ARTS Acceleration Programme

Hear from experienced arts practitioners on key insights and strategies to build up one's portfolio career, develop a strong personal branding and leverage digitalisation for growth and productivity.

Guest speakers include Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie, Jahan Loh, Evan Low, Aaron Gan and Audrey Lim (moderator).

About the Speakers

• Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie - Showbiztress

Cynthia is a multi-faceted actress, voice actor and puppeteer from Singapore. Her performances have taken her to Kuala Lumpur, Edinburgh, Toronto, Paris and Tours. Her most noteworthy stage performances include her roles in Cabaret and Closer. On screen, she starred as the title role in popular TV sitcom, Ah Girl, making her a household name. Cynthia’s famed performance won her a nomination for “Best Actress in a Comedy” at the Asian Television Awards.

• Jahan Loh - Artist

Jahan Loh is a Singaporean contemporary artist and curator known for his distinctive fusion of street art, pop culture and Eastern iconography. With a career spanning over two decades, Loh has established himself as a leading figure in the Asian art scene, captivating audiences all over the continent with his dynamic and thought-provoking works. As the first artist to bring street art to galleries in both Singapore and China, Jahan has been credited as one of Asia's most successful street artists, for taking Singapore Pop Art international, and for influencing modern art practices in Taiwan. 

• Evan Low - Music Producer, Music Director, Young Artist Award 2024 Recipient

Evan Low is a highly accomplished music producer and music director, renowned for his innovative sound and visionary approach that have significantly impacted the music industry. With a deep passion for creating compelling musical experiences, Evan has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Benjamin Kheng, iNCH, The Sam Willows, and esteemed music directors like Sydney Tan and Martin Tang. His creative talent and keen ear for detail and ideas have made him a sought-after collaborator for artists looking to elevate their sound.

• Aaron Gan - Artist

Aaron Gan is the Gold Award winner of the 2015 UOB Painting of the Year (Singapore), Established Artist Category. Following his numerous sell-out shows, Aaron's artworks have been collected and commissioned widely both in Singapore and internationally. These include the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Library Board, GIC, Wheelock Properties, Julius Baer, the Association of Banks in Singapore and others. In 2017, he collaborated with Nespresso on a regional media campaign spanning China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan. In 2018, Aaron was appointed the Art Ambassador for Faber Castell, Singapore. In 2020, he worked with Castiglion del Bosco on their exclusive Zodiac wine label. In 2021, his artwork Charging Bull was used for UOB's Lunar New Year campaign.

• Audrey Lim (Moderator) - Arts Advocate, Presenter/Producer

Audrey has dedicated the last decade to exploring every facet of the entertainment industry, with experiences ranging from radio presentation, documentary hosting and stage work; to music performance and music management; to entertainment law, career coaching, and content creation. During the pandemic lockdown, Audrey co-created a virtual music festival experience, Take Back The Nights, where she mounted concerts and conferences in the metaverse. She is an advocate for the arts and is the president of the Visual Arts Development Association Singapore.

Learn useful tips and strategies to build up a creative business as an arts SEP, with key frameworks such as understanding value proposition to better articulate your values and work, and exploring value-based pricing strategies to boost your career.

About the Speakers:

• Tan Siew Ann - Freelance Writer and Author at lancerx

Siew Ann is a freelance writer specialising in digital marketing and entrepreneurship blog content. Over the last six years, she has built a regular base of clients from Singapore, the United States, Spain and other countries. Siew Ann also shares her freelancing experiences and insights in a fortnightly email newsletter to help freelancers run meaningful and sustainable businesses.

• Patrick Ng - Innovation Director, Spark Launchpad

Patrick Ng is passionate about innovation, helping enterprises identify innovation opportunities and build better products. With over 23 years in engineering and corporate experience, he filed 12 patent families and held leadership roles in innovation and R&D. Innovation and entrepreneurship are synonymous with Patrick; he offers venture creation knowledge to startups and corporates. Patrick also teaches entrepreneurship and innovation at universities, guiding founders on their venture journey.

Take part in a sharing and workshop on shaping a strong personal branding through effective communication and use of digital marketing tools and strategies.

About the Speakers:

• Toby "tobyato" Tan - Visual Artist

tobyato is a visual artist illustrating his way through sprawling wall murals and artist-brand collaborations. His artworks are often bold, striking and inspired by traditional Asian motifs with playful influences that reflect both his own heritage and personality. As a lover of street culture, he has worked with brands such as Nike, ASICS, Samsung, Levi’s, and HUGO among others. Outside of his home island, he has also left his mark abroad, painting murals in Jakarta, Paris, and Los Angeles.

• Ngee Ann CET Academy

Established in 1985, the Continuing Education & Training (CET) Academy is the driving force behind Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s efforts to offer adult education and training. Their mission to help adult learners navigate the ever-changing world through skills-upgrading and reskilling, has enabled more than 300,000 working adults gain new skills, stay relevant and remain employable in today’s global economy.

Join us for an industry sharing on how to manage your work more productively with the help of digital tools. Don't miss an exciting panel on navigating emerging technologies such as AI/Gen AI and its potential opportunities and impact on the creative sector!

About the Speakers:

• Grace Lee Khoo - Founder, Access Path Productions

Grace Lee Khoo is the Founder of Access Path Productions, Singapore’s first disability-led theatre company. A director, performer, producer, dramaturg, drama educator, audio describer for the blind/vision-impaired and creative access consultant who works internationally, Grace was International Artist-in-residence at London’s Graeae Theatre Company in 2017. Significant works also include National Gallery Singapore Light to Night Festival commissions Glimpse (2023) and Self Portrait (2019) and Singapore Art Museum commissions Desert of the Ocean (Doldrums) for Singapore Art Week 2024 and Patterns of Perception for Singapore Biennale 2023. 

• Brian Gothong Tan - Multidisciplinary Artist

Brian Gothong Tan is celebrated for innovative theater, film, and installations. A California Institute of the Arts graduate (2005, Shell-NAC Scholarship), he has garnered multiple awards, including five Life! Theatre Awards for multimedia design (2005–2024). His works, blending eclectic multimedia, have toured globally (Italy, USA, UK, Korea) and featured in major exhibitions like Heavenly Cakes and Sentimental Flowers (Singapore Art Museum, 2003) and Hypersurface (Venice Architectural Biennale, 2004). He represented Singapore at the Commonwealth Games (2006) and Shanghai World Expo (2010). Honoured with the Young Artist Award (2012) and Singapore Youth Award (2015), Tan serves as T:>Works’ Atelier artistic director and is Creative Director for NDP 2024.

• Liu Xiaoyi - Artistic Director, Emergency Stairs

Liu Xiaoyi is considered one of the most promising leaders at the forefront of the experimental theatre scene and cultural exchange network in Asia. He was involved in over 80 theatre productions as a director, a playwright, or an actor over the past two decades. Xiaoyi has remained steadfast in his pursuit of the development and transcendence of theatrical forms, while actively promoting cross-cultural and transnational dialogues. Outside of his creative endeavors, he is also a dynamic curator, educator, and cultural critic.