Independent arts organisation Oh! Open House has been doing good work at challenging conventional notions we hold of Singapore and its various communities through their signature art walks. This time around, audiences are invited to get to know the neighbourhood of Jalan Besar beyond the cluster of pretty cafes.

Titled Refuge for Strangers, the mini art walk seeks to highlight seldom-noticed communities that reside in this neighbourhood such as migrant workers and workers of sunset trades like carpentry.

During the 90-minute tour,  four artists – namely Alan Oei, Subhas, Min-Wei Ting and Nature Shankar – will guide audiences through old shops and secret nooks, with their artworks scattered throughout the walk, seeking to present a nuanced understanding to these communities.

It is a rare chance to venture into shophouses and clan associations that you’d usually never be privy to, so get your tickets now before they’re sold out. Details here.

Ongoing, various times

Yes we love our big art institutions like ArtScience Museum and the National Gallery Singapore but there are many smaller, more esoteric art spaces that deserve more recognition from the public.

The Museum Roundtable (MR), a programme initiated by the National Heritage Board to encourage a museum-going culture amongst Singaporeans, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. To commemorate the milestone, the MR is rolling out a series of Mystery Museum Tours which will take place each weekend in September and will take the public on a journey of exploration through various art spaces here.

The tours are based around three themes, namely “Fashion Confessions”, “Mythical Creatures” and “Hidden Secrets”, with a total of 34 tour runs. Each theme will feature a unique itinerary and offer different insights into the collections and workings of the participating MR members.

Working much in the spirit of secret parties, members of the public can sign up for the themes which interest them, and the exact museum(s) will only be revealed to participants on the day of the visit. If that sounds like your cup of tea, sign up for the tours here.

September 4 to September 26, various times

This concise film festival is presented by the Embassy of Chile in Singapore and The Projector, with the support of VCT.

It focuses on three works directed by master surrealist director Raul Ruiz, who is arguably Chile’s most influential filmmaker. His works are known to possess a black sense of humour and are often wildly experimental, so this is a rare chance to get introduced to his oeuvre.

The films presented are Night Across The Street, The Tango of The Widower and its Distorting Mirror, and The Wandering Soap Opera.

If you had to pick only one, perhaps Night Across The Street (pictured) might be a good option, as it was the filmmaker’s final film before his passing in 2011 and it was selected for the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

The film is a playful yet poignant look at one man’s journey, elderly office worker Don Celso, through life at various stages (more details here). There is only one screening per film, so if you’re interested, act fast.

September 3 to September 5, various times, at #05-00 Golden Mile Tower