NAFA-UAS Symposium

The programme aims to foster meaningful dialogue, spark collaborations, and inspire new pathways forward at the intersection of the arts and public health. Talks and panels will delve into the developments and challenges within the evolving field of arts and health. Particular focus will be placed on the unique landscape of Singapore, highlighting ground-up, culturally responsive community engagement initiatives, as well as ongoing global arts and health efforts. The day will conclude with a relaxing and restorative healing sound session.  

Schedule

8:30 AM | Registration Opens

9:00 AM | Opening 

Welcome Address: Mrs Tan Soh Wai Lan, President, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Opening Remarks: Professor Kwok Kian Woon, Vice Chancellor, University of the Arts Singapore

9:30 AM | The Arts as a Global Health Resource

Art Cure — The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health (Recorded lecture)
Speaker: Professor Daisy Fancourt, University College London 

Highlights of Global Efforts 
The session offers an overview of key evidence and future directions from recent academic papers, accompanied by the regional launch of the Jameel Arts and Health-Lancet Photo-essay. Speakers: Michael Tan, Nisha Sajnani, Stephen Stapleton.

Open Dialogue with the Audience

10:30 AM | Tea break 

11:00 AM | Colours of Everyday Creativity for Flourishing: Learnings and Aspirations

Health can be fostered in everyday life in green spaces, neighbourhoods, dance studios, and community spaces. This panel celebrates the ordinary yet visionary ways ground up arts initiatives that have emerged in the landscape that foster well-being in daily life. Speakers: Ganesh Kumar (Woodlands Botanical Gardens), Mark Lin (Singapore Cancer Society), Kavitha Krishnan (Diverse Ability Dance Collective, Maya Dance Theatre), Alicia Teng (National Gallery Singapore), Andy Chia Qilong (Wayfarer) and Ruth Soh (Temasek Shophouse). 

12:00 PM |  The Arts and Professional Wellbeing: Emerging Opportunities

This panel spotlights initiatives in the arts and medical profession tending to the wellbeing of profession in these sectors. Speakers: Tan Hwee Ping (Ng Teng Fong General Hospital), Dr Victoria Ekstrom (Singhealth Duke-NUS Institute of Medical Humanities, Hoo Kuan Cien (CITRUS practices), and Angela Tan (ART:DIS). 

1:00 PM | Lunch break (Catered)

2:00 PM | Town Hall: Future Care Policy for Singapore Arts Workers, CITRUS Practices  

Facilitators: CHEW Li Hong (Intimacy Director/Coordinator & Movement Artist), Rayann CONDY (Intimacy Director/Coordinator & Facilitator), and HOO Kuan Cien (Producer & Arts Manager)

Join CITRUS practices in an open, participatory session exploring what could be done to better care for Singapore arts workers and strengthen their wellbeing.

Drawing from key concepts around care from an intersectional perspective, as well as international and local references, this session will unpack and contribute to ongoing conversations on safety, sustainability, and collective wellness in the arts.

Through the format of a town hall gathering, we will reflect on how global insights resonate with our experiences of working in the arts, and consider what personal and institutional actions we can take to create a more accountable, caring, and resilient arts ecosystem. 

Whether you identify as an artist, policy-maker, arts manager, practitioner, audience or advocate, we invite you to participate in this shared space for connection and dialogue. Together, can we begin the process of writing a future care policy for Singapore arts workers?

4:00 PM | Tea Break

4:30 PM | In Conversation with  Professor Daisy Fancourt (Streaming in from the UK)

4:45 PM | Closing Remarks

5:00 PM | Healing Sound Session by Chia Chi Long Andy (aka Wayfarer)

Conclude your day with a relaxing and restorative healing sound session.  

6:00 PM | Ends