National Library Creative Residency (Singapore)

Residents are encouraged to reimagine or reinterpret the collections in ways that provide fresh perspectives and make them more engaging to a wider community of users. The Residents are required to share their concepts, and this could take the form of videos, publications, literary works, artworks, musical compositions, or more. Such sharing helps to enhance or reshape public discovery, exploration, and engagement with the collections and content.

Research Areas

• They are on the lookout for projects that make effective and meaningful use of the collections. Applicants are to propose and employ suitable methods to conceptualise new creative works inspired by the collections. The themes include but are not limited to the following:
  • Social history of Singapore through photographs, oral histories, and other relevant collections;
  • Singapore’s visual culture in design and everyday life;
  • Stories and narratives from Singapore literature.

Terms of the Award

The award of the Residency is for a period of six months:

• A stipend of S$3,500 per month will be provided to help Residents meet their living and local expenses.
• In addition to the stipend, Residents will be provided with up to S$6,000 (on reimbursement basis) for the purchase of materials for the conceptualisation, or materials that are directly related to the project and/or used for the duration of the Residency.
• Residents shall be responsible for obtaining all required licenses, permits, permissions, and other authorisation to use any photographs, copyrighted materials or other property, or other rights belonging to third parties that are used for the project.

Who can Apply?

• The National Library Creative Residency is open to Singapore-based creative practitioners (individuals or collectives) working in any discipline or form of expression. This includes but is not limited to visual and digital media artists, composers, musicians, designers, writers, and creatives. They also welcome inter-disciplinary creative practitioners.
• Successful applicants should possess relevant research and artistic credentials or equivalent; preferably have an established record of achievement in their chosen field of research and the potential to excel further.

For more information, visit National Library Board (NLB).