WHO WE ARE
OH! Open House is a homegrown arts organisation that works with artists and communities to create experiences rooted in place. Through contemporary art, we uncover overlooked stories, invite new perspectives and strengthen connections between people and the places they share.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Every place holds stories that can change how we see, value and shape our neighbourhoods.
Yet many everyday experiences, community memories and overlooked histories remain unseen, overshadowed by dominant narratives or lost as places change.
We believe that revealing these stories through art can transform how people understand the places around them. It can invite fresh perspectives, deepen our connection to place and remind us that we all have a role in shaping the places we share.
Yet many everyday experiences, community memories and overlooked histories remain unseen, overshadowed by dominant narratives or lost as places change.
We believe that revealing these stories through art can transform how people understand the places around them. It can invite fresh perspectives, deepen our connection to place and remind us that we all have a role in shaping the places we share.
HOW WE CREATE CHANGE
We begin by listening.
Artists immerse themselves in neighbourhoods, build relationships with communities and uncover stories that might otherwise go untold. Together with residents and partners, these stories become exhibitions, installations, performances, guided walks, conversations and long-term collaborations.
Rather than asking people simply to look at art, we invite them to experience place differently — creating moments of curiosity, reflection and dialogue that continue long after the programme ends.
Through these shared experiences, we hope people will:
See Differently
Discover new perspectives on familiar places and the people who shape them.
Value More Deeply
Develop a stronger sense of connection, belonging and appreciation for their neighbourhoods.
Shape Places
Feel empowered to contribute to the cultural and civic life of Singapore in ways both big and small.
WHAT WE DO
We bring artists, communities and places together through three interconnected areas:
Immersive audio tours, art walks and programmes that invite audiences to discover familiar places through new perspectives.
Collaborations
Co-creation programmes with artists, residents and organisations to uncover local stories and create meaningful work together.
Artistic Development
Residencies and commissions that support artists to experiment, deepen their practice and develop new ways of working with people and place.
HOW WE BEGAN
“When I first moved to Singapore, I shifted with my few belongings into a shophouse. I wanted to use the space better, so I invited an artist, Xiao Yun, to do something. All I gave her was a house key. No guidance, no parameters. I enjoyed the process and final installation so much, I thought, “Why don’t my neighbours do the same thing?” Alan [co-founder] was the first person who not only loved the idea, but wanted to do it. For our first few art walkabouts, it was just Alan and me with a part-time team. Today, we have a full-time team, and we are an Institute of Public Character. We continue to bring art out of museums and galleries and into our everyday spaces. Most importantly, we give artists opportunities to lead national conversations – to question our way of life, to chart our way forward.”
— Oliver Bettin, Co-founder