About this Event
Connecting Narratives for Change Festival 2026 is a day for anyone curious about the Singapore around them – and the people, spaces and communities shaping it.
On 17 Oct 2026 get together with us at Common Ground Civic Centre for a series of experiential activities exploring topics you already care about, or ones you never expected to.
EXPLORE THE FESTIVAL
What's On
The Festival is built around two Parallel Breakout tracks, each with four sessions to choose from.
EXPLORE THE FULL PROGRAMME LINEUP
PARALLEL BREAKOUT A
- 10:30am–12:30pm: Active Fallowship: What Does Rest and Renewal Look Like in a World That's Go-Go-Go? | Led by Studio Dojo
- 10:30am–12:30pm: It Takes a Village: Creating Third Spaces Where Young People Can Belong | Led by Brave Feats
- 10:30am–12:30pm: Sustaining Arts Practices: How Are We Still Doing This? | Led by The Black Sampan
- 10:30am–12:30pm: Designing for Independence: What Do Neurodivergent Children and Adults Need to Thrive? | Led by InSchool
PARALLEL BREAKOUT B
- 1:30pm–4:30pm: Instinct or Intention: What Shapes the Way We Care for Children? | Led by: Playeum & Chapter Zero
- 1:30pm–4:30pm: The Adventure Mindset: Can Small Everyday Discoveries Add Up to a Bigger Life? | Led by Myles & More
- 2:30pm–4:30pm: The Absurd Art of Social Entrepreneurship: How Do We Sustain the Epic Adventure? | Led by Artably
- 2:30pm–4:30pm: Lepak in Practice: How Lepak-ing Builds Social Capital | Led by Lepak Conversations
Come for a session,
or stay for the whole day.
Beyond the Parallel Breakout Sessions, there's more going on throughout the day if you're keen to stay for the whole day:
- 9am–10am: Festival Opening: Community Check-in
- 1pm–2pm: Lunchtime Circles
- 5pm–6:30pm: Festival Closing: Community Conversations
Ticketing Info
Just want to attend one session?
- Single Session Pass: $35 (incl. GST)
The Single Session Pass gives you access to one session of your choice from Parallel Breakout A or Parallel Breakout B, and the Lunchtime Circles fringe activities.
Keen for the whole day?
- All-day Pass: $60 / $70 / $80 (incl. GST) — on a sliding scale
The All-day Pass gives you full access to CNFC Festival, including one session from Parallel Breakout A and Parallel Breakout B, along with the Festival Opening and Closing, and the Lunchtime Circles fringe activities.
A sliding scale means you decide what to contribute based on what you're able to. The lowest tier covers our base costs; anything above that goes directly toward the practitioners, partners, and everything it takes to make the day happen. If the higher tiers feel right for you, we'd genuinely appreciate it. Either way, every tier is equally welcome.
Connecting Narratives for Change Festival is organised by Common Ground. Our collaborators for this year are the Resident and Community Partners of Common Ground Civic Centre and various practitioner-led third spaces in Singapore. This programme is supported by the SG Partnerships Fund.
Common Ground is a cultural-change consultancy that leads a civic centre with a mission to build whole communities.
Find out more about Common Ground: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn
Agenda
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:00 AM
Registrations
🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Festival Opening: Community Check-in
Host: Common Ground
Info: Third Spaces Start with Who's in the Room – Third spaces exist for exactly this: people in a room, getting to know each other. We'll start the day by getting oriented — and getting to know the room.
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Tea Break
🕑: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Parallel Breakout Sessions A
Host: Brave Feats Student Care
Info: The Festival is built around two Parallel Breakout tracks, each with four sessions to choose from. Choose a topic you already care about, or one you never expected to.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Lunchtime Circles
Host: Common Ground
Info: An optional lunchtime space, hosted by our partners, for anyone who'd like the company. Choose Learn, Connect, or Reflect — and bring your own lunch!
🕑: 01:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Parallel Breakout Sessions B
Host: Artably
Info: The Festival is built around two Parallel Breakout tracks, each with four sessions to choose from. Choose a topic you already care about, or one you never expected to.
🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Tea Break
🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:30 PM
Festival Closing: Community Conversations
Host: Common Ground
Info: What is the future of third spaces in Singapore? And who do we need for that future? – A day spent with practitioners shaping third spaces across Singapore ends with voices from across the ecosystem — and everyone in the room. Together, we'll reflect on the future of third spaces in Singapore, and who’s needed to get there.
Event venue & nearby stays
Common Ground Civic Centre & Consultancy, 21 Bedok North Street 1, Bedok, Singapore
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.