LASALLE continues to play an important role in driving change and thought leadership in Singapore's creative industries.

‍

‍

Thought leadership

‍
LASALLE MA Arts and Cultural Leadership Programme Leader Audrey Wong, former arts NMP and cultural policy expert, weighed in on Our SG Arts Plan 2.0 in an Focus on continuity, more than change, in updated arts plan, an opinion editorial published by The Business Times. Audrey noted that much of the language of the new plan recalls that of earlier plans, and there are many areas of similarity. However, though repetitive, the reiteration of these concepts underscores their ongoing importance, and the fact that they remain works in progress.

‍

In Bird cage chairs and buddy benches: how design changes lives, Nur Hidayah, Dean, Faculty of Design, shares her thoughts on the importance of empathy in design. Highlighting examples from LASALLE student work as well as Singaporean design projects on mental wellness, sustainability and active ageing, the piece, published in The Straits Times, argues that design has a role to play in helping Singapore tackle future challenges and shape the way we live.

‍

‍

Industry leadership

‍
In July 2023, LASALLE MA Asian Art Histories alumna Usha Chandradas was appointed one of nine new Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP). In her position as arts NMP over the past year, Usha has advocated for the inclusion of arts therapies and arts-related wellness initiatives in Singapore's national mental wellness strategies, and spoken on issues such as greater support and recognition for the work of artists, the availability of arts spaces and the implementation of Our SG Arts Plan 2.0.

‍

Other industry appointments include BA (Hons) Film alumnus Jeremy Chua's appointment as General Manager of the Singapore International Film Festival, and the extension of BA (Hons) Acting alumna Natalie Hennedige's tenure as Artistic Director of Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) till 2025, after helming three successful editions. Meanwhile, LASALLE BA (Hons) Design Programme Leader Nathan Yong was selected to be part of the jury for the prestigious Singapore Good Design (SG Mark) 2024.