Galleries concerned as art fair S.E.A. Focus moves to MBS alongside Art SG

A major move to streamline two art fairs during Singapore Art Week (SAW) 2026 has led to puzzlement among some gallerists, who are now waiting with bated breath for more information from organisers.

- Clement Yong Correspondent

Southeast Asian art fair S.E.A. Focus had for the past seven editions been staged by print and paper gallery and workshop STPI. The fair began at Gillman Barracks before growing to become an anchor SAW event at Tanjong Pagar Distripark from 2021.

Come January 2026, it will move to Marina Bay Sands (MBS), alongside international art fair Art SG.

Asia-Pacific art fair curator The Art Assembly, which runs Art SG, will also take over organising S.E.A. Focus, which has always put Southeast Asian work in the spotlight.

The National Arts Council, Art SG and STPI said in a joint statement on Sept 15 that this was to create a “mega-anchor” for SAW, while “enabling Singapore to grow the Southeast Asian art market on a global scale”.

Attracting over 41,000 visitors in 2025, Art SG has a bigger and more international collector pool, drawn to its reputation for blue-chip art and density of over 100 galleries.

Visitors in 2026 can use a single ticket to access both fairs, with the price still to be set. For continuity, project director Emi Eu and curator John Tung remain as artistic consultant and curator respectively for the 2026 edition.

Amid worries that this could hollow out Tanjong Pagar Distripark — traditionally a second centre of activity during SAW - galleries also cautioned that this move could erode S.E.A. Focus’ proven recipe for success.

Over its lifespan, STPI has transformed S.E.A. Focus from a popup at Gillman Barracks in 2019 to a staple boutique fair with 21 regional exhibitors and more than 400 artworks in 2025. It has become so popular that STPI had to turn away regional galleries due to space constraints.

Artcommune Gallery founder Ho Sou Ping asked: “We have invested so much effort and resources into building the S.E.A. Focus brand. Have we just given it away?”