NAFA Cultural Policy Lab will convene industry conversations and knowledge-sharing platforms that bring together practitioners, researchers and policymakers across the ecosystem
New initiative anchored by a major four-year study on the impact of the SG Culture Pass on audiences, arts organisations and Singapore’s creative economy
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore, today announced the launch of the NAFA Cultural Policy Lab, a new initiative focused on cultural policy, arts ecosystems and creative industries research in Singapore and Southeast Asia. The Lab is Singapore’s first dedicated cultural policy research centre for the arts, supporting resilient, regenerative and equitable arts ecosystems and creative industries across Singapore and Southeast Asia.
While arts participation is often discussed through attendance figures or one-off surveys, evidence-based cultural policy research in the region remains relatively limited. Through longitudinal research, sector engagement and cross-border collaboration, the Lab seeks to generate deeper evidence on how cultural participation evolves, how arts organisations develop and sustain audiences, and how the arts continue to contribute to public life. It will also convene industry conversations and knowledge-sharing platforms that bring together practitioners, researchers and policymakers across the ecosystem.
The launch reflects NAFA’s broader ambition to contribute more actively to conversations around the future of arts and culture through research, public engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration, alongside its longstanding role in arts education.
Anchoring the Lab’s inaugural phase is a four-year longitudinal study, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), examining the impact of the SG Culture Pass on audiences, arts organisations and the broader arts ecology in Singapore.
Findings from the study will provide the arts sector and policymakers with a shared understanding and analysis on audience engagement efforts to enable resilient growth in Singapore’s arts landscape.
In addition to the SG Culture Pass study, the Lab is currently involved in regional and sector-focused initiatives relating to Southeast Asian cultural relations and cultural cooperation. This includes an evaluation of the ASEAN Strategic Plan for Culture and the Arts (2016 – 2025) and the development of a new work plan for 2026 – 2035. As part of this work, the Lab has convened two regional workshops chaired by NAFA with representatives from all 11 ASEAN Member States, with a final validation workshop scheduled for August 2026.
The Lab’s work will span cultural policy-making, strategy and governance, cultural value and impact evaluation, culture-led place transformation, audience development, arts ecosystems, and regional cultural relations — strengthening knowledge exchange between researchers, policymakers, arts practitioners and communities across Singapore and Southeast Asia.
Mrs Tan-Soh Wai Lan, President of NAFA, said:
“NAFA has been contributing to arts education in Singapore for nearly nine decades, and over time our work has extended into areas such as cultural research and community engagement. Amidst today’s global challenges and social upheavals, arts and culture matter more than ever. They serve as a mirror to society, a source of hope, and a catalyst for change. Arts and cultural policy research provide the insights needed to strengthen creative communities and deepen our understanding of how culture shapes participation, our economy and public life. The Cultural Policy Lab reflects NAFA’s commitment to contributing not only to artistic education, but also to wider conversations around the role and value of the arts in Singapore and the region.”
The Cultural Policy Lab is led by Dr Hoe Su Fern, Principal Research Fellow and Director of the Cultural Policy Lab. Her work spans cultural policy, arts ecosystems and Southeast Asian cultural relations, and she has set out bold ambitions for the Lab’s remit:
“We experience the benefits of arts and culture every day, but it can be difficult to articulate their value and impact, particularly in terms of societal wellbeing, creative economies and urban vitality. A significant gap in comprehensive, up-to-date, reliable data has led to a reliance on anecdotal evidence and once-off surveys, making it harder to demonstrate the social and economic impact of the arts in a compelling way. The Cultural Policy Lab is committed to bridging that gap by creating a shared data infrastructure that makes the arts and creative life of Singapore and Southeast Asia visible, valued and understood through evidence-based insights, so that policymakers, practitioners and the wider arts sector can make better-informed decisions."
The launch of the NAFA Cultural Policy Lab forms part of NAFA’s broader 2026 narrative, “Built on legacy. Leading the next chapter of the arts.” Through a series of new initiatives and platforms across the year, NAFA aims to deepen its contribution not only to arts education, but also to wider conversations around culture, creativity and society in Singapore and the region.