Southeast Asian Arts Forum 2023: Sustainability 2.0: Coding the World That Will Remake Itself

Continuing from the previous years' sustainability-centred theme, the 2023 Southeast Asian Arts Forum presented 'Sustainability 2.0: Coding the World That Will Remake Itself', a two-day hybrid event that highlighted creative practices working towards harmony between humans and nature.

The forum saw 11 leading regional artists, designers, artisans and scholars from a variety of creative and academic disciplines, come together to examine the concept of sustainable consumption and production in their fields.

Particularly memorable was a specially commissioned performance by Yogyakarta-based object theatre performing group, Flying Balloons Puppet. By tracing the lineage of rivers and the communities in the vicinity, the group drew attention to the intricate, ever-evolving relationship between man and nature.

Additionally, in line with the Institute of Southeast Asian Arts (ISEAA)'s mission of championing practice-based and practice-led learning, the forum also hosted a zine-making workshop for NAFA students from the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Fine Art programme. The workshop, facilitated by the Hanoi-based Ba Bau Art Collective, centred around the theme of space-making. Students were given the opportunity to examine how responsibility and sustainability play a part in building communities of the future, and to put together their findings and responses in a mini-publication.

Finally, there was also a dialogue session, where artists explored the past and future of their practices, and shared innovative ways to create and push boundaries as a practitioner in Southeast Asia. Ultimately, the forum not only showcased the artists' determination to survive, but also their profound search for harmony between humans and our surrounding ecology.

Inaugural Digital Interdisciplinary Arts Salon

The Faculty of Interdisciplinary Practices was established in January 2023. On October 12 and 13, it celebrated the integration of art, technology and culture with its inaugural event, the Digital Interdisciplinary Arts Salon.

The NAFA Studio Theatre and Foyer was transformed into a creative space for arts practitioners and academics to gather, discuss, exchange ideas—and ultimately uncover how to push boundaries of what is possible in the digital age.

Prominent speakers such as Andreas Schlegel (LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore), Dayn Ng (NAFA), Fu Yongwei (NAFA), and Matthew Hawkins (Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London) energised the event. Together, they led the audience in vibrant discussions delving into the exciting and evolving digital world of interdisciplinary arts and design.

Spatial Design Awards (SPADE) 2023

The Interior Design Confederation Singapore's (IDCS) Design Excellence Awards (DEA) celebrates the achievements of both professionals and students in the interior design industry by recognising the best commercial, residential, and public design projects in Asia Pacific.

For its 10^th edition, IDCS brought back 26 of its most popular award categories across two competition tracks: Interior Design Excellence Awards (I-DEA) for professional interior designers and firms, and Spatial Design Awards (SPADE) for design students.

The prestigious competition saw NAFA's Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Design Practice students secure the Bronze award for Best Exhibition Design, Best Public Design, and Best Sustainable Design. A student also received the Highly Commended prize in Best Exhibition Design. The winners were selected by an esteemed panel of highly regarded interior design professionals. The awards were announced at a ceremony held on 14 December 2023 at Shangri-La Singapore.

Diploma in Theatre (Mandarin Drama) student crowned top at Script Reading Competition

We are proud that our Diploma in Theatre (Mandarin Drama) Year 2 student Luo Hanwen won first prize in the University Professional category, for the National Theatre of China's first Script Reading Competition. Additionally, NAFA received the esteemed Outstanding Organisation Award in recognition of our commitment to excellence in arts education and support for student endeavours. Senior Lecturer Zhao Na was also honoured with the Outstanding Advisor Award, underscoring her dedication and guidance to students in the Mandarin Drama programme. These accolades reflect NAFA's continuous efforts and dedication in nurturing talent and promoting excellence in the performing arts.

NAFA School of Young Talents Christopher & Rosy Ho Music Competition 2023

77 students participated in the NAFA School of Young Talents Christopher & Rosy Ho Music Competition, held at the esteemed Lee Foundation Theatre and organised by the Junior Music department. The distinguished jury, which comprised three international and six local members, were blown away by the competitive showcase of talent across the four categories of Piano, Violin, Cello and Flute, and Chinese Instruments.

Ultimately, 12 contestants emerged victorious. The winners went on to showcase their musical prowess at the winners' concert and prize-giving ceremony on 4 June 2023. Besides recognition of their musical accomplishments, they also received certificates and prize money to support their tuition fees, marking a significant milestone in their artistic journey.

Stories of Care III

Stories of Care III, a collaboration between Year 2 Fine Art degree students from NAFA and personnel from the Assisi Hospice, was designed to facilitate deep cross-disciplinary exchanges between the healthcare and art education sectors.

The third edition of the project fostered appreciation for healthcare practices, and raised awareness of topics relating to vulnerable communities, palliative and broader notions of care. It also encouraged contemplation on what it means to have empathy and dignity in the face of end-of life issues.

Assisi Hospice personnel shared moving stories about their personal and professional experiences, giving students a chance to dive deep into the contributions of medical social workers and pastoral carers. Together, they co-created a collection of artworks based on these stories. The work was displayed at the hospice as well as a public exhibition—advocating for art's place in non-art settings and the value of peer-sharing.

NAFA 85^th Anniversary Celebration Concert

The NAFA School of Music (SOM) put on a memerising display of musical excellence at the NAFA 85^th Anniversary Celebration Concert. The concert was held on 8 April 2023 at the Victoria Concert Hall, with venue support from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

SOM opened the event with the world premiere of a specially-commissioned work by Head of Composition at SOM, Dr Zechariah Goh, recipient of the 2014 NAFA Distinguished Alumni Medal and 2003 National Arts Council's Young Artist Award.

Led by Artistic Director, Maestro Lim Yau and in partnership with The Philharmonic Orchestra Singapore, the NAFA Orchestra then presented Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5, a piece described by esteemed conductor Serge Koussevitzky in the November 1945 Time magazine as “the greatest musical event in many, many years”. Zhu Zunzun, Grand Prize Winner of the NAFA Concerto Competition 2022/2023, played the soloist in Prokofiev's lyrical and virtuosic Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63.

This concert highlighted the artistic sensitivities and technical competencies of NAFA's students, faculty members and alumni, marking a significant milestone in NAFA's illustrious history.

My Art, Our Voices

NAFA's Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Performance Making Year 1 students and Interdisciplinary Project diploma students presented My Art, Our Voices as a performative response to the large-scale exhibition Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America at National Gallery Singapore. Inspired by the exhibition's themes such as 'The Myth of the Lazy Native', 'This Earth of Mankind', and 'The Subversive', the compelling performance opened with the manifesto “My Art, 'Art of Liberation'” by Semsar Siahaan (Jakarta,1988). It continued with a non-linear journey through traditional and contemporary realms, showcasing beautiful, confident, post-colonial reclaimed identities through movement, dance, text, moving images and sound.

Memories of Jogja: A showcase of NAFA's first Overseas Immersion Programme in Arts Management

Memories of Jogja showcased works from the first successful Overseas Immersion Programme (OIP) for Arts Management students at Institut Seni Indonesia Yogyakarta (ISI Yogyakarta). Open to all visitors during the NAFA Open House 2024, the exhibition displayed diverse works done by the Year 3 students during and after the OIP, including photographs, videos, batik pieces and postcards. Visitors were also treated to Indonesian snacks 'Tastes of Jogja' and participated in a gamelan interactive activity 'Sounds of Jogja'.

The 2023 OIP is significant as it marked the first partnership between ISI Yogyakarta's Arts Management programme (Tata Kelola Seni) and the NAFA School of Arts Management. ISI Yogyakarta's programme is part of their Faculty of Visual Arts and boasts academic staff with strong expertise in visual arts management, archive curation, and traditional arts and artifact management.

Our Arts Management students benefited from insightful lectures and workshops. The lecture, 'Volunteerism and the Jogja Biennale', which detailed the development of volunteer programmes was noteworthy as it aligned with NAFA's efforts to encourage volunteerism among students. All in all, the enriching experience underscored the significance of international collaboration in broadening our students' educational and cultural horizons.

JA Art Carnival 2023

From 6 to 8 October 2023, NAFA's campus grounds were transformed into a vibrant platform of creativity for Junior Art's biennial Art Carnival. Excitement filled the carnival as students and the public alike tried their hands at a myriad of art and craft activities, all designed to elicit one's imagination and spark joy. Highlights of the event included interactive stations for participants to unleash their inner artist, and free popcorn to celebrate Children's Day 2023. The carnival was a joyous celebration of artistic expression and community spirit, making it an unforgettable event for everyone involved.

Mother Tongue Languages Symposium 2023

The annual Mother Tongue Languages Symposium (MTLS) aims to promote Mother Tongue Languages (MTLs) by sharing best practices for teaching and learning. Organised by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC) and the Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee (TLLPC), the symposium is targetted at educators at preschool and lower primary levels, as well as parents with young children.

In 2023, the NAFA Arts Preschool (APS) was invited by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) to participate and showcase our Chinese curriculum. We presented our innovative teaching approach, including the Project Approach for Chinese language, and shared a range of reading materials and resources designed to enrich language learning. Encouraged by the reception to our Mulan-inspired performance in 2022, we also explained how we integrated traditional folktales into various art forms to enhance learning experiences. To further engage our audience, we planned interactive Mandarin games, to create an immersive and educational experience for all.

Response was overwhelmingly positive. Supportive APS parents visited our booth at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. Numerous parents also expressed interest in our distinctive curriculum and approach. We are honoured to have this invaluable opportunity to foster a love for the Chinese language and culture.

85 Years in 85 Minutes Concert

In commemoration of NAFA's 85^th anniversary, the NAFA Music Alumni Chapter and Alumni Relations Office, came together with Voices of Singapore to present an energetic and dynamic concert showcasing the academy's musical talents spanning from the 1980s to 2023.

Past music alumni scholars were invited to contribute, and together with the generous support of the NAFA Collaborative Lab Grant, the unique event successfully intertwined live performances with nostalgic campus stories. This allowed the NAFA community to reminisce about their post-graduation journeys and celebrate the profound impact alumni have had both on campus, and in the wider community.

The 85-minute concert, the first of its kind since the NAFA School of Music (SOM) was established in 1984, was held at the prestigious CHIJMES Hall on 6 September 2023. Nearly 200 SOM faculty, alumni and students attended. 176 tickets were sold, surpassing the initial plan of 150 seats. The proceeds of S$6,400, raised from ticket sales, donations and ad purchases, were donated to the NAFA Education Fund. The event was a heartfelt celebration of musical excellence and camaraderie, highlighting the enduring legacy and the vibrant future of NAFA's musical community.

A warm welcome to the AY2023/2024 intake

Orientation for the AY2023/2024 diploma students was held between 31 July and 4 August 2023. During this time, students attended online briefings on student support services held by the Offices of Student Affairs, Student Care, Information Technology, and EdTech.

In addition, students were invited on campus for a welcome address by NAFA President, Mrs Tan-Soh Wai Lan, to meet the faculty, and to participate in activities organised by each school. Student Leaders also led campus tours for new students to familiarise themselves with the campus facilities. The orientation effectively combined information, inspiration and interaction, ensuring a successful onboarding experience for the students at NAFA.