NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL ARTS EDUCATION
Copyright 2013, National Arts Council All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright holders. PUBLISHED BY: National Arts Council, Singapore WEBSITE: http://www.nac.gov.sg
ontents 1 3 Arts Education in Singapore Core Beliefs 5 6 7 8 NAC Arts Education Programme Tote Board Arts Grant Feed Your Imagination (F.Y.I) Words Go Round 9 Artist-In-School Scheme 12 Teaching Through The Arts Programme 14 Special Education (SPED) Partnership Projects 16 Arts and Culture Presentation Grant 17 18 National Arts Education Award Arts Development Fund 20 20 20 Professional Development for Teachers MOE-NAC Master Artists Series Artist- Mentor Scheme 21 22 Professional Development for Arts Instructors Collaboration with NIE International Specialist Diploma in Arts Education Essentials of Teaching and Learning 23 Contact Us
1 Education in Singapore
The National Arts Council (NAC) believes that the arts are an integral part of all Singaporeans lives and exposure should begin from a young age. As such, NAC is committed to helping all students have access to quality arts education for expression, learning and reflection. The Arts Education unit works closely with the arts community and various agencies, including the Ministry of Education (MOE), to champion for quality arts experiences to be an integrated part of all schools. Through NAC s broad-based efforts, we seek to develop students potential for creativity and expression through the arts as well as deepen their understanding of Singapore culture. We hope that students will be empowered by the arts and grow to be confident, articulate and creative adults who will contribute as active citizens to the community. 2
ore Beliefs Arts Education (arts creation and appreciation) is important because it Caters To Different Student Needs Provides avenues for every student to learn in his or her preferred way, thus recognising different interests, strengths, talents and aspirations Encourages engagement and enjoyment in learning Nurtures Thinking Individuals Creates opportunities for students to use their imagination to look at the world through different lenses Helps students to develop creativity and critical thinking skills as important life-skills Encourages risk-taking and a spirit of adventure Connects Students With Their Community And Culture Deepens students understanding and appreciation of the arts and culture, especially that of Singapore Creates opportunities for shared experiences to foster a sense of belonging to one s community Develops Self-identity Creates opportunities for individual expression and a deeper understanding of self Fosters confidence and a sense of pride and achievement Helps students to develop interpersonal skills to relate to others such as empathy, social awareness, cultural sensitivity, etc. 3
As such, our strategic focus areas are: Quality of Programmes CONTENT DEVELOPMENT Quality of Instruction P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T All Students have Access to Quality Arts Education Sustainable and Integrated Arts Education A D V O C A C Y 4
NAC Arts Education Programme The NAC Arts Education Programme (NAC-AEP), which has been offered since 1993, is a database of arts education programmes by professional artists and arts groups that schools can purchase for their students. NAC conducts a biennial call for applications to be part of the NAC-AEP and assessment of the arts education programmes is conducted by a panel of arts and education experts, principals, teachers and officers from MOE and NAC. Programmes are selected based on the quality of content and instruction as well as age-appropriateness. There are around 800 programmes under the NAC-AEP. The programmes span six art forms Dance, Film & Multimedia, Literary Arts, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts and three programme categories: Arts Exposure, Arts Experience and Arts Excursion. Arts Exposure Assembly talks or performances lasting 30 to 40 minutes Includes an explanation of the background and development of the art form, or a talk-cumdemonstration segment Arts Experience Hands-on participation Suitable for small groups of students Interactive programmes that enhance students skills while expanding their capacity for creative thinking Arts Excursion Performances at purpose-built performing venues Visits to museums, galleries, art centres, artist studios and theatres 5
ote Board Arts Grant The Tote Board Arts Grant was introduced in 1995 by the Tote Board to encourage the development of a vibrant arts culture in schools and promote arts appreciation among students. Schools are able to tap on the Tote Board Arts Grant to subsidise the purchase of programmes under the NAC-AEP. School Type Annual Grant Amount Co-payment Scheme Primary and Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges and Centralised Institute $15,000 Up to 50% of programme cost ITE Regional Campuses $50,000 Special Education Schools $3,000 Up of 70% of programme cost This includes the purchase of tickets for students to attend professional arts performances and exhibitions that have been endorsed by NAC under the NAC-Public Arts Programme. More information about the NAC-AEP, NAC-Public Arts Programme and Tote Board Arts Grant is available at http://aep.nac.gov.sg/. 6
eed Your Imagination (F.Y.I) Feed Your Imagination (F.Y.I) is a partnership with Esplanade Theatres on the Bay. It is part of NAC-AEP Arts Excursion, offering students access to quality productions with strong educational content by local arts groups in purpose-built venues. NAC works with Esplanade and the arts groups to ensure the quality of productions and that the facilitation of activities will engage student audiences. The F.Y.I programme consists of performances in Music, Dance and Drama by established arts groups such as Apsara Asia, The Finger Players and Ding Yi Music Company. Each F.Y.I performance also includes a guided tour of Esplanade, an activity kit for each student that encourages post-performance learning and a resource kit for teachers to use before and after visiting Esplanade. NAC also supports F.Y.I via a bulk buying discount scheme. Schools will receive an additional 5 tickets for every purchase of 100 tickets. This is in addition to Esplanade s incentive of 1 complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased per performance. 7
ords Go Round Words Go Round the Singapore Writers Festival school programme is an initiative to bring writers into schools and inspire our next generation of writers and readers. Schools can expect a wide selection of activities, with programmes catering to various ages, and in Singapore s four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Students have the opportunity to meet both local and international authors up-close and personal through talks, workshops and interactive sessions. All student events under Words Go Round are covered under the NAC-AEP. 8
The Artist-In-School Scheme (AISS) supports extended collaborations between schools and practising Singaporean artists and writers which result in arts education programmes customised to meet the specific needs of the school and students. Artist-In-School Scheme We hope that the AISS can: Provide exposure for students to art forms and arts education experiences which the school is not able to cater to with its own in-school capabilities Help to seed long-term partnerships between schools and artists/writers NAC provides schools with seed grants of up to $10,000 or 30% of the qualifying cost submitted (whichever is lower). After the first year, schools are eligible to apply for the AISS grant for the same project for up to a maximum of two consecutive years. Sri Warisan Yew Tee Primary School Tang Ling-Nah Raffles Girls School (Secondary) 9
AISS PROJECT: Seng Kang Primary School OneHeartBeat Percussion Seng Kang Primary School worked with OneHeartBeat Percussion on a Rhythm-Based Music Engagement project as part of its in-curriculum Music programme. This project aimed to cultivate greater appreciation for music-making through classes for the Primary 1, 5 and 6 cohorts in disciplines such as ethnic percussion and global drumming. These hands-on classes provided students with the opportunity to enjoy curiosity-provoking musical experiences, build their foundation in music and rhythm, and learn about music in different cultural contexts. In-school performances by OneHeartBeat were also organised to give students greater exposure to rhythm-based music. To ensure sustainability, Seng Kang Primary School music teachers were mentored and trained by OneHeartBeat and were actively involved in co-developing and co-facilitating the AISS sessions. 10
AISS PROJECT: Ang Mo Kio Secondary School JoyArts Ang Mo Kio Secondary School s in-curriculum programme with experienced arts educator Jean Ng and her team from JoyArts provided all Lower Secondary students with a foundation in Dance and Drama. The dance programme, for example, helped students to develop an understanding of the human body and different types of movement. It also improved their flexibility and strength. Through increasing awareness of the space and the body as a means of creative expression, the students learnt strategies to create their own choreography as well. Equipped with the training received from the programme, students then worked in small groups to choreograph and perform their own dance pieces which were subsequently showcased at the school s biennial festival, NOMAD Night of Music, Arts and Dance. For details on how to apply, please visit: http://aep.nac.gov.sg/artist_in_schools.aspx. 11
Teaching Through The Arts Programme The Teaching Through the Arts Programme (TTAP) is a pilot programme which supports schools that are interested to experiment with arts-based pedagogy as a new approach to engaged learning. TTAP aims to help students develop a deeper understanding of concepts in non-arts fields of study through arts activities that encourage visualisation, embodying and creative expression. Participating schools identify a learning gap that they hope to address through a specific art form-based pedagogy (e.g. learning Math through Drama at Mayflower Primary School), and then work with artists to co-design lesson plans and co-teach in the classroom. Peggy Ferroa Mayflower Primary School I truly enjoyed the lesson. It was wonderful - 100% student-centred and engaging, in line with our school s pedagogical approaches of Learning by Doing and Making Thinking Visible. Giving them roles and responsibilities for creating props allowed them to own their learning about the area and circumference of a circle. The mathematical language related to circles like pi, radius, diameter and circumference was successfully elicited from them which was my learning outcome for the students at this exploratory stage. Mdm Idma Hanita Bte Mohamed Senior Teacher, Mayflower Primary School 12
TTAP PROJECT: Yishun Town Secondary School Serena Ho In Yishun Town Secondary School, Science teachers worked with drama educator Serena Ho to develop and implement a series of lesson packages that used drama strategies to help the Secondary 2 Normal Academic students deepen their understanding of Science concepts. Story-building, freeze-frames and physical movement exercises were used to explore topics such as Filtration & Crystallisation, Moments, Molecular Structure, Heat Transfer and Nutrient Cycles. Students and teachers felt that these activities helped to illustrate Science concepts more clearly, especially for visual and kinaesthetic learners, and made the learning of Science more fun! 13
Special Education Partnership Projects The NAC-SPED Partnership Programme supports efforts to promote the use of the arts as a pedagogical tool in Special Education schools so that the arts can become more deeply embedded as an integral and integrated part of the Special Education (SPED) school experience. Artists and school teachers work closely together to co-develop and co-teach customised arts-based lessons that target the learning needs of students with different disabilities. Schools are eligible to apply for the Partnership Programme grant for the same project for up to a maximum of two consecutive years. NAC supports schools with grants of up to $10,000 or 90% of the qualifying costs (whichever is lower) in the first year; and up to $7,000 or 70% of the qualifying costs (whichever is lower) in the second year. Albert Louis Towner Gardens School 14
PARTNERSHIP PROJECT: Lighthouse School Victor Tan In 2012, Lighthouse School engaged artist Victor Tan to develop a sculpture programme for students with visual impairment. The programme helped the students to develop their motor skills, gain confidence, and work as a team. Over a series of workshops, students were encouraged to observe simple forms like cones, spheres and cylinders in the world around them, and then create sculptures using these forms. This heightened their awareness of their environment and provided an opportunity for them to express their feelings and ideas creatively. It was a particularly meaningful project as Victor has visual impairment as well. To ensure the sustainability of the programme, Victor also conducted training sessions to equip the teachers with teaching strategies so they would be able to continue the programme independently. 15
The Arts and Culture Presentation Grant (ACPG), which is administered by the NAC and supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Heritage Board, has been set up as a pilot initiative to support school groups in staging performances and exhibitions for public audiences. Arts and Culture Presentation Grant This helps to create opportunities for more youths to have a deeper engagement with arts and culture / heritage activities. We hope that the experience will motivate more students to nurture their interests and talents beyond their school-going years and encourage them to see themselves as part of a wider arts and culture community. The grant which is co-funded by the Tote Board is open to all Primary and Secondary schools as well as JCs / CI, ITEs and SPED schools. Some of our 2013 recipients: Bedok Green Primary School Teck Ghee Primary School ITE College Central The school is using the grant for their project My Batik, My Singapore. Primary 4 students will attend batik lessons under a professional artist and showcase their works at the National Day Observance Ceremony at Bedok Community Club. The school is putting on a musical at a public arts venue. This production will be a collaboration involving the school s various performing arts and visual arts groups. A professional arts group will be engaged to train the students and produce the show. The school will present an exhibition titled, In the Eye of an Invisible Light. The project will give students an opportunity to be exposed to photography as an art form, and for those with an existing photography background, to experiment with a new form of photography (Infra-red). For details on how to apply, please visit: http://www.nac.gov.sg/education/arts-education-in-singapore/grants/arts-andculture-presentation-grant. 16
The National Arts Education Award (NAEA) is a national arts award for local schools. The award which is valid for 4 years seeks to: Encourage schools to provide holistic arts education for all students Recognise schools with good arts practices and programmes National Arts Education Award The NAEA framework, which was developed in collaboration with MOE, allows schools to do a self-assessment based on the three award categories of Spark, Glow and Blaze. The 3-tier award framework is to provide schools a guided approach to assess the stage of their arts education development. Each award category has its own merit and is recognised as an important level of development. NAE Award Category SPARK GLOW BLAZE Take proactive steps to Demonstrate holistic Have built a vibrant arts build a vibrant arts culture planning and processes to culture and sustained Profile of schools Develop clear structures and programmes for arts education build a vibrant arts culture Develop clear structures and programmes for arts education participation in all art forms Contribute through the arts to the community and champion the arts Develop students interest in at least 2 art forms Develop students interest Lead and assist other in all art forms schools in their arts education development 17
rts Development Fund Launched in 2012, the Arts Development Fund (ADF) is part of the NAEA and provides schools with a grant to realise their arts-related programmes. Only schools that have submitted a NAEA application for that cycle are eligible to apply for ADF. Each ADF applicant can receive a grant of up to $20,000 or 80% of the qualifying cost of the project. In 2012, 12 schools were awarded a grant of between $8,800 and $20,000 to realise their arts projects. The project scope varied widely, depending on schools needs and strategic directions. Some of the projects supported students learning of the arts, while others focused on teachers professional development in the arts or the enhancement of the schools infrastructure to support arts education. 18
ADF PROJECT: Haig Girls School In 2012, NAC supported Haig Girls School which collaborated with the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) for their inter-disciplinary Museum Education Programme. The Primary 4 students had lessons at SAM, exploring various themes such as immigration and identity, heritage, nationhood and globalisation. The students then engaged in art-making through a series of workshops after the visits, creating art and literary works inspired by what they saw and experienced in the museum. For more information on NAEA and ADF, please visit: http://aep.nac.gov.sg/nae_award.aspx. 19
Partnership with Ministry of Education NAC collaborates with the Singapore Teachers Academy for the arts (STAR) to support the professional development for MOE arts teachers. MOE-NAC Master Artists Series Professional Development for Teachers The MOE-NAC Master Artists Series, which features our Cultural Medallion recipients, is co-organised by NAC and STAR biennially. We hope these sessions inspire Art and Music teachers and enable them to have a better understanding of the practices and philosophies of our renowned local artists. Thereafter, these teachers can in turn inspire and share their learning with students. In 2012, two eminent Cultural Medallion recipients, Ms Han Sai Por and Mr Dick Lee, were invited for the sharing sessions for the Art and Music teachers respectively. Ms Han Sai Por (left) with teachers Mr Dick Lee Artist-Mentor Scheme The Artist-Mentor Scheme (AMS) is an initiative helmed by STAR and supported by NAC. It aims to develop teachers competencies by engaging practitioners in specialised areas to co-teach in art, music, drama and dance to achieve curriculum goals. The teachers go through a collaborative process of learning with the mentors who are established, active and respected practitioners in their art form. This scheme is open to all government and governmentaided schools. For more information, please visit: http://www.star.moe.edu.sg/. 20
To support arts instructors to better conduct programmes in schools, NAC works closely with various training institutions to provide relevant and useful training opportunities to enhance instructors professional and pedagogical skills. Professional Development for Arts Instructors To suit the needs of the instructors, training can take various forms, e.g. 1- year structured training, 3-day workshop. This accommodates the different schedules and interests of the instructors. Training in Arts Pedagogy by Lincoln Centre Institute 21 Specialist Diploma in Arts Education
ollaboration with NIE International NAC has collaborated with National Institute of Education International (NIEI) to introduce the following courses to enhance the pedagogical skills of arts instructors. Specialist Diploma in Arts Education This certificate programme offers arts instructors a structured approach to the concepts of learning and teaching in an arts environment, as well as instructional techniques in the teaching of the arts. Participants will go through a total of 8 modules in 240 hours. Essentials of Teaching and Learning This basic 40-hour course will provide arts instructors with an introduction to key ideas in teaching and learning. The course covers 4 broad areas: basic principles of psychology of learning, the process of teaching, lesson planning, and assessment and evaluation. For more information on this specialist diploma programme, please visit: http://www.nie.edu.sg/niei/programmes-courses/ accreditation-courses-award-programmes/specialistdiploma-arts-education. For more information on this course, please visit: http://www.nie.edu.sg/niei/programmes-courses/ teaching-pedagogy-courses/essentials-teaching-andlearning. For more details on updated training opportunities for arts instructors, please refer to the NAC-AEP website at http://aep.nac.gov.sg. 22
ontact Us All information in this booklet is accurate at time of printing. For more real-time updates, please refer to the NAC-AEP website. Visit us at http://aep.nac.gov.sg. or email us at NAC_AEP@nac.gov.sg. 23
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Photos courtesy of: PAGE 1 & 2 CHIJ Katong (Primary) PAGE 5 & 7 The Esplanade Co. Ltd PAGE 11 Ang Mo Kio Secondary School PAGE 18 & 19 Haig Girls School