Forging new ground in the Arts 13 Arts Scholarships awarded today – Press release

The NAC Arts Scholarships 2024 and inaugural NAC-UAS Arts Scholarship 2024 recipients with Guest-of-Honour, Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ms Goh Swee Chen, Chairman of NAC, Professor Kwok Kian Woon, Vice-Chancellor of UAS, Mrs Tan-Soh Wai Lan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UAS and President of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Mr Ho Chee Pong, Chief Operating Officer of UAS, Dr Venka Purushothaman, Deputy President & Provost of LASALLE College of the Arts.

Thirteen outstanding individuals received the Arts Scholarships today to further their studies and push the boundaries in Singapore’s arts scene. These Scholarships cover undergraduate and postgraduate studies and were awarded to recipients who lead in new art disciplines and engage new audiences, leverage the transformative power of the arts in non-arts fields and pursue artistic, cross-cultural excellence in the arts.

Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, Guest-of-Honour at the NAC Arts Scholarship award ceremony today said, “The arts play a key role in fostering empathy and understanding across different cultures and build a better and more cohesive society. Through the Arts Scholarships, we hope to nurture generations of young leaders who will enhance Singapore's vibrant creative economy and contribute to our cultural vitality and future of the arts."


New Arts Fields, New Audiences
This year, the NAC Arts Scholarships continue to expand its support to new scholars to include the areas of arts entrepreneurship and arts research. Arts entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in transforming artistic ideas into sustainable businesses, serving as a catalyst for personal and organisational growth. At the same time, arts research is recognised as an essential means of preserving our arts heritage and enriching our understanding of various cultural experiences, fostering a sense of connection to our cultural roots.

Ms Khairina Khalid who is embarking on a Master of Arts in Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship at the National University of Singapore, expressed her aspirations, stating, “I aspire to create innovative and sustainable opportunities for ethnic minority artists, especially youths, to empower them to engage with and contribute to the cultural and artistic heritage of their communities.”

Mr Felix Phang, who will be pursuing a Master of Arts (Research) Arts and Education (Music), National Institute of Education, shared his vision, "I aim to empower the next generation of musicians by making cultural music education more accessible, equipping practitioners with new tools for music-making, and strengthening our cultural bonds in the process."

In addition to these areas, the Scholarships also extends support to specialised fields such as theatre for young audiences and arts in the care economy, including community art practice. These progressive fields reflect the Scholarships’ focus in engaging new audiences, especially children and youths.

Ms Jelaine Ng plans to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre for Young Audiences at Rose Bruford College in the United Kingdom. She shared her ambitions: "My vision is to elevate the arts for young audiences with inclusivity and accessibility through collaborations with institutions, caregivers, and parents. Together, we can ensure every child experiences the transformative power of the arts, shaping a culturally rich and inclusive future."


Cross-fields, Transformative Power of the Arts
Singapore's maturing arts industry continues to play an increasingly pivotal role in the nation's cultural and economic landscape. The intersection and integration of the arts with adjacent domains such as sciences, technology, economics, and education showcase the transformative power of the arts and its growing influence on this year's Scholarships.

Ms Wan Jie Che, who is set to pursue her Master of Arts in Cultural Economics and Entrepreneurship at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, shared, "I aspire to work in collaboration with artists and institutions to create a sustainable arts ecosystem where artistic experimentation can be supported through innovative economic strategies while empowering the sector with a new language to communicate its importance and impact."

Integrating art and sciences to preserve Singapore's art heritage is a key focus for Ms Alexis See Tow. Alexis, who will be pursuing a Master of Sciences in Conservation of Contemporary Art and Media at the University College London (United Kingdom), sees the scholarship as a gateway to unexplored territories in the global art landscape. She shared, "This generous scholarship unfurls a canvas of opportunity that allows me to pursue uncharted, exciting fields of the global art landscape. My mission is to be a life-long advocate for not just the production but the continued preservation of art, bridging the gap between creation and longevity."

Incorporating art with education and employing art therapy are examples of a valuable intersection that has a meaningful impact on a connected society which supports well-being and fostering creativity. Mr David Gan Chong Jin, who will be pursuing a Master of Arts in Art Therapy at LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE), University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), expressed his aspiration, "In my art therapy practice, I aspire to foster healing and growth by helping clients connect deeply with themselves and others, guided by E.M. Forster's wisdom to 'only connect'."


Inspiring Confidence in Singapore’s Cultural Identity
This year’s recipients highlight the value of the arts and represent a diverse range of practitioners who inspire confidence in Singapore’s growing cultural scene. The support of artistic excellence in their respective fields demonstrates the Council’s continued commitment to preserving areas such as traditional art forms while making them relevant and accessible.

Ms Tan Wei Tian, who will be pursuing her Bachelor in Chinese Opera Performing at the Shanghai Theatre Academy (China), shared, “Through the scholarship, I aim to continuously refine and hone my skills as a performer, develop programmes to attract and involve younger generations, foster a sense of community among Chinese Opera artists and enthusiasts, and create a supportive network for collaboration and growth of Chinese opera in Singapore.”

Ms Nur Fajrina Binte Abdul Razak, who is set to pursue her Master of Arts in Art and Ecology at Goldsmiths, University of London, United Kingdom, shared, “I hope my work serves as a vessel for a critical discourse to address the social and ecological issues, while simultaneously filling the gaps in traditional practices and craft traditions in Singapore.”

Among this year's NAC Arts Scholarship recipients is Mr Megat Muhammad Firdaus, who is passionate about promoting Singapore's arts and culture: “I have always been fascinated and inspired by the beauty and diversity behind different art forms in Asia and I hope to be a proponent for Singapore's unique blend of traditional music.” Megat Firdaus will be pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Classical, Studio, Contemporary Conducting, and Related Recording Technologies at The Conducting Institute at The European Academy of Fine Arts in Bulgaria. He is also actively involved in community initiatives to promote the Malay language, culture, and arts.

Another scholar, Mr Muhammad Nhawfal Bin Juma’at, who received the NAC-UAS Arts Scholarship, is set to pursue his Master of Fine Arts Fine Art at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), UAS. He shared his aspirations: “I believe that the core of our cultural history and identity is embedded in the arts. I aim to preserve this tradition through education, nurturing the minds of future practitioners to carry it forward.”


Broadening NAC’s Support of the Arts
This year, to broaden its support of the arts, the NAC Arts Scholarships have partnered with the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), Singapore's first arts university, which will welcome its first intake in August 2024. Under this NAC-UAS partnership, four out of the thirteen arts scholars will pursue studies at LASALLE and NAFA.

The collaborative effort between NAC and the UAS seeks to further the growth of the arts industry and foster greater community engagement. This industry partnership aims to provide multiple pathways and opportunities for success, blazing new trails in the arts education sector while preparing students for impactful roles in both the cultural sphere and the creative economy.

Professor Kwok Kian Woon, Vice-Chancellor of UAS, said: "The establishment of the UAS marks a new chapter in the development of arts education in Singapore and the broader region. As we welcome the first cohort of students into the bachelor's and master's degree programmes conferred by UAS, we are grateful for the support of the NAC. This partnership will advance the university's mission to prepare successive generations of arts and design graduates in developing enduring vocations, playing significant roles in our cultural life and the creative economy."

Professor Steve Dixon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UAS and President of LASALLE said: "We are delighted that the NAC has committed their generous support to the next generation of home-grown artists, designers and creative practitioners through this scholarship. It is a marvellous affirmation of the importance of higher arts education in Singapore and will go a long way towards nurturing a new wave of arts leaders who will elevate the cultural landscape locally, regionally and internationally."

Mrs Tan-Soh Wai Lan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UAS and President of NAFA, said: “The support of NAC recognises the integral value of our students and graduates to the creative economy. They will boldly explore new horizons, achieve excellence, and infuse creative ideas to make a difference across diverse sectors. Their creative endeavours not only enrich the cultural landscape but also drive economic growth and social change, demonstrating the transformative power of the arts in society.”


Sustainable Careers in the Arts
Beyond the duration of their studies, the thirteen Arts Scholarship recipients will be supported in their journey of skills development and deepening their practice to harness the transformative power of the arts. This will be accomplished through industry collaborations with arts and cultural institutions to provide mentorship, career guidance, and networking opportunities as part of post-graduation support. This ensures that scholars can expand their professional networks, paving the way for a well-rounded and sustainable career in the arts.


Track Record
The NAC Arts Scholarships have a remarkable track record, with past scholars receiving high accolades both locally and internationally. Notable achievements include Julian Wong and Guo Ningru, who were awarded the Young Artist Award in 2023 and 2022, respectively, following their NAC Arts Scholarship recognition. Jemimah Wei, a 2019 NAC Arts Scholarship recipient, was also recently awarded the prestigious Wallace Stegner Fellowship at Stanford University and is set to launch her literary debut 'The Original Daughter' in 2025. These successes serve as a strong testament to the relevance and adaptability of arts professionals in creative performance roles and inspires cultural confidence among younger artists, signalling the growing strength of Singapore's artistic talent.

This year's Scholarship recipients embody the vision of tomorrow's leaders, playing a pivotal role in preserving traditional arts and embodying creative excellence and innovation as envisioned through the Our SG Arts Plan (2023 – 2027) to build a Connected Society, Distinctive City and Creative Economy through the Arts.

For more information, please refer to:

• Annex A: NAC Arts Scholarship and 2024 Recipients
• Annex B: NAC-UAS Arts Scholarship and 2024 Recipients

Media coverage:

• 13 Arts Scholarships Awarded: Paving the Future of Singapore’s Arts Scene by alvinology media, 1 Aug 2024
• Forging New Ground in the Arts, 13 Arts Scholarships Awarded by The Insightful Media, 31 July 2024