Singapore Creative Writing Residency 2015 - Residents Appointment
Singapore, 4 September 2015 – Sally Wen Mao and Ong Szu Yoong were awarded the two coveted positions in one of Singapore’s most sought-after residency programme, the Singapore Creative Writing Residency co-organised by The Arts House and the National University of Singapore. The six-month long programme, from August 2015 to January 2016, aims to promote creative writing in Singapore by giving emerging writers the time and place to write, and work with the literary community in Singapore.
After a competitive selection and interview by a committee that included Head of the NUS Department of English Language and Literature Prof John Richardson, playwright Alfian Sa’at, and poet Cyril Wong, American citizen Sally Wen Mao and Singaporean Ong Szu Yoong were chosen to be the recipients of this year’s Residency. Both residents will stay at the NUS University Scholars Programme’s (USP) residential college in University Town. Sally will mentor students from USP in creative writing and Szu Yoong will teach as part of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) while both work on their writing projects. They will also conduct public programmes at The Arts House, including workshops and readings.
Sally Wen Mao, a published poet who had previously lectured at Hunter College and Cornell University, will work on her next collection of poetry. Occulus is inspired by her questions on technology and youth exposure in the globalised world. Sally is excited to be in a reversed position here in Singapore as she will be amongst the majority ethnic group instead of being a minority in the USA.
Ong Szu Yoong graduated top of his BA English cohort in University College London in 2014. He swept numerous awards including the Elsie Hitchcock Prize (2013) for the best undergraduate work in English linguistics studies. He will work on a collection of poetry which engages with and responds to the poetry of Arthur Yap and the classical myth of Narcissus and Echo. The work will include photographs, film stills and elements of film and literature criticism. Szu Yoong looks forward to teaching FASS students and hosting talks and workshops on Arthur Yap’s writing as part of his Residency.
The public can sign up for the Residents’ public programmes via The Arts House website at www.theartshouse.sg. Public programmes include Sally Wen Mao reading from her acclaimed debut collection of poems Mad Honey Symposium and discussing her plans for this year’s Singapore Creative Writing Residency on 16 September at The Arts House. This session is moderated by Singaporean poet Cyril Wong.
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For more information and high res pictures, please contact:
Sim Yee
Asst Manager, Marketing & Communications
Arts House Limited
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Tan Ai Lian
Associate Director, Corporate Communications
NUS University Scholars Programme
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About The Arts House
Occupying the almost 200-year-old building that was Singapore’s first Parliament House, The Arts House has played an active role in the Singapore arts and creative scene. The House promotes and presents multidisciplinary programmes and festivals such as literary arts, film, performing and visual arts. The Arts House is run and managed by Arts House Limited. For more information, visit www.theartshouse.sg.
About Arts House Limited
Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching lives through the arts. AHL runs The Arts House, a multi-disciplinary arts centre with a focus on literary programming located in the heart of Singapore’s Civic District; presents the Singapore International Festival of Arts, an annual celebration of performing arts; and manages Goodman Arts Centre and Aliwal Arts Centre, two creative enclaves for artists, arts groups and creative businesses, and the exhibition and performance spaces located at ARTrium @ MCI. AHL was incorporated in April 2014.
National University of Singapore University Scholars Programme
The University Scholars Programme (USP) is a multidisciplinary, partially residential, academic programme for NUS undergraduates. USP takes in 180 students each year, and offers the freedom to explore disciplines, a wide range of extracurricular and overseas opportunities, and a close community of talented and motivated students. The aim is to produce graduates with the intellectual rigour, initiative, and innovative spirit to make significant contributions to society. To this end, the USP provides an environment of enquiry, collaboration, and creative discovery, with unique modules designed to develop interdisciplinary thinking. Students learn to engage with ideas and situations, and to challenge themselves intellectually, socially and personally. For more information about USP, please visit www.usp.nus.edu.sg.
