How often do we miss out on the stories of people close to us because of our busy lives?

At Open Borders, nobody is a mere face in the crowd. Everyone has a story to tell, be they migrant or local, professional writer or not. Shine a spotlight on these faces with us through storytelling, and celebrate the power of the spoken word to build bridges between Singaporean, migrant, and international communities.

With two editions so far, the Migrant Book Fair aims to introduce new migrant writers, build a healthy community, and strengthen bonds through the love of literature. During the fair, writers are invited to share about their writing journeys, with their published works spotlighted and made available for purchase.

Spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, interest and awareness of mental health concerns became pertinent topics of conversation both within migrant communities and the wider public. For some, literature and the arts empowered self-expression and strengthened community support systems. We started this festival to continue conversations about mental health beyond the pandemic, including perspectives from artists, mental health professionals and humanitarian organisations. The festival aims to provide many entry points to this conversation: hear lived experiences from storytellers; use humor to empower a greater sense of control; or take home practical information on mindfulness techniques.