About Us

A home for stories, performances and experiences that spark imagination and connection.

At Home with the Arts

Whether you are casually strolling along the waterfront or here specially for a performance, get ready to savour and be stirred.

There’s something here for everyone, every day. Ideas that spark reflection. Moments that draw us closer.

Wonder here at Esplanade, where your story begins.

Whether you are casually strolling along the waterfront or here specially for a performance, get ready to savour and be stirred.

There’s something here for everyone, every day. Ideas that spark reflection. Moments that draw us closer.

Wonder here at Esplanade, where your story begins.

Who We Are

Since 2002, Esplanade has been at the heart of Singapore’s performing arts. Under our iconic domes, music, theatre, dance and more are created, shared and cherished by all.

Get to Know Us

Image of claddings on the exterior of Esplanade’s building.

Architecture

The showstopping and the intimate come together in the domes, curves and corners of Esplanade. A familiar silhouette on the Marina Bay skyline, this is a place where architecture meets artistry and every visit feels like a new performance.

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Our Organisation

Esplanade is operated by The Esplanade Co Ltd. A not-for-profit organisation, registered charity and Institution of a Public Character, our mission is to entertain, engage, educate and inspire through the arts.

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Our Three Pillars

Inclusion & Wellbeing

We bring the arts to hundreds of thousands of visitors through some 3,500 performances yearly—70% free. Our inclusive programmes harness the transformative power of the arts for vulnerable communities.

The Next Generation

We nurture young artists and bring the joy of the arts to students and young children, inspiring creativity and building confidence. Thousands of students from Singapore schools come through our doors each year, energised and challenged by the possibilities of the imagination.

Creative Futures

We lay the groundwork for tomorrow’s stories, creative collaborations and responsible practices, through new works developed annually with Singaporean and Asian artists. Through Esplanade Offstage, these stories reach audiences everywhere.

Arts & Wellbeing

We believe the arts can be powerful pathways to wellbeing—fostering connection, creative expression and resilience across communities.

Working alongside artists, social service agencies, healthcare institutions and community partners, we develop person-centred programmes that respond to evolving societal needs.

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We believe the arts can be powerful pathways to wellbeing—fostering connection, creative expression and resilience across communities.

Working alongside artists, social service agencies, healthcare institutions and community partners, we develop person-centred programmes that respond to evolving societal needs.

Find Out More

What A Journey It’s Been

Our Humble Beginnings: 1970s – 1994

1970s

The idea of a national performing arts centre was conceived.

1987

Marina Bay was chosen as the site of the proposed arts centre. Its first design brief was formulated with the Singapore arts community’s input.

1989

Image of Minister for Information and the Arts George Yeo and Robert Lau looking at the building design prototype of Esplanade.

The creation of a “world-class performing arts centre” was recommended by the report of the Advisory Council on Culture and the Arts. A steering committee was set up and chaired by then Second Deputy Prime Minister Ong Teng Cheong. When he was elected as President in 1993, then Minister for Information and the Arts George Yeo took over as Chairman.

1994

The first public exhibition of the architectural plans was held, titled "Taking Shape". The arts centre was named Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.

The Esplanade project was redesigned in phases: Phase 1 comprised the Theatre, Concert Hall, studios, rehearsal and commercial spaces. Medium-sized theatres were to be built in Phase 2.

1998

Image of guests on the construction site where Esplanade was to be built.

Construction of the superstructure began.

Gateway To The Arts: 2002 – 2011

2002

Esplanade opened officially on 12 October, followed by a three-week-long Opening Festival. By the end of the festival on 3 November, Esplanade received more than a million visitors to the centre who enjoyed arts experiences offered through 73 ticketed and 600 free events, featuring 1,300 artists from 22 countries.

2003

Image of then CEO Benson Puah giving a speech with guests at ISPA.

Esplanade hosted the International Society of the Performing Arts Congress, held for the first time in Asia.

2004

The Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centres’ Secretariat moved from Sydney Opera House in Australia to Esplanade. This was the first time the Secretariat was hosted in Asia.

2009

Esplanade is recognised as a Continuing Education and Training Centre for the training of workers in technical theatre skills.

2011

Image of children having fun at an immersive arts experience at Esplanade’s Octoburst in 2019.

Esplanade formed a dedicated education unit in the Programming department to look into better meeting the needs of young audiences.

Celebrating 10 Years & New Developments: 2012 – 2019

2012

Esplanade commemorated its 10th anniversary with a year-long calendar themed Celebrating Life – The Best of the Human Spirit through the Arts. The anniversary weekend in October was dedicated to celebrating Singapore arts and artists. Recognising the many arts pioneers who came before, a TributeSG online repository about their lives was launched.

2013

Formation of a dedicated unit in the Programming department to deepen engagement and develop arts programmes with voluntary welfare organisations and youth.

2016

Image of Esplanade’s Forecourt Garden in the evening.

A physical renewal exercise was completed. This included a full redevelopment of our Forecourt into the Forecourt Garden, and the creation of children’s activity space PIP’s PLAYbox and the Annexe Studio. The studio is a raw and flexible two-storey space suitable for informal performances, development programmes, rehearsals, workshops and masterclasses.

2017

Esplanade announced its plans to build a new 550-seat mid-sized theatre along its waterfront. In October, it launched #mydurian—a year-long celebration for its 15th anniversary—comprising programmes and activities that bring together people and stories that have helped shape the arts centre fondly dubbed the durian.

2018

Image of CEOs of Singtel and Esplanade with the 10 million dollar donation cheque.

In June, Singtel donated S$10 million towards the development of Esplanade’s new waterfront theatre, the largest single donation the arts centre has received since it opened in 2002. Esplanade hosted its first-ever fundraising Gala dinner which took place on the Theatre stage. More than $840,000 was raised that evening for the new waterfront theatre.

Esplanade was awarded the BCA Green Mark Platinum Award for reducing its energy consumption by 25%.

2019

Image of the Esplanade Offstage website.

The launch of Esplanade Offstage, an all-access, content-rich online platform of videos, stories and podcasts about the arts and culture in Singapore and Asia.

Lights On: Community & Connections in the 2020s

2020

Esplanade went dark for the first time in our history as part of a nationwide shutdown of all attractions and most physical workplaces due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our digital platforms kept the arts alive, from concert highlights from our archives on the newly launched Esplanade Offstage, to regular livestreams of performances.

2021

Image of seniors in the audience watching a performance at Esplanade.

Esplanade is the first dementia-friendly arts venue in Singapore—the first to become a Dementia Go-To Point. We also introduced ticket concessions for persons with disabilities on selected Esplanade Presents programmes.

2022

Two special showcases were mounted in celebration of Esplanade's 20th. The first was PopLore, a year-long exploration of Singapore’s popular music from the 1960s to the present and beyond. The second was In New Light, a season of newly commissioned works by homegrown and Asian artists which raised the curtain on the Singtel Waterfront Theatre, Esplanade’s newly completed 550-seat venue.

2023

As part of a strategic partnership with Esplanade to contribute to a more inclusive Singapore, DBS donated S$3.5 million to support the full range of free programmes presented at Esplanade’s Outdoor Theatre every Friday to Sunday and on public holidays. The venue will be recognised as the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at Esplanade for the next five years.

2025

In October, Esplanade completed the multi-year, phased overhaul of its technical infrastructure to future-proof its venues.

The centre marked the country’s 60th year of independence with 60 Connections – At Home and Afar, a year-long season focused on relationships that lay the spark and foundation for artmaking. It comprised 60 live and digital works that brought Singapore stories as well as international collaborations to life.

Support the Arts

As a charity and not-for-profit organisation, we rely on sponsors and donors to help us bring the arts to everyone. Join our community of supporters today.

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As a charity and not-for-profit organisation, we rely on sponsors and donors to help us bring the arts to everyone. Join our community of supporters today.

Find Out More