Synopsis

The arts play an important role in improving quality of life. At the individual level, they provide support to people of different ages during difficult times like the ongoing pandemic. In recent years, there has been growing interest and research on using the arts in healthcare to complement traditional clinical approaches to improve people’s mental well-being.

Today, technology plays a big part in our lives, especially during the pandemic. Innovations such as music technology help to improve people’s well-being. Similarly, the use of visual language and graphic design in everyday products and public spaces can help to improve people’s moods. Another area is the application of design in healthcare to elevate health outcomes.

At the community level, the arts facilitate dialogues on complex issues. Socially engaged arts, also known as participatory arts or relational aesthetics, is an artform that seeks to co-create solutions through collaborations and social interactions among different groups of people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds like the low-income and differently-abled.

There have been greater efforts by various organisations to help people reduce stress through arts-based activities and programmes held in public spaces. Such activities also help bring people together and bond over shared experiences in a diverse society like Singapore.

This symposium brings researchers and practitioners together to discuss the following:

• How can the arts improve people’s mental well-being, especially in challenging times such as the pandemic?

• How can we better integrate the arts, technology and design science in healthcare to complement traditional clinical solutions? What are the opportunities and challenges in doing so?

• What are some opportunities and challenges in designing community arts programmes and activities?

• How can the arts promote societal well-being in a diverse society like Singapore?

Programme and Speakers  

Opening Address
Mrs Rosa Daniel
Chief Executive Officer, NAC

Overview of Our SG Arts Plan (2023-2027)
Ms Lynette Pang
Deputy Chief Executive, Planning and Corporate Development, NAC

Music and Well-being: Leveraging Music Interventions and Technology for Health

Dr Kathleen Agres
Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator of the Music Cognition Lab, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore

Embracing Disability Arts: How We can Support a More Inclusive Future
Dr Victor Zhuang
Research Fellow, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University

Engaging the Arts and Design for Wellbeing
Dr Jesvin Yeo
Associate Professor, School of Art, Design and Media, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University

Panel Discussion

Click here to download the programme.

To download a copy of the materials presented and the symposium programme, please head over to Institute of Policy Studies website.