ANNUAL REPORT 2013/14 Contents Vision, Mission & Core Values Chairman’s Message NAFA Patron & Board Committees NAFA Board NAFA Senior Management In art, perfection is always a pursuit. Every About NAFA painting, melody, performance, dance, or Partner Universities design, is all about the relentless pursuit of Celebrating 75 Years of Arts Education something greater, more creative, original. Outstanding Students, Alumni and Lecturers Administration Division And when a masterpiece is finally created, Institute of Southeast Asian Arts and Art Galleries an impulse to surpass it arises. What others Continuing Education Branch see as a flawless gem, the artist sees as a Academic Division piece of work that’s forever in progress. This Office of Academic Affairs is the spirit all great achievers share. And it Office of Student Affairs Office of Student Care & Internship is the very mindset we have been instilling Department of 3D Design in our students for 75 years. It’s what sets Department of Arts Management & Education Department of Dance our graduates apart from the others. It’s Department of Design & Media what makes them a cut above the rest. Department of Fashion Studies Department of Fine Art Department of Music Department of Theatre School of Young Talents NAFA Graduate Employment Survey NAFA Scholarship & Award Recipients NAFA Benefactors Vision To become a comprehensive, world-class arts institution Mission To develop the creativity and artistic potential of our students to become excellent art practitioners and to meet the needs of a knowledge-based economy Core Values Passion • Excellence • Care Chairman’s Message In 2013, NAFA celebrated its 75th Anniversary. As a pioneer of Theatre, won the Best Actor at the 13th Straits Times Life! In 2013, a total of S$1.16 million in Scholarships, Merit Awards, of arts education in Singapore, we have come a long way since Theatre Awards 2013 for his portrayal of Freud in ‘Freud’s Last Grants and Bursaries were disbursed to 183 diploma and our humble start on a challenging and eventful journey to be Session’ by Blank Space Theatre. degree students. We are grateful to receive a donation of the premier arts education institution today. Over the years, we S$25,200 from the Tan Ean Kiam Foundation to set up the have nurtured generations of artists and creative leaders who Our initiatives to showcase our students to the industry include Tan Ean Kiam Arts Bursary. The bursary will benefit 14 needy have shaped the arts and cultural development of Singapore. collaborating with Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) diploma students from the Departments of 3D Design, Music to produce a total of six videos for the ‘i Light Marina Bay’ and Theatre in Academic Year 2014/15. We launched a year-long extravaganza of specially event. We also collaborated with Lianhe Zaobao, as part of its commissioned performances and curated exhibitions to 90th anniversary celebration, to present a fashion collection NAFA is fortunate and thankful to receive artwork donations showcase the diversity of our creative talents. The celebrations based on the theme ‘The Zaobao I Know’. Both alumni and from the families of the late artists Ng Eng Teng and Chua reached a high note at the NAFA 75th Anniversary Fundraising students from the Department of Fashion Studies worked on Ek Kay, and from alumni Ang Ah Tee and Han Sai Por. These Gala Dinner and Concert, with the President of the Republic the collection, which was showcased at the Sands Fashion valuable contributions have helped to grow our permanent of Singapore, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam gracing the event Week. Our Department of 3D Design also collaborated with collection of art to close to 1,100 works. as our Guest-of-Honour. We are very grateful for the Robinsons and Singapore Furniture Industries Council to generous support from donors and friends of the Academy, present works by students and alumni at Robinsons Orchard. Many individuals have played a pivotal role in establishing NAFA which enabled us to raise S$1,128,550 for the NAFA These were valuable opportunities to enrich the learning as the premier arts education institution in Singapore. On behalf Development Fund. experience of our students and enhance their employability, of the Academy, I would like to thank the decade-long leadership and formed an integral part of NAFA’s philosophy to groom and dedication of our former Chairman, Professor Cham Tao Soon, As we crossed this important milestone, our alumni, students talents ready for the industry. and former President, Mr Choo Thiam Siew. and lecturers continued to bring us immense pride and joy with many winning accolades and awards at prestigious The Academy expanded on cross-departmental collaborative I am pleased to welcome Mr Chia Mia Chiang as NAFA’s competitions. Chua Yew Kok, Zaki Razak and Zul Othman were projects to offer our students multi-disciplinary learning new President on 1 April 2014. Mr Chia brings with him years conferred the Young Artist Award 2013, adding to the existing opportunities. ‘What the Blog’re We Doing’ was a site-specific, of success at Ngee Ann Polytechnic; his student-centric list of 10 Young Artist Award winners among NAFA alumni. multisensory exploration at The Arts House featuring the approach and management expertise will serve NAFA well as Design & Media alumnus Jonathan Gian was named Young disciplines of Theatre, Dance and 3D Design. ‘Silent Actors: we scale greater heights. Designer of the Year at Gong Creative Circle Awards (CCA) 2013. Puppets of Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand’ was a research- led media production by students from the Departments of I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Our students from the Department of Design & Media did us Arts Management, Design & Media, Music and Theatre. Our supporters and stakeholders, the Ministry of Education proud by winning 32 medals at Crowbar Awards 2013, placing Institute of Southeast Asian Arts rolled out interdisciplinary and Singapore, industry partners, the media, and donors and NAFA on top of the medal table. The group effort by four collaborative activities in the bronze foundry workshop, with benefactors of the Academy, for having rallied around NAFA students also won them the Champion for Crowbar 24-Hour students from 3D Design and Fine Art travelling to northern and helped to make 2013 another fruitful year. I thank the Advertising Challenge. Our Music talents shone bright again Italy to learn about traditional, statuary bronze casting. management, staff and lecturers for their dedication and good at the National Piano & Violin Competition. For the sixth time, work to advance NAFA’s standing, and nurture aspiring young NAFA swept all the prizes in the Piano Junior and Intermediate Since taking on the Chairmanship of the NAFA Board, I have talents as tomorrow’s creative catalysts. Last but not least, Categories. Our BMus (Hons) student Wan Jing Jing clinched set up a new Overseas Connection Committee to grow and I thank my fellow Board Members for the invaluable guidance, the Second Prize in Piano Artist Category. strengthen NAFA’s academic relationship with overseas arts support and encouragement they have given to the Academy. institutions and create opportunities for students to gain Dr Goh Toh Chai, Senior Lecturer and Head of Composition overseas exposure. The former Finance & Audit Committee Looking ahead, I am confident that NAFA is well-positioned to Studies from the Department of Music, was conferred has been re-configured as two separate committees, namely lead the way in grooming arts professionals and artists for the the ‘COMPASS Artistic Excellence’ Award by Composers Audit & Risk Management and Finance & Investment. These creative industry in Singapore and beyond. And Authors Society of Singapore Ltd for his outstanding organisational changes will sharpen the strategic directions achievements. Matt Grey, Senior Lecturer from the Department and enhance corporate governance. Low Sin Leng NAFA Patron & Igniting Board Committees Audit & Risk Management Committee the Chairman spark Mr Lee Seng Suan Members Mr Leong Weng Kam of talent Mrs Goh-Tan Choo Leng Patron Establishment Committee Marketing & Wee Ee Cheong Chairman Sponsorship Committee Ms Low Sin Leng Chairman Members Ms Chiang Loo Fern Executive Committee Mr Chia Mia Chiang Advisor Chairman Prof Lim Hock Mr Poh Choon Ann Ms Low Sin Leng Mr Ng Yook Meng Prof Phua Kok Khoo Members Members Mr Poh Choon Ann Mr Chia Mia Chiang Mr Chia Mia Chiang Mrs Goh-Tan Choo Leng Ms Chiang Loo Fern Mr Lee Seng Suan Mr Hoong Bee Lok Mr Leong Weng Kam Mr Liew Shin Liat Estates & Assets Dr Lucy Ooi Prof Lim Hock Committee Mdm Som Said Mr Ng Yook Meng Chairman Prof Phua Kok Khoo Mr Hoong Bee Lok Mr Poh Choon Ann Members Overseas Connection Mr Chia Mia Chiang Committee Assoc Prof Chia Wei Khuan Academic Quality Chairman Mr Low Kin Kiong Prof Phua Kok Khoo Assurance Committee Ms Christine Low (co-opt member) Members Chairman Mr Chia Mia Chiang Prof Lim Hock Mr Arun Mahizhnan Members Finance & Investment Mr Goh Boon Teck Mr Arun Mahizhnan Committee Prof Hew Choy Sin Mr Chia Mia Chiang Chairman Mdm Som Said Assoc Prof Chia Wei Khuan Mr Liew Shin Liat Mr Goh Boon Teck Members Prof Hew Choy Sin Mr Chia Mia Chiang Mr Ng Yook Meng Mr Low Kin Kiong Dr Lucy Ooi NAFA Board Chairman Vice Chairman Vice Chairman Director Director Director Director Ms Low Sin Leng Prof Phua Kok Khoo Mr Poh Choon Ann Mrs Goh-Tan Choo Leng Prof Lim Hock Mr Chia Mia Chiang Assoc Prof Chia Wei Khuan Senior Advisor, Chairman, Chairman,