Singapore’s first arts university will welcome its first cohort of students in August 2024. The University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) is being formed by an alliance between the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and the LASALLE College of the Arts.

Ilina Hattangady, an alumna of LASALLE’s BA(Hons) Music programme, said: “I think this University coming to life is going to be really beneficial and encouraging to aspiring artists.”

The University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) — formed by an alliance between LASALLE College of the Arts and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) — will welcome its first cohort of students in August 2024.

The new university will offer an expanded range of programmes in fine arts, design, media arts, performing arts and arts management, as well as in new and upcoming areas in the applied arts.

In this commentary piece published in The Straits Times, Professor Chan Heng Chee, Chairman of the Pro-Tem Committee to create a university of the arts, lists three reasons to establish a university of the arts now.

“The University of the Arts will play a crucial role to prepare our students to be confident in their skills and abilities, enrich our society with their artistic endeavours and make a contribution to the economic landscape,” she shared.

BA(Hons) Animation Art alumna Calleen Koh is the only Singaporean whose short film, To Kill The Birds and the Bees, was nominated for the Yugo BAFTA Student Awards this year. Not only was her film able to stand out from the 715 submissions BAFTA received, she was also the only Singaporean and one of a handful of Asians who were nominated.

BA(Hons) Animation Art alumna Calleen Koh’s short film To Kill The Birds and the Bees was nominated for the Yugo BAFTA Student Awards this year, and Shin Min Daily News sat down with her to find out more about her inspiration behind the film and views on the animation industry.

Calleen shares, “I am a little bit rebellious and find it more fun to try something which I have not tried before and hopefully in that way, push the boundaries of storytelling in the media.”