Arts and Heritage Scholars Awarded by NAC and NHB to support diverse talent in shaping the future of Singapore’s cultural landscape

Enabled by the continued support of the President’s Challenge, 54 arts scholars will strengthen our cultural legacy, explore emerging new areas of practice, and continue their journey in the arts. One heritage scholar will also be supported by NHB to deepen expertise in Singapore’s heritage sector.  

2               Mrs Elaine Ng, Chief Executive Officer, National Arts Council, says, “This year’s scholars embody the spirit of Singapore’s arts ecosystem – honouring our cultural roots while embracing new possibilities. NAC is proud to walk alongside them in their artistic journey, and we look forward to seeing how they deepen their craft, broaden their horizons, and inspire future generations.”

 3               Ms Chang Hwee Nee, Chief Executive Officer, National Heritage Board, says, “At the National Heritage Board, we believe community is vital in passing heritage to future generations, ensuring its evolution and longevity. Our scholars play a key role in advancing the heritage sector, gaining skills to drive meaningful contributions. We hope they continue to learn and lead, like Jenna, whose studies will empower her to champion community-centred policies across museums, arts, and heritage organisations.”

Deepening Singapore’s cultural legacy and heritage

4               Several scholars are pursuing pathways that strengthen Singapore’s cultural identity and heritage, building on the legacy of our Major Companies and national institutions.

5               Mr Mohamed Firdaus will pursue a Master of Arts in Museum Studies and Curatorial Practices at Nanyang Technological University as he continues his work as a founder of cultural and heritage preservation enterprises Orang Laut SG and The Black Sampan. Ms Jenna Goh Ai Lynn will deepen her expertise through a Master in Arts and Cultural Management at Kings College London to drive future community-centred policies and practices across museums and heritage organisations, building on her contributions to Singapore’s 2^nd Heritage Masterplan, Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0.

6               Scholars are also contributing to Singapore’s key arts institutions and companies. Ms Brenda Koh Siu Han, co-founder of Singapore’s premier early music ensemble Red Dot Baroque, will further her practice with a Master in Early Music (Baroque Violin) at The Royal Conservatoire of The Hague.

Diversifying pathways and opening new frontiers

7               This year’s scholars are also extending their skills into emerging and adjacent sectors.

8               Some scholars are embracing the opportunities presented by technology, weaving it into their creative practice – Mr K Kapilan Domythals Naidu will pursue a Master of Arts in Fine Arts at LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE), University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) to deepen his practice as he explores digital interactions, mechanisation, and computational art. Others are extending their artistic practice into adjacent industries to broaden the reach and impact of their work across disciplines. Mr Lau Sya Chung (Johnny) hopes to establish a studio system to produce contemporary art and sculptures at scale through a Master of Fine Arts Fine Art at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), building on his extensive experience to enter a new stage in his arts career. At 62, his award signals the relevance of arts education across ages and encourages a lifelong commitment to learning and excellence.

9               Strengthening technical and specialist capabilities are vital to supporting Singapore’s ambition of becoming a leading world-class arts and entertainment hub. Scholars like Mr Ng Choon Teck Melvyn will play an important role in growing the sector, as he takes on a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sound Technology at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, after making a mid-career transition from science and logistics to support multicultural productions and collaborate with local artists in sound recording and design.

Developing the future of Singapore’s arts through young talent

10             NAC is growing a stronger pipeline of young talent through the NAC Arts Scholarship (Diploma).  The diploma scholars will pursue their studies at Singapore’s leading arts institutions, including LASALLE, NAFA, and School of the Arts Singapore (SOTA).

11             Among them are scholars who have chosen pathways that will enable them to enrich lives and strengthen communities. Ms Angelynn Tan Chng Xuen will pursue a Diploma in Art Teaching at NAFA, channelling her artistic expertise into nurturing future generations. Young scholars are also building their portfolio in the arts sector. Ms Priyanshi Mohanty, a Literary Arts student at SOTA, has been actively involved in the literary arts scene as a youth curator, moderator, and panellist, while Mr Bryan Ang Wee Hao is carving a space for himself in the independent music scene as a music producer, composer, and keyboardist with a Diploma in Music at LASALLE.

12             Together, this diverse and talented cohort reflects the breadth of possibilities of arts careers. The calibre of the awarded scholars also reaffirms the importance of creativity as a deeply human capability that will continue to shape the future of work, contributing to Singapore’s creative economy. Supported by NAC and NHB, the scholars will serve as the next generation of cultural leaders to deepen our cultural identity, open new frontiers, and inspire future generations.

For more information, please refer to:

●       ANNEX A1 [PDF, 216.44 KB] ↗ (opens in new tab)

●     ANNEX A2: NAC-UAS ARTS SCHOLARSHIP & 2026 RECIPIENTS [PDF, 108.13 KB] ↗ (opens in new tab)

●      ANNEX A3: NHB SCHOLARSHIP & 2026 RECIPIENTS [PDF, 73.75 KB] ↗ (opens in new tab)

High-resolution images for reporting and scholars’ bios can be found in the media kit here ↗ (opens in new tab).

About National Arts Council

The National Arts Council (NAC) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth that champions the arts in Singapore. The Council promotes artistic excellence by providing diverse opportunities for artists and arts organisations while expanding access for audiences to appreciate the impact of the arts in enriching lives. By working closely with the arts community and partners, the Council seeks to build a connected society, creative economy and distinctive city through the arts. For more information, visit www.nac.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab).

About National Heritage Board

The National Heritage Board (NHB) was formed on 1 August 1993. As the custodian of Singapore’s heritage, NHB is responsible for telling the Singapore story, sharing the Singaporean experience and imparting our Singapore spirit.

NHB’s mission is to preserve and celebrate the shared heritage of our diverse communities, for the purpose of education, nation-building and cultural understanding. It manages the national museums and heritage institutions, safeguards and promotes intangible cultural heritage, and sets policies relating to heritage sites, monuments and the national collection. Through the national collection, NHB curates heritage programmes and presents exhibitions to connect the past, present and future generations of Singaporeans. NHB is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Please visit www.nhb.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab) for more information.