Well-Known Singapore Theatre Practitioner Ms. Kaylene Tan Is Awarded The 2007 Nus-Fass And The Arts House Writing Fellowship
Singapore, 7 August 2007 – Hailed as one of Singapore’s arts scene’s top 10 important developments of 2004 by The Straits Times, the NUS–FASS and The Arts House Writing Fellowship this year has been awarded to well-known Singapore theatre practitioner Kaylene Tan.
Currently the Co-Artistic Director of spell#7, Tan is best known for her work with the Singapore-based performance company which has received much critical praise for its productions which combines a theatrical sensibility and a focus on language with multi-media and inter-disciplinary work.
Tan's proposal for the Fellowship was for a sensorial audio work inspired by the Old Parliament House and its surroundings: where an audience member is led on a walk around the area, listening to a soundscape which combines original text, oral history, facts and music. A companion literary work that accompanies the audio will also be created. As part of the fellowship’s public programme, she will be conducting workshops for emerging writers.
Said Tan on her year-long appointment as the 2007 NUS-FASS and The Arts House Writing Fellow: “I am very excited to be given the opportunity and time to develop a sound walk for such a historically rich area. During the workshops, I would like to share with other writers a collaborative, inter-disciplinary approach to text and site specific work. Hopefully, this refreshing approach to creating performance and writing will inspire more people to feel at ease to experiment and try something new!”
Tan is the second person to be awarded the NUS-FASS and The Arts House Writing Fellowship which to date remains the only writing fellowship programme of its kind in Singapore. Initiated and jointly funded by both the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of the National University of Singapore and The Arts House, the NUS–FASS and The Arts House Writing Fellowship was first launched in 2004. It aims to provide time and opportunity for an emerging writer to complete a work of substantial length as well as conduct public programmes with the aim stimulating new writing and critical discussion among young talents.
The first Writing Fellow in 2005 was playwright Huzir Sulaiman who has recently been appointed one of the 18 2007 Yale World Fellows chosen from 970 applicants across the world to attend a four-month leadership programme at the prestigious Yale University.
During his tenure as the Writing Fellow, Huzir completed an epic play based on archival sources, titled Colony of Singapore, about the 1956 constitutional negotiations between a Singapore delegation led by David Marshall and the Colonial Office in London. Huzir also mentored a History Playwrights’ Circle which staged a reading of new and original historical plays in November 2005 at The Arts House. In addition, Huzir also gave a public talk titled Techniques and Strategies of the History Playwright at The Arts House which included a reading of an excerpt from Colony of Singapore.
Said Associate Professor Robbie Goh, Head of the Department of English Language & Literature at NUS-FASS: "We are delighted to announce Kaylene as our second Writing Fellow. The panel of judges, including myself, was struck by how good she was with artistic language and we were also very impressed by the merit and potential of the proposal that she submitted. Kaylene has been much lauded for her vast experience with audio work, especially the History Gallery Tour at the National Museum of Singapore. We are unanimously agreed that Kaylene has what it takes to do an excellent job with the Writing Fellowship. We would like to congratulate Kaylene once again and look forward to her sharing her new work with the public next year.”
Tan will be given a monthly stipend of S$4000, space and other resources from both National University of Singapore and The Arts House to write her work and conduct her programmes.
Says Mr. Phan Ming Yen, Director, Artistic Development of The Arts House: "The first Writing Fellow, Huzir, had demonstrated the potential the Fellowship holds. With the time and resources given to him, Huzir not only created a meaningful work but also helped keen and aspiring playwrights through bringing about new plays that was created during his mentorship programme. Now, with Kaylene, we hope that the Fellowship will further develop as a programme that allows temporal, physical, emotional and mental space for our artists to make work that will have an impact on society and also to share with young talents."
The 2008NUS–FASS and The Arts House Writing Fellowship will open for applications in early 2008. For more information on the Fellowship and its upcoming programmes, please visit www.theartshouse.com.sg. Watch this space!
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About The Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, NationalUniversity of Singapore
One of the earliest established faculties in the University, with its origins dating back to 1928, the FASS is also one of the largest faculties at the National University of Singapore, with more than 5,000 undergraduate students and over 1,000 graduate students. It has more than 400 Faculty members and 150 professional and administrative staff.
The Faculty seeks to achieve the highest standards of teaching and learning in the humanities and social sciences, with emphasis on critical thinking and life-long learning; to strive for excellence and integrity in research, for a better understanding of the world in which we live; to serve the needs of our society by enhancing its intellectual life and contributing to the development of the nation. For further information, please visit http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/about/faculty.htm
About The Arts House
Occupying the 180-year old building which was the former Parliament House and Singapore’s first Court House, The Arts House was officially opened in March 2004 as the only gazetted government building designated as a multidisciplinary arts centre. The Arts Househas since beenoffering itsvisitors a broad spectrum of activities ranging from contemporary arts & entertainment events to lifestyle options, and at the same time playing an active role in the development of the Singapore arts & creative scene with its strong intent in supporting and promoting Singapore artists and their artworks through its various initiatives and platforms in Singapore as well as internationally. The Arts House is managed by The Old Parliament House Limited, a not-for-profit full-service arts management company limited by guarantee. For further information, please visit www.theartshouse.com.sg
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For MEDIA queries, please contact:
See Ling Ling
Senior Manager, Communications
The Arts House (Managed by The Old Parliament House Limited)
1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429
Tel: 65 6332 6903
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