United in Art

To commemorate SG60, NAFA has curated a series of exciting programmes encompassing design, performance, visual arts, and community partnerships. These events showcase the role of the arts in shaping Singapore’s future.

July
Future Workforce Exhibition by NTUC Club Date: June – August 2025 Venue: Downtown East Ticketing: Free
The Future Workforce Exhibition, held at Downtown East from June to September, celebrates 60 years of Singapore’s heritage and culture while exploring future workplace designs. Organised by NTUC Club in collaboration with NAFA, the exhibition features an innovative furniture display, reimagining workspaces in a post-pandemic era. Aligned with Singapore’s 60th anniversary, the event showcases future workforce concepts through redesigned furniture and artistic interpretations. Visitors engage with interactive exhibits, cultural performances, and live art activities, fostering dialogue on workplace evolution. The exhibition successfully merges heritage, innovation, and collaboration, reinforcing NTUC Club’s commitment to community and creativity.

August
Exhibition of Neighbourhood History by Cashew Community Date: 2 August to Mid-September 2025 Venue: Senja-Cashew CC; touring other CCs and malls thereafter Senja Cashew Opening event on: 2 August at 3.45PM Ticketing: Free
Passage Through Time – Then, Now and Beyond is a community-driven exhibition celebrating the Senja-Cashew precinct’s evolution. Located at Senja-Cashew CC, the exhibition explores the neighbourhood’s past, present, and future through stories, photos, and interactive displays. Designed by Year 3 NAFA Arts Management students as part of their Industry Project, it offers visitors of all ages a chance to engage with local heritage and contribute their dreams for the future. The exhibition launches in mid and will travel across community centres and malls before a portion is permanently installed at the CC. Organised by NAFA and the Senja-Cashew Citizens’ Consultative Committee, it is a heartfelt tribute to community identity and collective memory.

ADPRex 2025 Date: 6 – 7 August 2025 Venue: NAFA Campus 3, Studio Theatre and Online Ticketing: TBC
The Arts & Design Practice Research Exchange (ADPRex) is Southeast Asia’s first annual conference dedicated to practice research. ADPRex positions the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore, as the leading centre for arts and design practice research in this region. Here, artists and thinkers gather to share ideas and insights at the apex of arts and design practice and innovative thinking. Once again, ADPRex is delighted to be presented in conjunction with NAFA’s Southeast Asian Arts Forum. More details here

UOB-NAFA Southeast Asian Arts Forum 2025 Date: 7 – 8 August 2025 Venue: NAFA Ticketing: Free
In a world shaped by digital landscapes and AI, how we preserve and reflect on history is increasingly vital. Archives—both physical and digital—serve as the foundation for future technology, with AI drawing from this vast data. This forum explores how these records, past and present, act as mirrors of our identity and guide our place in a rapidly changing world. It will examine the role of history and digital archives in shaping a more connected and inclusive future. More details here

National Day Parade 2025 Date: 9 August 2025 Venue: The Padang Ticketing: Free via balloting
NAFA’s School of Fashion Studies has been commissioned by the NDP 2025 organising committee to design costumes for the opening programme and a special segment highlighting emerging Singaporean artistes. The costumes will be worn by performers, including singers of the NDP 2025 theme song and dancers from the Maya Dance Company. NAFA has been tasked with designing 14 costume sets.

Night Fest x SMU Arts Festival Date: Coming soon in August and September 2025 Venue: SMU Campus Green Ticketing: Free
As part of Singapore Night Festival 2025, NAFA Dance students will participate in the SMU Arts Festival, a youth-led celebration of artistic expression in the city. Held at the SMU Campus Green, this lively outdoor event showcases the vibrancy of Singapore’s next generation of performers and creators. The collaboration highlights student-led works in contemporary dance and performance, transforming public spaces into dynamic platforms for creativity. With its youthful energy and open-air format, the festival fosters community engagement and spotlights emerging talent. Designated as an SG60 event, it celebrates the role of young artists in shaping Singapore’s cultural future.

INterSPACE (Interdisciplinary Performance) Date: 28 – 29 August 2025 Venue: NAFA Campus 1 Foyer Ticketing: Free
INterSPACE presents a bold fusion of dance, theatre, and experimental performance created by NAFA’s BA (Hons) Performance Making students. As part of the Singapore Night Festival 2025, this interdisciplinary showcase reimagines the boundaries of performance by weaving movement, narrative, and unexpected artistic elements. The works reveal a spirit of innovation and resilience, reflecting students' exploration of form and expression. Taking place at the NAFA Campus 1 Foyer, the performances transform the space into a laboratory of ideas and experimentation. INterSPACE captures the essence of SG60 by highlighting how creative practice continues to evolve across disciplines and generations.

Dandelion Date: 22 August – 6 September 2025 Venue: NAFA Lim Hak Tai (LHT) Gallery & Campus 2 Foyer Ticketing: Free (Performances may be ticketed, TBC)
Dandelion is a luminous light installation that explores the fragile relationship between humanity and technology. This spherical sculpture, designed with responsive sensors, shifts its illumination and movement in real time with human presence. Evoking the ephemeral nature of a dandelion in motion, the installation creates a mesmerising experience of light and shadow that never repeats. Hosted at NAFA’s Lim Hak Tai Gallery and Campus 2 Foyer, it invites audiences to reflect on connection, change, and digital empathy. Part of Singapore Night Festival 2025, Dandelion includes post-performance talks on 5–6 September and embodies the innovative and reflective spirit of SG60.

HueManity: When Different Eyes Meet One Island Date: Coming soon in August and September 2025 Venue: NAFA Campus 1, Glass Showcases along Bencoolen Street Ticketing: Free
HueManity is a boundary-pushing visual experience that invites visitors to see Singapore through unfamiliar eyes—literally. From the colour spectrums visible to sea creatures, to cultural meanings assigned to hues, this immersive exhibition challenges the way we perceive our shared world. With interactive technology and multi-sensory displays, visitors explore how red disappears underwater, how night lights transform cities, and how colour perception is shaped by biology and culture. Held at the glass showcases along Bencoolen Street, HueManity is part of SNF 2025 and designated as an SG60 event. It prompts reflection on diversity, perception, and our common island identity.

September
The Search for Our Authentic Self (5–21 September 2025) Date: 5 – 21 September 2025 (as part of SNF 2025) Venue: NAFA Lim Hak Tai (LHT) Gallery Ticketing: Exhibition is free; performances may be ticketed (TBC)
The Search for Our Authentic Self is a multisensory, AI-driven journey blending dance, visual art, and technology. Conceptualised by architect-artist Lip Chiong and choreographed by RAW Moves founder Ricky Sim, this interdisciplinary experience leads audiences through video projection installations that double as dance stages. Exploring themes of self-acceptance, identity, and belonging in a multicultural, tech-driven world, the work unfolds in three parts: a live performance, an immersive art exhibition, and an interactive workshop. Each element builds toward deeper reflections on how technology and community shape us. A post-performance talk will be held on 5 and 6 September during SNF25’s final weekend.

Autumn Rituals – Dance & Music Collaboration with Arts Fission Date: 26 & 27 September 2025 Venue: Japanese Garden, Jurong Lake Gardens Ticketing: Free and open to the public (subject to artistic direction)
A poetic celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Autumn Rituals is a site-specific performance that blends tradition and innovation through movement and music. Presented by Arts Fission in collaboration with the NAFA School of Dance, this intergenerational work features both senior and young performers, bridging cultural memory with contemporary expression. The performance invites audiences to reflect on renewal, community, and heritage in a tranquil outdoor setting. Held in the scenic Japanese Garden, this experience offers an immersive encounter with dance that speaks to both past and present—an elegant expression of continuity across generations in line with the SG60 spirit of care and cultural connection.

SG Chinese Music Festival 2025 – Strategic Festival Partnership Date: Coming soon in September and October 2025 Venue: To be announced by SCMF Committee Ticketing: TBC (typically ticketed)
NAFA will be formally recognised as an institutional partner for the SG Chinese Music Festival (SCMF) 2025, affirming its growing influence in Singapore’s Chinese music landscape. As part of this strategic SG60 partnership, NAFA’s Chinese Instrumental Ensemble will present a dedicated concert celebrating tradition and innovation. Additionally, the prestigious Dunhuang Cup International Erhu Competition will be hosted at the Singapore Conference Hall, jointly organised by NAFA, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, and the Singapore Chinese Music Federation. This major SG60 event will showcase international talent and encourage cross-cultural dialogue through music. Full programme details, including confirmed dates and ticketing, will be announced by the organisers.

Singapore Design Week 2025 – Designing from Care Date: Coming soon in September and October 2025 Venue: Part of Singapore Design Week 2025 (exact location TBC) Ticketing: Free
As part of Singapore Design Week 2025, the Designing from Care showcase presents a meaningful collaboration between NAFA and Semula Asia, a company championing zero-waste practices. The exhibition features works by Year 3 students from NAFA’s Object and Jewellery, Furniture, and Spatial disciplines, who reimagined plastic waste into functional, sustainable designs. Developed over five months, these pieces explore creativity, sustainability, and environmental consciousness, encouraging visitors to consider how design can address urgent ecological challenges. This SG60-aligned initiative underscores how art, education, and environmental stewardship can come together to shape a more sustainable and thoughtful future.

October
SDM 50th Anniversary + Art Clinic (ISEAA) Date: Coming soon in October 2025 Venue: NAFA (specific gallery TBC) Ticketing: Free
Celebrating 50 years of the School of Design & Media (SDM), this commemorative exhibition showcases the school’s lasting contributions to Singapore’s creative industries. Audiences can explore key milestones, honour influential alumni, and engage with interactive works that chart the evolution of design and media education. Presented alongside the ISEAA Art Clinic, the exhibition offers a reflective and forward-looking view of how SDM continues to nurture innovation and creative thinking. With historical insights and glimpses into future possibilities, this event pays tribute to a half-century of design excellence and educational impact.

November
Healthcare Project – Stories of Care Date: Coming soon in November and December 2025 Venue: Assisi Hospice and/or NAFA Ticketing: Free
Stories of Care is a meaningful cross-sector collaboration between NAFA and Assisi Hospice, featuring works by second-year degree students developed in dialogue with hospice staff and patients. This project explores the intersection of art, empathy, and healthcare, offering an intimate look at stories of compassion, resilience, and connection. Through visual narratives and creative expression, the exhibition fosters awareness of care practices and deepens public understanding of the human experiences behind healthcare work. Presented within both educational and clinical environments, the initiative encourages reflection on how the arts can support healing, honour lived experiences, and build bridges between communities.

December
Healing Arts Singapore (HASG) Date: 8 – 12 December 2025 Venue: To be confirmed Ticketing: Free
Healing Arts Singapore (HASG) is a five-day event co-led by the National University of Singapore’s Centre for Music and Health (CMH), NAFA, and the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). This event will explore how music and the arts can be used as tools for healing, focusing on their impact on mental and physical health. Instead of just sitting back and watching, attendees will have the chance to get involved in workshops, performances, and discussions that dive into how art can help improve well-being. It’s an opportunity to learn about and experience the therapeutic benefits of art in a hands-on, engaging way. More details here

Past SG60 event
Moving with Grace – Dance Production with Children with Special Needs Date: 2 May 2025 Venue: NAFA Campus 3 Dance Studio (C3-06-38) Ticketing: Closed
Moving with Grace is a heartfelt dance production co-created by children from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS) Quinns programme and NAFA Dance students. This inclusive project explores the intersections of dance, science, therapy, and creativity through an expressive and compassionate performance. Emphasising collaboration and care, the production celebrates the potential of every individual through thoughtful choreography and movement. It highlights how the performing arts can become a bridge for connection, inclusion, and empowerment. By bringing together young artists of diverse abilities, Moving with Grace offers an inspiring glimpse into a more inclusive future for the arts in Singapore.

Fashion for Dementia – Fashion Show for Dementia Date: 29 May 2025 6.30PM Venue: NAFA Campus 1, Foyer Ticketing: Free Admission (Standing)
Fashion for Dementia is a meaningful initiative that blends creativity with compassion. This fashion show raises awareness about dementia by using fashion design as a powerful form of storytelling and empathy. Designers collaborate with individuals living with dementia and their caregivers to co-create clothing that addresses both practical needs and emotional narratives. Each piece reflects personal experiences and aims to destigmatize cognitive conditions through human-centred design. The event not only showcases design innovation but also encourages open conversations about ageing, memory, and care in society. It is a celebration of dignity, identity, and the potential of fashion to inspire understanding. More details here

Singapore Children’s Book Festival Date: 20 – 22 June 2025 Venue: NAFA Campus 2 Fashion Gallery Ticketing: $20–$30 (workshops, TBC)
Co-organised by NAFA and the Singapore Book Publishers Association, the Singapore Children’s Book Festival (SCBF) 2025 celebrates local children’s literature and the creative minds behind it. This engaging festival showcases Singaporean illustrators and authors, highlighting the power of storytelling in shaping young imaginations. With a range of interactive workshops, readings, and exhibitions, SCBF promotes literacy and a love for local stories among families and children. It also reflects NAFA’s mission to inspire learning through the arts, reinforcing the importance of culturally rooted narratives in nurturing empathy and curiosity in the next generation. More details here

Archifest 2025 Date: 25 June – 25 July 2025 Venue: NDC Ticketing:: Free
As part of this festival, the Archifest committee curates an exhibition titled Don’t (Just) Think Like an Architect, from 1 to 14 July 2025. The BA (Hons) Biophilic Design programme will showcase student works that foreground the vital role of nature in nurturing urban health. These projects reinterpret the human-nature relationship by responding to the complex challenges of today’s cities, reimagining the built environment as a site of mutual care between ecological systems and urban life. In doing so, they prompt us to rethink our role as designers in shaping more resilient, inclusive, and ecologically attuned urban futures. More details here