Back for its fourth edition, the Enabling Lives Festival, organized by SG Enable, kicks off on Nov 30. Spanning four days, the festival celebrates the talents of the disability community through diverse activities across 10 venues, including the Enabling Village in Redhill, Esplanade, and Gardens by the Bay.

The festival concludes on Dec 3 with the prestigious Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards ceremony, marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Enabling Village Open House:

On Nov 30, the Enabling Village in Lengkok Bahru will host an Open House event, offering visitors a chance to explore an inclusive gym, preschool, and playground. Attendees can also learn about assistive technologies and inclusive accessibility. Christmas shoppers can visit the i'mable Gift Market, featuring over 30 creators with disabilities offering handcrafted goods and food items.

For those keen on creativity, workshops will teach macrame wristlets, crochet flower bouquets, and batik. Additionally, Art:Dis is presenting Inclusion in Motion: Moving Art Forward, a showcase of performances led by artists with disabilities. Among them is Speaking of Which by Zhuo Zihao, a spoken-dance performance that shares stories of resilience and love. Inclusive storytelling and workshops on cyanotype and gelli-plate printing are also part of the artistic lineup.

Art Jamming, Sensory Tours, and More:

Art enthusiasts can join semi-guided art jamming sessions with rescue cats at Wildflower Studio. Participants can paint with feline companions roaming freely and even feed them or take photos with them. Tickets for this experience start at $48 per person. Another activity, Chill and Paint in Monochrome, challenges participants to paint spontaneously with glasses that obscure color choices. This unique session is priced at $40 per person.

The CAREforward event on Dec 1 at Punggol Regional Library includes paper quilling and healing journal workshops, along with a dance performance, Stacked Stories – A Balancing Act, which explores themes of balance and relationships. At the library’s atrium, the CAREcottage Bazaar will feature art by caregivers of individuals with special needs who have turned their hobbies into purposeful ventures.

At Esplanade Mall, inclusive business Foreword Coffee will host a pop-up event on Nov 30 and Dec 1, including coffee appreciation sessions, fireside chats, and social impact showcases. Deaf artist Lily Goh will share her personal experiences during these sessions.

Activities at Gardens by the Bay:

On Dec 2 and 3, Gardens by the Bay will offer a pilot tactile and sensory tour designed for the visually impaired. Other activities include a guided walking tour for the hard-of-hearing community, a sensory-friendly tour for children with autism, and craft workshops at the Flower Dome. More details are available on the official Enabling Lives Festival 2024 website.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Wildflower Studio