8 April 2008
“Celebrating Art-Making at its Finest”
Special Events to Mark NAFA 70th Anniversary Celebration
Come April 2008, NAFA will be celebrating its 70 years of dedication in arts education. Themed “Celebrating art-making at its finest”, the main celebration events will be held between April and December 2008. At a press briefing today, 8 April 2008, Mr Choo Thiam Siew, NAFA President said the celebration programme to be presented by various departments, would include a Founder’s Day Dinner, launch of two major commemorative publications, a symposium titled New Asian Imaginations featuring international and local speakers, a fund-raising Gala Dinner, exhibitions, performances and ceremonial events.
The celebration program aims to review, with NAFA alumni, students and staff, the Academy’s achievements in the past 70 years; to look to the future; and showcase to the community and the region, its creative vibrancy and youth talents in aplenty. In addition, NAFA has unveiled an official emblem to promote the celebration events. Information and updates on the 70th anniversary celebration programme are available on a NAFA anniversary website at http://weare70.nafa.edu.sg.
Mr Choo said: “Looking back at our humble beginnings, our progress today is beyond imaginations. We owe much of our success to the vision and tenacity of our Founder, the pioneer batch of teachers, the former Principals/Presidents and the Council. The age of 70 marks an important threshold for NAFA - it presents a point in time where we are ‘old enough’ to have consolidated and benefited from the experiences of those before us and yet ‘far from retirement” in our mission to offer a platform where our talents can find a springboard to their future in the arts. NAFA remains a bastion of fine arts steadfast in making a continued contribution to the nation’s artistic net worth and its cultural vibrancy in the years to come.”
Mr Choo extended an invitation to NAFA alumni, students and staff to take part in and enjoy the anniversary celebrations.
He said: “We want to share the joy of how far we have come with the community hence many of the events are open to public participation as well. On the same note, we appeal to individuals, community organisations and the business sector to offer sponsorships to support the celebration programme.”
The anniversary celebrations programme kicked off on an early note with a fashion design competition jointly organised by the Department of Fashion Studies and the National Museum of Singapore (NMS). The competition brief was to design one ladies’ outfit depicting the glamour of the 1930’s and 1940’s. The Department’s entire cohort of 322 students from both diploma and degree programmes took part in the competition. The 20 best designs that illustrated creativity and originality were presented in an exclusive fashion show, themed “A Celebrated Moment of 1938”, on 3 April 2008 at The Concourse, NMS. Illustrations and actual outfits of these 20 best designs are now on display at NMS in an exhibition titled “Stylish Thirties - Interpreting Women’s Fashion in 1930s Singapore” till 11 May.
NAFA Council members, management and staff would be congregating and taking time to reminisce and celebrate the Academy’s progress at the annual Founder’s Day Dinner, to be held on 8 April, 7pm at the Singapore Marriott Hotel (grand ballroom, 3rd level). Programme highlights would include a commemorative speech by NAFA Council Chairman, Professor Cham Tao Soon; launch of the late Madam Lucien Wong’s book (《怡悦集》, Yi Yue Ji - please refer to Annex B for the synopsis); and a re-arrangement of the NAFA school song to be performed by senior lecturer, NAFA Department of Music, Dr Zechariah Goh Toh Chai (2003 Young Artist Award recipient). The NAFA school song was composed by Madam Lucien Wong, a NAFA alumnus and accomplished music teacher. She composed the music and the lyrics were written by NAFA founder, Mr Lim Hak Tai.
Please refer to the Annex A for the programme timelines and Annex B for the key anniversary events.
About Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) is widely recognised as Singapore’s foremost tertiary institution for artistic studies. It has produced a long line of Singapore’s most accomplished artists and designers since its inception in 1938.
NAFA currently offers 4 Master’s and 14 BA (Hons) / BA Degree programmes in collaboration with six prestigious universities; Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and China. In addition, it offers 14 Diploma courses in the visual arts, performing arts and fashion studies to more than 2,200 full-time students of diverse nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. Taught by a globally-experienced faculty from eight departments – 3D Design; Arts Management & Education; Dance; Design & Media; Fashion Studies; Fine Art; Music and Theatre, NAFA’s mix of high quality courses and innovative curriculum reflect the breadth of opportunities in Singapore’s burgeoning creative industry for talented individuals from Singapore as well as the region.
NAFA’s School of Young Talents (SYT) offers Certificate and on-going courses in Junior Art, Junior Music, Junior Dance and Junior Drama for children and young people between 4 and 17 years of age.
NAFA’s purpose-built campus, strategically located in the vibrant Arts & Culture belt of the city, boasts modern facilities; cutting-edge technology and a conducive environment which promise an enriching learning experience for all who pursue creative excellence.
For more details, please visit www.nafa.edu.sg
Media Contact
For media interviews, RSVP for the fashion show or further information, please contact:
Ms Karen Loh
Manager (Media Relations)
Corporate Relations Department
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
DID: 6512 4017
Email: phhloh@nafa.edu.sg