While the city sleeps, Qazim Karim is dreaming up ways to make it come alive. As the newly appointed Festival Director of the Singapore Night Festival (SNF), he’s the architect behind what promises to be the festival’s boldest edition yet. SNF 2025 marks the festival’s 16th year and its first under HeritageSG, placing Karim at a pivotal moment in how Singaporeans connect with their cultural landscape under the glow of city lights across the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct.
Happening from 22 August to 6 September, SNF 2025 is themed “Island Nights”. It celebrates Singapore’s heritage as an island nation through projection mapping artworks, mesmerising installations, performances, and street experiences.
Highlights include Sky Castle, an interactive installation by Australian art and technology studio Eness. It evokes the joy rainbows bring after a storm, carrying a message of hope and new beginnings after hardship. As such, Cathay Green will be transformed with larger-than-life inflatable arches that respond to the movement of the crowd, creating a dynamic symphony of color and sound.
On the other side of the precinct, discover a calm oasis with Kampong Chill, by artist duo Yok & Sheryo. Nestled at Capitol Singapore, this experience features a charming pavilion designed for relaxation. “I think festivals should be more than spectacle. They should spark reflection, inspire connection, and remind us that heritage isn’t only in the past. It’s what shapes how we move forward,” Karim says.
From developing community-centred programmes at the Malay Heritage Centre to shaping narratives behind national festivals, his work has always focused on one thing: making heritage feel personal.
In 2023, his contributions earned international recognition when he was awarded the George Town World Heritage Incorporated Fellowship. Immersed in the multicultural textures of Penang’s historic George Town, Karim found inspiration that now feeds directly into this year’s SNF. We find out more in this interview.
being your first year leading SNF under the banner of HeritageSG, What was essential to retain and what did you want to reimagine?
Since 2008, SNF has been Singapore’s pioneering night-time arts festival, and it was important to retain that strong foundation. At HeritageSG, we want to deepen SNF’s role by connecting local history to today’s audiences through immersive, accessible experiences.
Beyond celebrating the BBB precinct, SNF has always been a platform for creative energy and collaboration. We build on this by strengthening partnerships and creating a vibrant heritage community that inspires both now and for generations to come.
Your favourite exhibits at SNF 2025 and why?
My favourite installation is the Cyberswordfish V2.0: From Myth to Megabytes, an installation by Yang Derong that’s located at Plaza Singapura. Inspired by the legend Singapura Dilanggar Todak, the piece is a stunning reimagining of a swordfish as a cyberpunk creature evolved from e-waste. Not only is it visually spectacular, it also prompts reflection on our relentless appetite for technology and low rates of e-waste recycling, which the artist actively tries to combat in partnering with Alba E-waste, an e-waste recycling company, to construct his artwork.
Another favourite act of mine would be Island Dreamer, an LED roving performance by Starlight Alchemy. Gathering festival-goers under the night’s glow, the performance ignites an electric atmosphere, embodying a celebratory vibe.
What did receiving the George Town World Heritage Incorporated Fellowship mean to you and how did it inform your thinking for SNF 2025?
It was a great honour and a valuable opportunity to learn about the management of a Unesco World Heritage Site and be immersed in the multicultural George Town community. I also got to connect with other like-minded professionals in the culture and heritage sector from around the globe.
SNF 2025’s theme of “Island Nights” was partially inspired by my experiences at George Town, where I noticed remarkable similarities between the historic city and our own BBB precinct. Both are thriving port cities where multiculturalism is lived and breathed daily. In these spaces, culture emerges as an ever-evolving tapestry woven from diverse global influences, creating shared narratives that bind communities together while opening doors for collaboration and co-creation.
What struck me most profoundly was George Town’s passionate community—artists, performers, and cultural stewards who approach their work with genuine enthusiasm and pride. This spirit of organic collaboration and community building became central to my vision for SNF 2025.
What has surprised or moved you most in curating this year’s festival?
I was pleasantly amazed at the creativity and sheer diversity of interpretations of our festival theme, “Island Nights”. From references to regional folklore to imaginings of island life in Singapore 600 years into the future, the festival’s artists and stakeholders explored “island-ness” not only geographically but also as a powerful lens for identity and community.
Discover Singapore Night Festival here.
