University of the Arts Singapore

University of the Arts Singapore
Universiti Seni Singapura (Malay); 新加坡艺术大学 (Chinese); சிங்கப்பூர் கலைப் பல்கலைக்கழகம் (Tamil)
	National Design Centre, location of the UAS office
Type	Government–funded private university of the arts
Established	Announced in March 2021
Chairman	Jose Isidro Camacho
Vice-Chancellor	Kwok Kian Woon
Location	Middle Road, Bencoolen Street, McNally Street, Singapore
Campus	Urban
Language	English
Website	uas.edu.sg

1°18′01″N 103°51′06″E / 1.300229°N 103.851573°E / 1.300229; 103.851573 The University of the Arts Singapore^[1] (UAS) is Singapore's first public-funded private university of the arts. It was formally announced in 2021, as an alliance between LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE) and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). Under this arrangement, the two institutions operate as distinct entities yet allows students to access opportunities from both schools.^[2]

The UAS office is located at the National Design Centre in Middle Road, amidst the arts and heritage precinct of Bras Basah Bugis.

UAS will commence its inaugural intake in August 2024 and will confer degrees as Singapore's 7th University.

History

The idea of a Singapore arts university was mooted as early as the Report of the Advisory Council on Culture and the Arts^[3] in 1989. The ACCA Report noted that none of the local institutions taught the arts at a degree level and Singaporeans had to pursue their art studies overseas. In addition, facilities of private schools were inadequate and did not enjoy Government assistance. The ACCA Report recommended that the Ministry of Education could consider establishing a Faculty of Art and Design and a School of Performing Arts in the proposed new university.

In the late 1990s to early 2000s, the notion of "Creative Singapore" was extolled to unlock the potential of the arts and to cultivate a global city for the arts.^[4] There was a Committee to Upgrade LASALLE-SIA and NAFA,^[5] which recommended polytechnic level government funding for both institutions and to establish an Institute of the Arts (ITA) at National University of Singapore in 2001 to conduct degree courses in the performing arts. It is unknown why the ITA proposal evolved to Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in 2003 and the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University in 2005.

The formation of an arts University was revived during the Parliamentary debate for the Ministry of Education's budget in March 2021. Minister Lawrence Wong announced the appointment of a pro-tem committee led by Prof Chan Heng Chee, tasked to envisage the role of the first arts University in Singapore and the region, and to develop a sustainable operating model.^[6]

Programmes

The University will offer Bachelor and Master degree programmes in fine arts, design, media arts, performing arts and arts management, as well as in new and upcoming areas in the applied arts. Undergraduate students will undergo a common curriculum and industry attachments to complement their specialized arts education.

References

^ "University of the Arts Singapore". uas.edu.sg.
^ "New Private University of the Arts Singapore – Formed by Alliance Between NAFA and LASALLE – to Open in 2024". www.moe.gov.sg. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
^ Report of the Advisory Council on Culture and the Arts. Singapore: National Library Board. 14 April 1989.
^ A City of Culture: Planning for the Arts. Singapore: Centre For Liveable Cities Singapore. 2017.
^ Creative Singapore: A Renaissance Nation In The Knowledge Age: Report of the Committee To Upgrade LASALLE and NAFA. Singapore: National Library Board. 1998.
^ "MOE FY2021 Committee of Supply Debate Response by Minister for Education Lawrence Wong". www.moe.gov.sg. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2023.