Second Nature

Poet and educator Yong Shu Hoong brings fresh perspectives to the helm of the Singapore Writers Festival, from interdisciplinary perspectives to multilingual programmes

- Hashirin Nurin Hashimi

The first time that poet Yong Shu Hoong took part in the Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) “was way back in 1995 when my first book, an unpublished manuscript, was shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize”. He tells us, “I remember doing an open-mic reading, which was also the earliest occasion when I got to read my poems in public.” Once a biennial festival, the SWF has become an annual affair since 2011, presenting major international literary stars, while spotlighting homegrown and Southeast Asian talents.

Today, Yong is at the helm of the SWF as its new festival director. The 27th edition of the Festival, organised by the Arts House Limited and commissioned by the National Arts Council, will run from November 8 to 17. “My predecessors have done such a tremendous job. What I hope to bring to the Festival is to find new ways to further enrich its programme offerings,” he says. “For example, [to bring] writers of non-fiction, not just creative non-fiction but those writing about science or technology in interesting ways, into the conversation.”

The theme of SWF 2024 is “In Our Nature”, with programmes that explore our relationship with the natural environment. Highlights include Eco-Poetry: Mapping Out Our Relationship with Nature, where local and international poets come together to contemplate our harmony and disharmony with nature, and Planet in Focus: Strategies for Environmental Sustainability, where academics offer new perspectives and practical solutions on how to address pressing environmental challenges.