound by global composer Sulwyn Lok.
In addition, the orchestra collaborated with musicians performing on regional instruments from Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, a nod to SMU’s overseas centres, and with members of The Purple Symphony, Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra.
Conducted by Heng Xiangle, Wilson Neo and Quek Ling Kiong, the concert was widely lauded for its blend of tradition, innovation, and inclusivity, offering audiences a rare glimpse into how Singapore’s musical identity continues to evolve.
“The SMU Chinese Orchestra may be a student group, but on this night they demonstrated poise, discipline, and artistry well beyond their years. The concert succeeded in bringing across sincerity, ambition, and collaborative spirit, making it a moving celebration of both SMU’s journey, achievements, and Singapore’s cultural diversity,” said critic Bakchormeeboy, who attended the show.
return of RE:TURN: Hip Hop Meets Heritage
The festival’s energy shifted gears on 20 September, when SMU Eurhythmix (EMIX) — the university’s oldest and largest dance club, also celebrating its own 25th anniversary — staged return of RE:TURN at Drama Centre Theatre.
The full-length dance production fused hip hop with classical Malay, Indian, and Chinese dance vocabularies. Under the mentorship of established choreographers, students explored how heritage forms could be reimagined through contemporary movement, creating a dialogue between the past and present.
“So often, in Singapore, we try to find expressions of our multiculturalism, and indeed, the CMIO categories have been debated. But beyond philosophical and theoretical debates about what multi- or inter- or trans-cultural means, return of RE:TURN by SMU Eurhythmix, nailed it for me. It created a new language and vocabulary of dance, not just for SMU, but for Singapore — a bold reimagining of Chinese, Malay, and Indian dance vocabularies through the contemporary energy of hip hop,” said Professor Lily Kong, SMU President.
“Who would have thought it was possible, without descending into kitsch? I was immensely proud of our students, staff and partners, who dared to push creative boundaries with confidence and flair. If we can propagate and proselytise this new language, I believe it would be an iconoclastic and impactful contribution to Singapore art and culture,” she added.
return of RE:TURN showcased not just the technical skill of SMU’s dancers, but also their ability to use performance as a medium for cultural storytelling.
MAD The Musical: Making a Difference Through Madness
The festival reached its crescendo with the premiere of MAD The Musical, staged from 26 to 28 September at Drama Centre Theatre.
This was SMU's first-ever original musical, based off an original script conceptualised by Jo Tan, with original songs written by Jimmy Ye, and directed and choreographed by George Chan and Andy Benjamin Cai respectively. Inspired by the forgotten histories of Bras Basah — once home to Singapore’s first mental hospital and prison — the musical follows a present-day student who begins to uncover and confront those hidden histories, exploring themes of madness, identity, and reinvention through imagination and self-discovery.
Featuring a cast of students, alumni, and even staff, MAD was more than a performance. It was a coming-of-age story for a new generation of storytellers, blurring the lines between past and present, institution and imagination. The musical’s anthem, Mad About, quickly became a favourite, drawing praise for its layered harmonies and powerful message about passion and conviction.
“Performing in MAD has been a chance to give voice to histories we never knew, and to learn that ‘madness’ isn’t weakness — it’s courage in disguise,” said Sam Wu, Head, Office of Advancement, who also plays the role of Howard, Isabel's father in the musical.
The gala reception hosted SMU Senior Management, donors, and industry professionals, underscoring the festival’s role not just as a student showcase but as a platform for professional-level collaborations and cultural dialogue.
Reflections on SMU Arts Fest 2560: A Milestone Year
Across six weeks, over 460 performers — including SMU students, alumni, and peers from other institutions — came together to stage a festival that celebrated not just SMU25 and SG60, but also the boundless imagination of youth.
“SMU Arts Fest is our annual canvas for youth expression, but this year it reflected something larger: our journey as a young university in a young nation,” said Seah Wee Thye (Weetz), Festival Director and Head of Arts & Creative Experience, Office of Student Life, at SMU. “From an original musical, to orchestral premieres, to an eight-university collaboration, we wanted to create space for students to tell Singapore stories in bold, surprising ways.”
The festival reaffirmed SMU’s commitment to the arts as a vital part of holistic education — a space where students not only develop creative skills, but also learn to collaborate, innovate, and lead.
Looking Ahead
With near-universal approval — 99% campus vibrancy, 91.5% satisfaction, and almost 20,000 attendees — Arts Fest 2025 wasn’t just a festival, but a cultural landmark for both SMU and Singapore at SG60. As the curtain falls on SMU Arts Fest 2025, its legacy will endure in the stories told, the friendships forged, and the milestones celebrated. With 2560 as its theme, the festival marked how far both SMU and Singapore have come, and pointed to the promise of what lies ahead: a future built on creativity, resilience, and community.
"Art has always been about connection, between generations, between stories, between hearts. SMU Arts Fest isn’t just about performances, it’s ultimately about our indomitable spirit of imagination that constantly challenges how we see ourselves, and our stake in the SMU Story.” — Jimmy Ye, Composer and Executive Producer, MAD The Musical
Media Coverage
The Goodness of Madness, Zaobao, 8 October
Theatre reviews by Bak Chor Mee Boy
- MAD, the Musical, 7 October
- return of RE:TURN, 7 October
- COMISSIONS, 20 September
Jimmy Ye's Musical for SMU's 25th Anniversary, Shin Min, 20 September
