Dear SSFians,

Thank you one and all. Singapore Street Festival 2010 has seen many new things and moving forward with a new step and a new journey.

SSF 2010 begins with a longer presence this year, due to its festival partnership with National Arts Council, Youth Olympic and SHINE Youth Festival. I want to take this opportunity to thank my partners, venue partners & sponsors, official partners and also Sponsors in SSF10.

The first stop new collaborations was Singapore Arts Festival collaborations with SSF for the first time producing and bringing hip hop concert inside a theatre – Victoria Theatre as a special hip hop concert “Street Revolution JAM!” on 5 June 2010. This is a very special moment for SSF as being officially invited to produce an event for Singapore Arts Festival as a festival programme but also an opportunity to be performing at this historic venue Victoria Theatre before its going for refurbishing of the Grand Dame. Not only that, we have Dany Jay Prakash, SSF performer before, then mentoring the rappers in hip hop on the background – came back to serve in SSF not only as a host at the Street Revolution JAM! but also to sponsor the event under his own company 8th Wave. Thanks bro!

The next stop was, SSF also set its own record to have more than 1200 youth in helping MCYS and NYC produce Singapore 2010 Flash Mob in Orchard Road (video now on youtube). It is really great news that SSF has also played a part to be involved to the music production of Watch Your Team Go written and performed by SSF youth leader MC Rendy.

What was refreshing this year was our youth leader took the helm in running the Festival during mine absence away for the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame meetings overseas, and not only my absence but also the absence of Athena Tan – SSF Administrator and Operations in mid-session.

This actually allowed youth leaders on the ground to be more hands on to think standing and resolved work challenges in discussion and dialogue, all these are done with them from support from Augustus Tan, the General Manager of SSF and his team. JUN and his team of helpers must be mentioned with great appreciation for their continual running of the Jrock & Cosplay highlight segment for the 6th  or 7th  year now!

I want to take this moment to mention strong support also from Royston How and Shander Teo for taking up new challenging roles, not forgetting Yvonne Yuen’s contribution earlier in training not just all the SMU stage managers for SSF10 but also training YOG volunteer stage managers who will be performing their work in August during the actual YOG at their various venues and stations. I also want to thank Sasha Rafi for coming forth to train the SMUBE Radio Djs to be host on the ground of SSF10 – adding thank yous to Kevin, Felicia, Cindy and their team of SMU Radio Djs on the ground who not only host but also double as stage managers. Well done!

A very special appreciation to the students of SMU and ITE Central (Bishan campus), coming forward to serve in this annual community project. I hope through this serving that you guys can take this experience at SSF10 something valuable to bring with you through all your learning. I want to make special mention to teachers or departments that encourages their student to be involved in community project like SSF. It is truly admirable to be mentioned of allowing their students a different platform of experience another approach of learning life.

My gratefulness to alumni youth leader Melanie Tan who steps in help me host some invited foreign guests during my absence and not forgetting a special mention also to Calvin Ong when approach to help host 2 foreign band groups from Indonesia to participate on the last weekend of the festival.

Yes, there are so many thank yous and it is never ending which is a good thing…….and I hope so for many more years to come.

As we end SSF10, we move forward to open this weekend U @ SHINE featuring SSF in SHINE Youth Festival from 25 June to 11 July the next 3 weeks at venues like The Cathay (25-27 June) and also at Plaza Singapura (2 July – 4 July and again 9 July to 11 July 2010).

SSF has many plans to celebrate our 10th year next year, do look out for it! I encourage young people to come forward to serve whether in organising, helping in the background, or performing on stage – Come forward and make your stand! Let your voice be heard!

Have a great year ahead, and see you all at SHINE Youth Festival and again in August at the Youth Olympic Games!
Sincerely,

Annie Pek
Founder of Singapore Street Festival