05-05-2025
Angela Tan on how Art:Dis Singapore is breaking barriers in the arts for persons with disabilities
The executive director of Art:Dis Singapore shares how the non-profit organisation is dedicated to providing persons with disabilities equal access to arts education and professional development in the arts
When Art:Dis Singapore staged Chachambo: Taking Flight as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations in 2023, the landmark disability-led music theatre work featured a main cast of 10 actors with disabilities, many of whom were graduates of its Beyond Dis:Play programme, which offers professional theatre training for persons with disabilities.
In the leading role was Claire Teo, a visually-impaired artist and educator, who is also the playwright of the musical staged at Victoria Theatre. The community engagement project also included both disabled and non-disabled artists, as well as seniors from the Yong-en Active Hub, one of Art:Dis's neighbours at its Bukit Merah centre. 'During the production, the seniors got to know Claire, a trained classical soprano, and when the production ended, they asked her if she could teach them singing because they were amazed by how well she performed,' shares Angela Tan, the executive director of Art:Dis.
Describing this as 'a full-circle moment' for the non-profit organisation's work in the arts and disability space, Tan adds, 'It's a whole shift in dynamics. You have a visually-impaired artist, who is now empowered by the community. I thought that it was a memorable way to cap that performance project, which has now continued [with Teo teaching the seniors].' Teo is the first visually-impaired graduate of Lasalle College of the Arts' diploma in performance programme. She recently completed a two-year industry mentorship programme with Art:Dis, and also teaches drama and mentors students at special needs and mainstream schools, senior activity centres, and performing arts colleges.
