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The arts are entering a new digital frontier – one that’s dynamic, infinitely expansive, online and built in real-time.
Powered by Virtual (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), the metaverse is an immersive, 3D-enabled realm rapidly becoming part of daily life. It’s transforming how we encounter arts and culture, unveiling limitless possibilities on this digital canvas. In the virtual realm, arts aren’t simply presented. They’re explored, co-created and experienced differently. Freed from the limits of time and space, artists gain a new palette to rethink artistic creation, delivery, and expression.
The National Arts Council (NAC) is accelerating the future of arts in Singapore, recognising the vast potential of virtual environments. Leveraging the nation's near-universal digital connectivity — where over 95% of the population is digitally connected — NAC empowers artists to boldly venture into this digital frontier.
Under Our SG Arts Plan (2023 - 2027), NAC launched Project Arts Metaverse. This initiative creates a vibrant ecosystem for artists, technologists, arts organisations and cultural institutions to explore and develop new approaches to arts creation and audience engagement in virtual spaces.
By nurturing this dynamic environment, NAC enables artists to reimagine how art can be created and experienced. This strategic foresight positions Singapore as a distinctive city for the arts, where creativity flourishes across both physical and virtual realms.
Project Arts Metaverse Alliance for Action members at the Discovery and Visioning Workshop explored the potential of Web3 and the Metaverse and co-developed ideas to shape their pilot projects.
Fostering cross-sector collaboration for impact
NAC convened an industry-led Alliance for Action (AfA) to drive this initiative, fostering meaningful collaboration across the people, private and public sectors to enable the arts to thrive.
Through Project Arts Metaverse, the AfA spearheads groundbreaking projects that reimagine creative possibilities and establishes new ways of audience engagement.
“Project Arts Metaverse inspires our artists to reimagine what’s possible, opening new spaces for creativity to flourish. By fostering meaningful cross-sector collaborations with the technology players for example, it strengthens capabilities and sparks exciting collaborations to explore new ways for arts to reach current and new audiences, especially young people, who are digital natives. Through this initiative, we aspire to spotlight Singapore as a distinctively inspiring home for the arts, both in the real world and beyond,” says Victor Ang, Director, Technology & Innovation, NAC.
Four groundbreaking Metaverse projects leading the way
Macbeth on Roblox by Singapore Repertory Theatre, a world-first immersive digital Shakespeare experience on the platform
SRT’s reimagining of Macbeth as an interactive sci-fi adventure on Roblox is a bold leap into virtual storytelling. This innovative adaptation transforms the classic tragedy to create fresh entry points for young audiences to connect with its timeless themes.
Launched in April 2025 ahead of its stage production, the experience drew over 300,000 visits by end-June, showcasing the immense potential of virtual platforms to extend a work’s reach and enrich engagement beyond the physical stage.
“I’m very excited about this. We’re teaching this text to our Year 4s. My students are going to love it!” said one secondary school teacher. This enthusiasm reflects how Project Arts Metaverse is making classical arts relevant to today’s youth.
Artist’s impression of VGIG by Bandwagon Labs
Bandwagon Labs is reimagining how music and technology intersect with VGIG (Virtual Gig) — a virtual platform where fans explore 3D artist rooms, collect digital memorabilia and connect more deeply with Singapore’s music scene.
Set within a ‘Sonic Garden’ backdrop, each artist is creating a customisable virtual room — a next-gen digital space where fans can roam as avatars, click on interactive items and unlock exclusive content. Fans can also purchase digital packs containing collectible artist cards of varying rarity, exclusive metaverse wearables from the artists’ fashion set and raffle tickets to see the artists live at performances at Marina Bay Sands Expo in 2025. For musicians, VGIG opens up potential new revenue streams and fan touchpoints — where supporters don’t just follow their journey, but own a piece of it.
“Launching in September 2025, VGIG is our way of creating a next-generation fan experience — where music, identity and digital ownership converge,” says Clarence Chan, Founder of Bandwagon Labs. Through pilots like VGIG, Project Arts Metaverse exemplifies how digital innovation can enhance both artist sustainability and audience engagement.
Concept visuals for four virtual artist studios being developed under AfterForms by Spang & Lei with Shengen
Supporting the development of the sector’s digital capabilities from the ground up, AfterForms is a digital incubator designed to equip artists with the tools, resources and confidence to experiment in virtual spaces.
As part of this initiative, four artist studios will be launched to demonstrate the creative potential of virtual artmaking, showcasing exploratory works that address environmental challenges, AI ethics and digital archiving. A complementary toolkit will also be developed to support artists in creating virtual arts experiences. AfterForms underscores NAC's commitment to empowering artists to lead innovation.
Audiences immersed in a live Baybeats Festival performance
Looking ahead, the beloved indie music festival is set to debut its virtual edition on Roblox in 2026.
Through livestreamed performances, virtual meet-and-greet sessions and interactive experiences, a new generation will discover local music from anywhere in the world. Expanding the celebrated festival into the metaverse signifies a bold step towards wider artistic accessibility and audience development
What does the future of virtual arts hold?
Together, these pilots showcase the transformative possibilities of integrated arts experiences. They point to a future where the digital and physical don’t compete but complement each other.
Across the globe, arts audiences are driving this evolution, seeking experiences that seamlessly bridge physical and virtual spaces.
One leading example is Tokyo’s teamLab Borderless, where art flows seamlessly between physical and digital realms. A global study by the University of Glasgow, surveying over 2,000 respondents, validates this approach, revealing strong public interest in using VR and extended reality (XR) to access museum collections that are otherwise inaccessible. Since 2022, Art Dubai has also introduced a dedicated platform for new media and phygital works, further highlighting the international momentum towards hybrid art engagement.
On the local front, Singapore is charting its own path in this digital evolution. NAC is actively enabling our arts ecosystem through dedicated funding and capability development initiatives, working closely with artists and organisations to test and realise this vision.
This commitment is reflected in various initiatives. One example is the 2025 cycle of the Production Grant, which will prioritise projects that boldly integrate digital technology — whether in creation, production, or audience engagement.
Complementing this, programmes like the Performing Arts x Tech Lab foster innovation and experimentation, enabling arts practitioners to integrate technology into their practice through cross-sector collaboration.
These pilots mark our first steps in reimagining Singapore's arts landscape, showcasing new possibilities for the arts. NAC invites all creatives, arts organisations and tech innovators to join us in this transformative journey.
Discover how you can be part of this movement by exploring our various grant schemes and support programmes on the NAC website. The possibilities are limitless, and together, we can redefine what #OurSGArts can be.
To learn more about Project Arts Metaverse and its pilot projects, visit: go.gov.sg/projectartsmetaverse