About the Award
The SMU Emerging Artist Award seeks to identify passionate and talented artists in the SMU undergraduate community. The award recognises the artist's past work and accomplishments, and encourages the artist to continually grow and nurture one’s love and involvement in the arts. The award also aims to raise awareness of the arts within the university.
The inaugual Emerging Artist Award was presented at the ACF Annual Arts Awards Night (EVE) in 2013. When its tenure expired in 2019, it was renewed by a donor’s gift and extended to 2026. From 2020 onwards, the award will be presented to the winner during the University of Student Life Awards ceremony.
The SMU Emerging Artist Award is dedicated with love and gratitude to the late SMU Professor Winston Koh.
Eligibility Criteria
The award is open to all SMU students who are:
- actively involved in the arts (in any discipline or form, including and not limited to dance, music, theatre, photography, filmmaking, writing, painting, drawing, sculpture, installation art etc.);
- full-time undergraduates and have completed at least two terms of studies; and
- active members of an SMU arts club for a minimum of one term.
This award will only be given if there is a candidate of sufficient merit.
Benefits
Certificate and $1,500 Cash Prize
Application
Invitation to apply will be sent by Office of Student Life via e-mail in November/December annually.
Enquiries
Centre for Student Financial Assistance
Office of Admissions and Financial Assistance
Email: finasst@smu.edu.sg
About the Donor
The first award tenure expired in 2019 and was renewed with a gift from alumnus Hong Huazheng, extending the tenure to 2026.
This award is the result of a project initiated and led by the late Professor Winston Koh and alumnus Hong Huazheng. In 2010, Professor Koh, a team of SMU alumni and students created a series of photographs commemorating SMU's 10th anniversary, with contributions from the SMU community. The team published coffee table book containing all these photographs, and named it TEN. All sales proceeds from TEN were used to fund this award.
The photographers who contributed to the book were alumni who gave their time, talent, energy and passion to SMU, which had supported them in their artistic pursuits during their undergraduate years. They are Hong Huazheng, Lee Cher Han, Reuben Ong, Jasmine Teh, Lionel Ng, Ngo Bang Lin and Shaun Yap.
The alumni members were all part of various student arts clubs at SMU, and they understood the difficulties that an aspiring artist may face, including financial challenges. By establishing the SMU Emerging Artist Award, these alumni members wished to pave a smoother path for their SMU juniors who share a similar passion in the arts.
On top of recognising emerging artists in the SMU community, this award aims to raise awareness for the arts, and to make the SMU arts community a more vibrant, diverse and colourful one.
