[4] It began in 2006 in Hong Kong as a cultural exchange programme,[5] and travelled to Tokyo in December 2006 with a business element introduced.

[1] By the third edition, which was held in Moscow in June 2008, Spotlight Singapore had an intensive 4-day cultural-business programme that introduced the Russian capital to Singapore's lifestyle, and enabled the delegates to meet and seek out business opportunities while developing friendship with their counterparts through the exchange of cultures.

The programme presented Generation/s, a specially commissioned inter-disciplinary music-theatre work composed by Iskandar Ismail, a Cultural Medallion recipient.

[9] The event included the collaboration of Singapore artists and the famed Russian violinist Tatiana Grindenko and her ensemble Opus Posth in the Russian premiere of Generation/s, directed by Singapore Talent, Ivan Heng, and fused with Iskandar Ismail's score of an ensemble of 30.

[10] Co-organised by The Arts House and Asian Culture Enterprise Singapore with Raintree Solutions as the South African partner, Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town's 4-day programme includes artistic collaborations and presentations in music, literature [11] and design, business networking sessions, industry tours and breakout sessions.