Team
Meet Team ArtsWok. Each of us has a personal stake in the vision of ArtsWok Collaborative:
hear the stories of our ArtsWok voyages here.
Staff
NGIAM SU-LIN
Co-Founder & Board Member | Executive Director
Su-Lin has been active in the Singapore arts scene for more than two decades, specifically in the areas of education, community, creative producing, and interdisciplinary collaborations. She has worked with various arts organisations before co-founding ArtsWok in 2013.
Su-Lin produces community theatre and festivals in collaboration with the public, people, and private sectors. She has worked with numerous schools, social service, community, and health organisations to incorporate arts processes and approaches into their programmes, including the development and writing of training toolkits. Su-Lin also develops and facilitates capability development programmes and initiatives on arts-based community development.
A theatre studies and psychology graduate, she holds a Master of Arts degree in Research (Drama-in-Education) and two other post-graduate degrees in Counselling and Theological Studies, respectively.
“Co-founding and managing ArtsWok has been such an adventure and a meaningful journey. It is a deeply felt, humanistic, and spiritual response to the desire to create and bridge communities, in order for all of us to have opportunities to relate authentically, fulfil our potential, and co-create the society in which we exist. Tackling thorny social issues, and collaborations can be challenging and requires time, but is essential if we want real change, if we want different ways of being and relating. The arts provide meaningful and powerful ways to ask critical questions, to reveal truths, to generate and deepen relationships, and to imagine, rehearse and create new realities. I am so grateful for this space ArtsWok occupies to experiment, play hard, collaborate, and contribute towards community development in Singapore.”
SEAH SZE YUNN
Director, Strategic Development
Sze Yunn is a design practitioner with over 20 years of experience in diverse areas of work, such as co-curricular learning, visual arts, branding, and marketing. Her research interests include the management of design processes and collaborative practices. Prior to joining ArtsWok, she was engaged in the strategic design and development of co-curricular learning at Singapore Management University. In 2007, she co-founded Perception3, an interdisciplinary art duo that produces artistic projects and arts-based learning experiences. She is a recipient of the LASALLE Scholarship for MA Studies and holds an MA in Design, with Distinction, from Goldsmiths, University of London, as well as a degree in advertising from RMIT University.
“I first came to know of ArtsWok back in 2017 at a conference presentation, and later became acquainted with the Both Sides, Now project through their public programmes. While my encounters with ArtsWok were brief, they impressed me with their arts-based approach towards community engagement and development. As someone who is a part of an art duo that creates art installations in public spaces, I have an interest in observing and articulating how artistic processes and interventions can be well-suited and valuable to engage communities meaningfully, to imagine and construct shared narratives of how we live together, and to recognise the ripple effect of our individual actions.”
JERUSHA TAN
Company Manager
Jerusha has worked in the arts and cultural sector in Singapore for more than 10 years. She has a background in creative producing, project management, and strategic communication. A firm believer in the transformative nature of the arts, Jerusha is driven by how she can help others to express their creativity and realise their artistic vision. Her interests span across placemaking, social action, and cultural participation. She holds a MA with Distinction in Arts, Festival, and Cultural Management from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
“I first encountered ArtsWok in 2012 at IPS Prism, where they presented a bold vision of what arts-based community development could be. The Greenhouse Sessions and Both Sides, Now followed soon after, capturing my attention in distinct yet complementary ways. In the years since, my relationship with ArtsWok has taken on different dimensions as a participant, volunteer, and creative producer. What has been constant, however, is my admiration for the imagination, empathy, and heart in all that they do.”
JENNIFER KWAN
Assistant Manager, Programme & Engagement
Prior to joining ArtsWok, Jennifer worked in local publishing for 7 years, valuing the opportunities to platform underrepresented voices and fresh perspectives through bestselling books and meaningful dialogues. Experienced in sales, logistics, and event planning, Jennifer treasures the relationships that form when collaborating with others, and finds joy in connecting people together whether for work or for play. She is also passionate about accessibility and climate justice, and how these causes can converse and grow with each other through intersectional feminist practice.
“I find deep purpose in work that platforms underrepresented perspectives and social issues, and felt an alignment to the values and competencies that drive ArtsWok’s programmes. It’s nourishing to be part of a team that honours the intricate process of collaboration, and values the arts as an avenue for social participation and community development. I’m looking forward to more opportunities to collaborate within and beyond the arts.”
DURRAH QISTINA
Programme Executive
Durrah holds a BA (Hons) in Arts Management from Goldsmiths, University of London. Trained in visual arts and arts management, Durrah believes in the significance of the arts in communicating, engaging, and reaching out to underserved communities. With her skills and knowledge in arts management, she aims to advocate for the role of the arts as a catalyst for social change and for creating inclusive spaces. As part of her art collective NAYA, Durrah served as an artist-in-residence at The Artground to create an immersive play space for babies and young children.
“I first came to learn of ArtsWok through Both Sides, Now. It inspired me to take up the opportunity to embark on a traineeship with them. The meaningful experiences I gained along the way motivated me to continue on this journey with the team. I’m hopeful for the future of arts-based community development! And look forward to co-creating more projects which empower communities and strive for social change.”
KYARA DEVASER
Content Creator
Kyara is a creative force and an art-maker with a BA in Arts (History of Art) from the University of Western Australia and a Diploma in Communication Design from Temasek Polytechnic. Rooted in exploring what mortality means, she believes in the significance of art as a platform for shaping and interpreting the world. With a passion for uncovering untold stories, she seeks to provide platforms for diverse perspectives, contributing to knowledge production through art, design, and curation. Inspired by the concepts of metaphysics, Kyara aims to weave narratives that open minds and hearts.
“ArtsWok’s mission is something I truly resonate with — that the power of the arts can bring about change. Using my strengths in art and design to initiate positive change is something I’ve always pursued. Through exploring various social issues, the arts have inculcated within me a deep sense of curiosity about the world and its intricacies. I’m grateful to be a part of ArtsWok, an organisation that champions such impactful programmes.”
Board of Directors
DR. JUSTIN LEE
Chairperson
Justin is a Senior Research Fellow at Policy Lab, Institute of Policy Studies. Given his interest in community development, mutual aid, and worker-owned/platform co-operatives, Justin runs policy experiments to test ideas such as interest-free loans to the community, time banking, and community circles. He has created a wiki platform that allows mass participation in the mapping of social needs and co-founded a skilled volunteer matching platform. Justin serves on the board of Trampolene, as well as the research committees of Singapore Children’s Society and SINDA. He has a PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles.
“I didn’t know much about the arts, much less arts-based community development before I signed up for a Greenhouse Session simply because it sounded interesting. That’s when I first got to meet the dynamic duo Su-Lin and Huey, the co-founders of ArtsWok. The first thing I realised about ArtsWok is that when they facilitate a dialogue, they really facilitate. Subsequently, I helped with training and kept attending ArtsWok productions until they had to invite me to the board. What I learned along the way is that the artful building of communities can make a lot of difference. Cheers to all socially engaged artists!”
BRUCE LIEW
Board Member | Treasurer
Bruce is the Director of Sector Manpower & Leadership Development at the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). With a vision of a sector that constantly seeks ways to deliver social services more effectively, he helps agencies leverage technology and innovation, develop organisational capabilities, and harness the strengths of the community to deliver better outcomes for service users. Prior to NCSS, he spent more than a decade launching digital businesses in a Silicon Valley start-up and various multinational companies. Bruce is a certified business continuity expert and meditation guide. Evidently, he plans for the worst and chants for the best.
“ArtsWok’s approach of combining the ‘relational approach’ of community development with a ‘creative approach’ unique to the arts resonates with me, as artistic experiences can catalyse the organic and often unpredictable development of communal relationships and capabilities. It inspires me to do more in this niche and relatively nascent field.”
SIMON SIAH
Board Member
Simon is the founder of Qurious Consulting, a multidisciplinary innovation training and consultancy firm which specialises in assisting organisations develop innovation capabilities. He also serves as an innovation advisor to Y-Lab, an innovation lab at the National Gallery Singapore that bridges the realms of technology and art to enhance the art viewing experience, visitor engagement, and the work environment for museum professionals.
“I was first introduced to ArtWok’s work through Both Sides, Now. It piqued my interest in understanding how art can serve as a catalyst for fostering discussions on sensitive topics, such as coping with death. The latter is a subject that grows in significance as we age and confront the reality of our mortality. Art offers a non-threatening and expressive avenue for individuals to convey their emotions and connect with others who share similar experiences. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to learn and actively participate in a meaningful cause, utilising art as a tool for promoting positive change and fostering connections within our community.”
RANGANAYAKI THANGAVELU
Board Member
Ranga has been in the charity sector for over 20 years. She is an accredited social worker and community development practitioner, especially in the rental housing neighbourhoods in Singapore. Recently, she stepped down from her role as deputy executive director at Beyond Social Services to explore new opportunities and challenges. She is a former journalist and feature writer, and is passionate about amplifying the voices of the marginalised. Ranga is also an adjunct lecturer in social work at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam in Germany and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). She sits on the board of The Constellation, an international network of practitioners focused on community-led change, and A Good Space Co-operative. Ranga holds a Master of Social Work from SUSS and Master of Mass Communications from Nanyang Technological University. She hopes to serve ArtsWok through her experience in leadership in the non-profit sector and her deep interest in community competence.
“I got to work closely with Su-Lin and the team at ArtsWok in 2019 when we collaborated on a community theatre performance at the M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival focusing on poverty and inequality. At every stage of the process, ArtsWok’s professionalism and passion was apparent, and they fully supported our team and youth through the staging of The Block Party at the Esplanade. I am familiar with the community theatre process when we stage in the neighbourhoods, but it was a whole new experience of four shows in three days in a theatre. The opportunity gave a boost to the youth and the whole team, and no one can forget the life-changing experience. I look forward to strengthening the link between asset-based community development and arts-based community development.”
