It was a win for #CulturalDiplomacy as the European Union (EU) Delegation to Singapore received its first national arts award.
The Delegation’s efforts to deepen the EU-Singapore and EU-ASEAN partnership through arts and culture were recognised last night at Singapore’s prestigious Patron of the Arts Awards where Minister for Culture, Community & Youth Edwin Tong was the guest-of-honour. Ambassador Iwona Piórko received the award for the SEA AiR (Studio Residencies for Southeast Asian Artists in the European Union) project.
European Union Delegation to Singapore
Two successful cycles of this pioneering programme saw six artists from Southeast Asia travelled to six EU countries, creating connections in the spirit of Global Gateway. At the end of their residencies they presented their art works in two specially curated exhibitions that were part of Singapore Art Week, the region’s biggest and most significant contemporary arts week.
Says Ambassador Piórko: “It is an honour to receive the Friend of the Arts award and to be able to strengthen ties in creative and sustainable ways through this made-in-Singapore programme. SEA AiR was launched in 2022 when the EU and ASEAN commemorated the 45th anniversary of their partnership. It is only fitting that it concluded in 2024 – another landmark year, which marks 20 years since the establishment of the EU Delegation to Singapore.”
Through SEA AiR we have been able to drive further the development of Southeast Asia’s contemporary art scene and the initiative serves as a springboard for dialogue between European art institutions and Southeast Asian artists premiering artworks here in Singapore – the thriving engine and beginning and end point of this very inspiring project.
SEA AiR was jointly developed by the Delegation, the Nanyang Technological University’s Centre for Contemporary Art (NTU CCA) Singapore and funded by the EU’s Foreign Policy Instruments. #EUForeignPolicy
Instituted in 1983, the Patron of the Arts Awards celebrate and recognise organisations and individuals who have contributed significantly towards the development of the arts. The European Union has received the award for the first time in Singapore.
SEA AiR Artists & Institutions – Cycle 2
Priyageetha Dia (Singapore – residency at Jan van Eyck Academie, Netherlands)
Ngoc Nau (Vietnam – residency at Rupert, Lithuania)
Saroot Supasuthivech (Thailand – residency at Künstlerhaus Bethanien Germany)
Cycle 1
Hoo Fan Chon (Malaysia – residency at HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme, Finland)
Citra Sasmita (Indonesia – residency at WIELS Brussels, Belgium)
Vuth Lyno (Cambodia – residency at Villa Arson Nice, France)
