Live painting by Aaron Gan and Abu Jalal at the Launch of the 37th POY. Image courtesy UOB.

United Overseas Bank (UOB) renews its commitment to nurture the next generation of artists in the region, announcing the further development of art education programmes at the Singapore launch of its 37th Painting of the Year (POY) competition on 15 May.

Highlights of the launch included a live painting demonstration by past Singapore POY Gold Award Winners in the Established Artist Category, Aaron Gan and Abu Jalal. They were joined by Thidarat Chantachua and Yoko Choi, winners of the Thailand POY and Singapore Most Promising Artist of the Year in the Emerging Artist categories respectively, each sharing their personal ethos as artists and highlighting the various outreach programmes they have been able to participate in with UOB.

United Overseas Bank launches it’s 37th Painting of the Year Competition

As part of its efforts to cultivate artistic talent in students, UOB will broaden its art outreach programme to schools in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, countries where the POY is held. UOB will also engage more POY alumni artists in its school-based programmes.

“We believe that art strengthens our community bonds, enriches our lives and connects our past, present and future”, says Wee Ee Cheong, UOB Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “By opening our art outreach programmes to more schools across the region, we aim to raise greater awareness and appreciation of art among the young.”

In 2017, UOB’s first art education programme was offered to Singapore secondary school students pursuing a dedicated art curriculum through the Ministry of Education’s Art Elective Programme. More than 600 students benefited, including 2017 UOB POY Emerging Artist winner, Yang Kaiwen. UOB plans to extend the programme to students of all schools which offer the Art Elective Programme or the Enhanced Art Programme in 2018.

The open call for Singapore-based artists in either the Emerging and Established artist categories will be from 24 to 26 August, at the School of the Arts Singapore Art Gallery.  This year’s competition judges are Kwok Kian Chow, Associate Professor of Arts and Culture Management (Practice) and Director of Wee Kim Wee Centre, Singapore Management University, Stephanie Fong, Founder of FOST Gallery and Vincent Leow, artist and art educator.  

Winners in each country will be considered for the regional Southeast Asia UOB POY award and a month-long residency programme at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan.

More information at uobpoy.com.