ILUMA AND NAFA LAUNCHES LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP

Singapore (26 November 2009) – ILUMA, Singapore’s latest urban entertainment retail centre, today launched its new SCE-ARTS Program (Singapore Cultural Exchange of the Arts). The first phase of SCE-ARTS Program will see the launch of SCE-ARTS Display and SCE-ARTS Installation, a groundbreaking collaboration with ART EMBASSY which sees an exciting evolving series of co-curated art works situated in ILUMA’s premises in Bugis over a minimum period of 2 years.

 Focusing on original handmade or limited edition creations by student and budding artists, SCE-ARTS Display and SCE-ARTS Installation were conceptualized and developed by ILUMA and ART EMBASSY, in a bid to create an inclusive, experimental and sustainable platform to further the works of new artists, and to serve as a means to introduce the arts to the greater public.

The collaboration will see an evolving thematic selection of work from art students, being displayed or installed throughout the urban entertainment centre. Collections will span all genres of original and limited edition artistic expression including site-specific installations, graphic art, jewelry and designer furniture. It is also an exercise in public education as students will also profile their works, background and techniques to share with the public

Another note-worthy element of the SCE-ARTS Display and Installation is that it is also opened to application and participation to current students from all local arts and design institutions. Besides designated spaces, students may also propose to display their works or create site-specific installations within Iluma’s common areas for consideration. This makes SCE-ARTS Display and Installation a truly all-inclusive platform that embraces diversity and creativity across various institutions, student profile and art disciplines.

“This is a truly unique and experimental partnership in many ways,” said Ms Han Minli, Director, Business Development of Jack Investment who owns ILUMA. “In particular, the minimum 2 year tenure in which both parties have committed to working together is significant. Not only does it give space for projects to develop organically, it also creates opportunity for consistent in-depth exchange of ideas and practices between both parties over a period of time.  This is important in allowing sufficient time to evaluate the impact of these initiatives and also in bridging the understanding on how the private sector and the arts industry can mutually benefit by working together, and we highly welcome exchanges and interactions from the public and general art community on how to further these exchanges.”

To celebrate the partnership, ILUMA and ART EMBASSY hosted an opening ceremony at ILUMA where Guest of Honour, Lee Suan Hiang, Executive Director, Arts & Culture Development, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA), officially unveiled the inaugural collection featuring works by over a hundred students from NAFA and installations by alumni including Tay Swee Siong, Chang Wei, Gazaly bin Haron and Teo Huey Ling.

“SCE-ARTS Display and Installation moves beyond the per-project, commission-based model of collaboration that is the usual practice in Singapore,” said Mr. Lee Suan Hiang. “This is an example of how the arts community and companies can evolve to form a platform through which the arts community can reach out to the greater public. This can only be good for the wider community as it opens up channels through which we can experience and appreciate art, and showcase what our budding young artists are capable of.”

 Ms Oscar Ng, Creative Director of ART EMBASSY said, “We are thrilled that Jack Investment and Iluma have chosen to invest in such an initiative. SCE-ARTS Display and Installation will provide a much needed sustainable and flexible platform for our students, faculty and alumni to showcase their creativity and talents to Singapore, and increase their public exposure. We look forward to developing the program and collaboration further to make it a truly meaningful platform for the arts community and the general public.”

 The SCE-ARTS Exhibition will be open to the public from Thursday, 26^th November, and will be updated at least quarterly. The collection will be multi-faceted and ever-changing, and hundreds of student artist works are expected to be exhibited through this period. Select collections are available for purchase by the general public.

Situated at the heart of Singapore’s Arts and Heritage District in Bugis, Iluma will fulfill the vision of creating a state of the art urban entertainment centre, with the valued partnership of NAFA.