State of the Arts: July 5 to 12

SINGAPORE — Centre 42, Singapore’s new centre for text-based writing for theatre, officially opened; film-maker Anthony Chen was named one of the recipients of this year’s Singapore Youth Award; xinyao singers took centre stage at a concert at Bras Basah Complex for a documentary film; and a new work by British artist Anish Kapoor was unveiled at the Marina Bay Sands Art Path. The arts community also released a video in response to the Media Development Authority’s proposed Self-Classification Scheme.

But the biggest event had to be the National Library Board’s decision to remove from library shelves — and eventually “pulp” or destroy — three children’s books (And Tango Makes Three, The White Swan Express and Who’s In My Family? All About Our Families) for not promoting family values after complaints from the public regarding the same-sex relationships portrayed in the titles, including one on a real-life story of penguins. The decision has prompted strong criticism from the public, including the arts community. MAYO MARTIN