CREATIVE CONNECTIONS: KOREA-SINGAPORE EXCHANGE PROJECT

Overview

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and South Korea, the National Arts Council (NAC) Singapore and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) are launching Creative Connections: A Korea-Singapore Exchange Project. This initiative strengthens cultural and artistic cooperation by encouraging arts professionals to forge partnerships with local cultural communities. Participants from Singapore undertake a 5-month programme to gain insights into South Korea's arts landscape, network with South Korean participants, and complete a supported immersion trip to experience arts events and engage with cultural figures. The final report will be documented as a resource for future arts practitioners.

Programme Objectives

• Develop key insights into South Korea's arts ecosystem
• Establish meaningful connections with South Korean arts institutions and festivals
• Document practical knowledge about navigating the cultural sector
• Prepare a comprehensive report as part of documentation that will be publicly accessible

Project Details

• Project proposals that are part of school curriculum (PhD dissertation, coursework) will not be accepted
• Proposals without a clear arts and research component will not be accepted
• Proposals not intended for public consumption will not be accepted
• Proposals that have already commenced prior to application will not be accepted

Key Dates

• Duration: 5 months (October 2025 – February 2026)
• Application period: 11 August – 5 September 2025, 3:00pm (Singapore time: GMT+8)
• Outcome notification: October 2025
• Tentative travel dates: late October – 31 December 2025
• Publication of report: January–February 2026

Eligibility

• Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident
• Arts professional and/or programmer
• Minimum 5 years professional experience in the arts sector
• Must be able to commit to travel during the stipulated period
• Demonstrated interest in international cultural exchange
• Strong research and writing capabilities
• Ability to work independently
• Excellent documentation and analytical skills

Selection Criteria

• Impact of the study on international cooperation and clear intention to pursue international collaborations
• Proposal prepared as foundation or catalyst for future cross-border engagement
• Study has clear benefits to other arts practitioners in Singapore
• Quality of proposal with sound research objectives and methodology
• Feasibility and capacity to execute project
• Relevant professional experience in arts and culture sector
• Experience conducting or participating in similar scoping and study trips

Deliverables

Successful applicants must conduct online and on-site meetings and networking, conduct interviews and meetings with arts professionals in South Korea, document observations and insights, submit a comprehensive report, and present findings at a sharing session.

Application Requirements

• CV highlighting relevant experience and portfolio of recent work (1 document, maximum 6 pages)
• Write-up of proposal including project milestones during the programme (up to 6 pages, Arial, font size 12, 1.5 line spacing)

Support Provided

NAC will support an immersion trip to South Korea for up to two weeks. Final travel dates will be arranged by NAC and KOFICE. NAC reserves the right to review, withdraw, recover or withhold any funding in the event the total qualifying cost falls below the cumulative amount received from all NAC-administered grants.

Contact

For enquiries, contact [email protected] with subject line: [NAC IR – Creative Connections].