Bridging communities at inclusive arts festival by persons with disabilities
, Press Release
In celebration of SG60 and Singapore’s ongoing journey toward a more inclusive society, ART:DIS (Arts & Disability) Singapore presents Pocket Fest — a mini arts festival that champions creativity across all abilities. Held at Objectifs on 5–6 July, the festival brings together more than 55 artists with disabilities from ART:DIS to lead workshops, showcase original works, and foster meaningful engagement with the wider community through art.
In conjunction with the festival, ART:DIS will officially launch ART:DIS Studio – its flagship employment initiative. First piloted in 2024, this programme was designed to consolidate the diverse talents of artists with disabilities within a creative studio model, equipping them with industry-relevant skills and connecting them to flexible and meaningful work in the arts.
“We can do so much more than desk-bound jobs. I am a very hands-on person and love to create,” shared Nurul Natasya. A visually impaired trainee from the pilot Ceramics vocational training programme of ART:DIS Studio, Nurul found friendship, routine and empowerment through weekly studio sessions where she designed functional ceramic pieces.
“At first clay felt like play-doh. But with the teacher’s guidance, I used tools and my hands to make plates, cups, candle-holders etc. All these were things I never thought I could make. With ART:DIS, I can explore my creativity freely,” she added.
Through her new found skills and confidence, Nurul together with her peers in the programme have taken on projects with brands such as Resort Worlds Sentosa, local jewelry brand Curious Creatures, and also conducted corporate workshops for employees of GIC, A&O Sherman and Standard Chartered Bank.
With $600,000 funding support over three years from GIC as the Principal Funder, the programme is now set to expand, reaching an expected 80 artists. This next phase will introduce more vocational training opportunities across different creative tracks and a supported employment framework, which will enable persons with disabilities to access gig work opportunities within the creative sector. The programme is further supported by employee volunteers from GIC, who provide task-based support to trainees as they work within the studio. By creating more equitable and sustainable opportunities across a range of abilities, ART:DIS Studio will enable more artists to be recognised, celebrated, and gain the dignity of work.
Learn from and make art with artists with disabilities
ART:DIS Studio will also train and support artists to lead corporate and public workshops, offering another meaningful stream of livelihood. At Pocket Fest, 13 workshops led by 6 different artists will take place, giving them the platform to share their talents with the wider community. These include ticketed workshops (i.e. Texture art-painting with Noah Tan, Coffee art-painting with Abraham Koh, Paint-pouring with Vicki Tan, Sake cup-making with Zack Ling and Linocut print-making with Sage Tan) and free hands-on activities where festival-goers can get creative with DIY stations to design their own pin badges, ceramic charm keychains, posters and postcards.
One of the featured artists is Joycelin Toh, who discovered her love for clay as a teenager and taught herself to mould and sculpt. She joined ARTDIS to improve her proficiency in ceramics, and has since led air-dry clay miniature workshops for companies such as Mapletree, Bloomberg and Liberty Specialty Markets.
“As a creative, I enjoy inspiring people through art. Clay is a medium that offers many possibilities and never know what beautiful things you can create just by having fun with it,” said Joycelin. “These workshops let me share that joy and supports my day-to-day living.”
Encounter new ways of seeing the world in a group exhibition
Anchoring the festival as well is a showcase by more than 30 young artists with disabilities. Responding to the theme My Favourite Things, this exhibition highlights their year-long education and creative exploration across different mediums and subjects such as personal memories, treasured objects, places, and emotions.
“Working beyond conventional frameworks, the artists draw from personal experiences and sensibilities shaped by their unique journeys. Their artworks form a vibrant mosaic that resonates with the joy of creation, reminding us that art, at its core, is an expression of the things we love,” said John Tung, independent curator of the exhibition.
The exhibition would be held over an extended period of 5–14 July. It also celebrates 6 students who have recently completed a top-up certificate course from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts’s Centre for Lifelong Education, acknowledging their achievements and commitments to their artistic studies.
Fun-filled social mixing for children and families
With everyone and anyone invited to Pocket Fest, festival-goers can also indulge in a whole host of other activities, especially with our event passport in hand where they can collect stamps at different stations to redeem goodies.
Must-visit pitstops at the festival include the community zone for live performances and the pop-up gift shop where beautiful, quality lifestyle products by artists from ART:DIS Studio will be for sale. Examples include popular items such as notebooks, bags, cutlery sets and tumblers featuring the artworks of Joshua Tang and Chong Yao Qing. They receive regular royalties from merchandise sales, alongside gig opportunities to share their world with others.
“Art is a form of relaxation for me. The many shapes and patterns make me calm,” shared Yao Qing. “Patterns are my unique identity and I want people to feel elated when they look at my art.”