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Beras Basah Wet Rice Exhibition
Curated by NAFA Talent Development Programme (NTDP) enrolee Koh Kai Ting, the Beras Basah Wet Rice exhibition, which took place from 5 to 22 September, was part of the Singapore Night Festival 2024 highlight. Bringing together 13 artists at different stages of their careers, the exhibition explored the history and rich heritage of the Bras Basah-Bugis precinct through playful interaction, paying tribute to the area’s early history when the Bras Basah river played a crucial role in rice trading in the region.
Illustrations by Jervis Wirady, BA (Hons) Design Practice
Crossings
In this edition of NAFA School of Dance’s graduation show, “Crossings”, the production kept up the tradition of celebrating Singapore’s emerging young talents and the next generation of professional dancers.
Featuring cross-disciplinary collaborations with various international institutes, the dance works from both local and international guest choreographers, including Daniel Navarro Lorenzo (Spain), Nguyen Ngoc Anh (Vietnam/UK), and Son Yu Joung (Korea) challenged NAFA students to push their individual strengths and artistic courage. The resulting repertoire is a testament to the versatility that NAFA’s conservatory-style trained dancers are known for.
Photo credit: Bernie Ng (Crossings 2024)
Photo credit: Bernie Ng (Crossings 2024)
Photo credit: Bernie Ng (Crossings 2024)
Photo credit: Bernie Ng (Crossings 2024)
Photo credit: Bernie Ng (Crossings 2024)
Photo credit: Bernie Ng (Crossings 2024)
The Grad Expectations 2024
Artworks and designs from over 300 graduating students from the Faculty of Art & Design’s Schools of 3D Design, Design & Media, Fashion Studies, and Fine Art were featured at The Grad Expectations 2024.
Carrying forward the theme from the previous edition, “Venture—Boldly.”, the graduation showcase, held from 10 May and 22 June 2024, offered more than 10,500 visitors a glimpse into the potential of these up-and-coming creatives as well as how creative disciplines are pushing boundaries to shape new perspectives.
Find out more.
NAFA Arts Preschool K2 Graduation Performance
The 2025 NAFA Arts Preschool K2 graduation exemplified the academy’s commitment to nurturing confident, expressive young learners through an arts-integrated curriculum. The multidisciplinary performance, which blended music, dance, drama and visual storytelling, provided students with an opportunity to apply their learning in a meaningful public setting, highlighting their ability to communicate ideas, emotions and narratives through the arts.
The performance was well received by families and the wider community, strengthening NAFA Arts Preschool’s position as a leader in arts-based early education, at a time when academics and creative thinking are increasingly valued.
School of Young Talents (SYT) 25th Anniversary Celebration: Seeds of Hope
SYT commemorated its 25th anniversary between 26 May and 12 November 2024 with a series of activities built on the theme “Seeds of Hope”, a timeless reminder of the enduring legacy of arts education and the perpetual cultivation of creativity among young minds.
The celebrations kicked off on 26 May with Junior Dance, featuring two performances by 277 students and 15 guest dancers from Sabah and Jakarta. In June, Junior Music followed with a series of concerts and seminars. Highlights included performances by star violinist Chloe Chua and Wong Kai Xuan Travis, winner of the 31st Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition in Fermo, Italy. The concerts also featured piano, flute, and Chinese instrument recitals, with seminars conducted by professors from the Central Conservatory of Music and The Purcell School, UK.
As part of the celebrations, 52 Junior Drama students also staged two performances for over 230 guests in October. The anniversary celebrations concluded with the biennial Junior Art exhibition, which drew 6,263 visitors over two weeks. In addition to a wide showcase of paintings, sculptures, digital works, and interactive activities, the exhibition featured 10 specially designed tote bags created by Junior Art students.
National Day Parade 2024
For Singapore's 59th birthday celebration in 2024, NAFA’s alumni and faculty participated and contributed in various capacities. While NAFA School of Music alumnus Dr Darius Lim led the 250-strong choir in a medley of songs during Chapter Five of the NDP, NAFA Theatre alumni Joakim Gomez and Ebi Shankara hosted the National Day Parade (NDP).
Additionally, Senior Lecturer and alumnus Deric Shen from NAFA Diploma in Interior Design (Exhibition Design) took charge as production and large props designer and designed the props for the 40th Anniversary Total Defence showcase in the parade, while NAFA Diploma in Fashion Design alumnus Max Tan created the costumes for over 3,000 performers and four hosts. Diploma in Fashion Design student Tansii Mui also designed an outfit for Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng.
Photo credit: Max Tan, NDP Photographer
Photo credit: NDP Photographer
Photo credit: NDP Photographer
Photo credit: NDP Photographer
Photo credit: The Straits Times
Minister for Education Visit to NAFA
Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Shawn Huang, visited NAFA on 23 October 2024. During the visit, NAFA faculty, students and alumni treated Minister Chan to an immersive 360-degree music experience that integrated technology with traditional ethnic instruments, an educational game designed for the Children’s Museum Singapore, Chinese ink paintings enhanced with AR integration, and sustainably designed furniture.
These works were part of the students’ design solutions to address real-world challenges at the intersection of art and technology, shaping the future of art and design.
