NAFA OPEN HOUSE 2024:
PURSUE YOUR PASSIONS WITH COURAGE

The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) returns with its annual Open House on 19 and 20 January 2024 (Friday and Saturday), from 11am to 5pm daily. With more than 30 activities over two days, the event welcomes aspiring artists, designers, thespians, dancers, musicians, and arts administrators to its city campus; reaching out to creative minds from diverse backgrounds to experience a fulfilling and multi-dimensional campus life. Themed ‘Courage to Create’, the Open House encourages art aspirants to boldly step forward, take ownership of their futures, and pursue their passions through a myriad of academic offerings at one of Southeast Asia’s leading arts institutions which is now enrolling the pioneer cohort of students under the UAS umbrella.

NAFA’s Open House features an exciting line-up of workshops; performances and live showcases; as well as talks and programme consultations to help prospective students navigate the NAFA experience to better understand an academy with over 86 years of storied heritage. From performing arts to fine art and design, students can plot their creative careers through varied activities such as Masterclass: Ballet and Asian Contemporary Dance by the School of Dance; Artistry Unleashed, a series of Fine Art workshops for 2D, 3D or 4D mediums; or Acting on Impulse – Improv and Theatre Games, a theatre games and improvisation class guided by seasoned acting instructors. Audiences are afforded performances such as INterSPACE by NAFA’s BA (Hons) Performance Making students, and the seminal Swing UAS, a collaborative big band performance featuring the musical talents of LASALLE College of the Arts, and NAFA. 

Through the years, NAFA has grown its advocacy for Southeast Asian arts and will continue to uphold the artistic rectitude and essence of the region. Students can uncover NAFA’s Southeast Asian arts dimension through Taste of Southeast Asia by the School of Arts Management, to explore the colourful experiences of its Arts Management students during their Overseas Immersion Programme in Yogyakarta 2023. Design enthusiasts may relish extraordinary works crafted by students from the School of Fashion Studies, School of 3D Design, and School of Design & Media at the Faculty of Art & Design (FOAD) showcase.

Flagship Genius featuring Văn Miếu-Quốc Tử Giám (13 Jan – 25 Feb 2024)
In conjunction with the NAFA Open House, two distinct showcases, Flagship Genius and Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám (Temple of Literature), demonstrate the creative potential of interdisciplinary artmaking within the academy. This double-bill exhibition showcases a panorama of talent in artmaking from FOAD as well as the outcomes of over 200 students who participated in the academy-wide interdisciplinary Southeast Asian arts project anchored on the Temple of Literature, Hanoi, as a creative stimulus and subject matter. Jointly managed and programmed by the Institute of Southeast Asian Arts and the academic schools at NAFA, students were involved in a 3-day workshop where they were introduced to not only the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam, but also traditional architecture and artistic practices.

“To be successful in the arts, aspirants must go beyond discipline and practice, harnessing courage to take charge of their destinities. The NAFA Open House is an exuberant showcase of NAFA’s spirit of creativity, exploration, and resilience, which highlights the best of what the academy has to offer--underscoring passion and innovation, while inspiring learning and growth through the arts. I implore all students to partner with us in their creative journey, as we look to pioneer a new era of growth”, said June Tan, Head of NAFA’s Corporate Communications Office.

In their interactions with NAFA’s eminent and vibrant faculty, attendees can expect a multitude of art events that ignite their passions, sparking new curiosities while reminding them of the power of community and the potential of shared cultural experiences as future-ready changemakers. Students will enjoy a waiver of application fees when they sign up during the Open House. Interested parties may visit https://enrol.nafa.edu.sg/openhouse for more information. 

ANNEX 1 – Background Information
ANNEX 2 – About Flagship Genius featuring Văn Miếu-Quốc Tử Giám
ANNEX 3 – NAFA Open House 2024 Schedule