Singapore Airlines Showcases Artists with Special Needs

Singapore Airlines showcases artists with special needs

By Rachel Debling on June, 1 2018 | Airline & Terminal News

Singapore Airlines (SIA), SG Enable and the Autism Resource Centre (ARC) have formed a partnership that will have the works of artists with special needs displayed on SIA’s inﬂight products, starting with snack boxes coming to the airline in June 2018.

This program marks the ﬁrst initiative of SG Enable’s “i’mable” campaign, a marketplace for goods and products created by persons with disabilities. The work of artists with special needs will be displayed on SIA's network to help promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities globally.

The ﬁrst products being introduced as part of this campaign are Economy Class snack boxes featuring artwork by artists with autism from the Artist Development Programme (ADP) which is an initiative under Pathlight School, a program under ARC. More inﬂight products with such artwork will be released as the program continues.

Aaron Yap will be the ﬁrst ADP artist to have work featured on the snack boxes – a design called "Local Food" that features local cuisine such as satay, claypot rice and kueh lapis. Customers can learn how to play a part in promoting inclusiveness with information and suggestions on each box, such as visiting the Enabling Village, an inclusive community space in Singapore.

Ms Ku Geok Boon, Chief Executive Oﬃce of SG Enable, commented: “This ground-up collaboration with SIA and ARC shows how corporates can work with the disability sector to achieve greater social impact.”

“Singapore Airlines recognizes the importance of giving back to the communities that we serve," Mr Yeoh Phee Teik, Acting Senior Vice President, Customer Experience at Singapore Airlines, said in a statement. "We believe that this partnership with SG Enable and ARC will be a wonderful platform for persons with disabilities to showcase their talent to the global audience that we carry and to build awareness of their creative potential.”

Ms Denise Phua, President, ARC and Mayor, Central Singapore District, also noted: “What a great way to fly our national flag! We are delighted that our differently-abled artists can have this global platform to showcase their abilities. I am grateful to SG Enable and SIA for believing in the cause of supporting inclusion and celebrating the abilities of persons with special needs.”

SIA is also launching KrisShop Cares on its online retail site, KrisShop. KrisShop Cares will sell curated items from partner communities, with net proceeds going to respective partners in support of their artists.

KrisShop will carry a selected range of merchandise designed by artists from the ADP, the ﬁrst partner to join KrisShop Cares. The ADP products will include items incorporating the “Roaring Merlion” by 1