Art and Soul: 80 Years of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

From humble art school to renowned international institution in 80 years – this is the story of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). It covers its journey from a Geylang shophouse with 14 students to the present-day Bencoolen Street campus with a 12,000-strong enrolment. The narrative details its evolution from a private school focused on visual arts to a government-funded art academy offering courses in music, dance, and theatre. The book highlights NAFA’s leading graduates and their contributions to the arts scene in Singapore and the region. It showcases NAFA as more than an arts academy, emphasizing its role as a creative hub with a research centre in Southeast Asian arts, a collection of significant artworks, an extensive library, a performing centre, and two art galleries with regular exhibitions. Based on interviews, historical records, and research materials, the book offers fresh insights and previously untold accounts of the academy’s history, its challenges, and successes.