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In 2024, NAFA students engaged in a wide range of overseas learning experiences.
Learning Beyond Borders
While study trips took NAFA students to major cultural events and industry sites such as Venice Biennale, Melbourne Design Week, and Maxim Technology (Johor Bahru), Overseas Immersion Programmes (OIPs) enabled them to spend their school breaks at partner institutions, deepening their learning and cultural perspectives in global cities, including Bangkok, Beijing, Berlin, Hangzhou, Hanoi, Shanghai, Yogyakarta, and Zhejiang.
During the year, 42 NAFA students from Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Education in Instrumental & Vocal Teaching, Master of Performance and Master of Composition were also offered the opportunity to participate in seven-week International Placements (IPs) with the Royal College of Music, London, from 20 January to 7 March 2025.
For the five NAFA Chinese Instrumental Studies students from the Bachelor of Music and Master of Performance, the seven-week International Placements took place at the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM), Beijing, from 8 October to 26 November 2024.
Fine Art students visiting Venice Biennale in 2024.
School of Music students at the Royal College of Music, London.
Study trip to Melbourne Design Week.
Global Exchange at Home
NAFA hosted 17 students and three staff members from the University of the Arts London (UAL) for a creative exchange. Apart from conducting ethnographic research to better understand Singapore and the region’s cultural history, visiting students toured the NAFA campus and engaged with the students and staff to get a flavour of campus life.
The global exchange provided students from low-income households, with caring responsibilities or who are refugees or asylum seekers, an insight into student life at NAFA. Their visit reflected NAFA’s commitment to supporting underrepresented global communities and strengthening institutional partnerships.
Gaining International Experiences
Active participation in international exhibitions, performance showcases, and collaborations provided NAFA students with valuable experiences and opportunities to foster global networks. Some of these engagements included the 10th anniversary showcase of ‘furnitureOrigins’ with King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, School of Architecture and Design, Thailand, “Anagard: From Nasi Padang to the World” by Indonesian street artist Anagard, “Crossings 2024”, where NAFA students collaborated with the Focus Dance Company from Taipei National University of the Arts, and a performance by Master of Fine Arts Fine Art student Chng Xin Xuan at the Villaggio Italia Festival.
In addition, the residency at NAFA Studios @ Cité internationale des arts in Paris provided Southeast Asian artists with opportunities to advance their practice through research, creation, and engagement with the local art scene. In some instances, students also brought glory to NAFA, with Junior Music student Travis Wong winning an award at the Andrea Postacchini Violin Competition in Fermo, and work premieres by lecturers Dr Joyce Beetuan Koh, Alicia De Silva, and Chua Jon Lin at Festival Puente in Chile.
Arts Management students on Overseas Immersion Programme at Yogyakarta.
