Demand for arts education across Asia has “changed tremendously” over the past decade, according to the new president of a leading Singaporean arts college, who said its graduates are increasingly contributing to economic innovation beyond the cultural sector.

Speaking to ̽����Ƶ, Venka Purushothaman, who took over as president of LASALLE College of the Arts last month, said interest in arts programmes is rising rapidly across Asia.

“The demand is tremendous for arts education both from Asia and in Singapore,” said Purushothaman. “The landscape has changed tremendously compared with 10 years ago.”

His comments come as Singapore seeks to strengthen its position as a regional hub for creative industries and arts education, following a 2023 four-year arts plan unveiled by policymakers aimed at “unlocking Singapore’s creative economy and creating good jobs”.

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The plan also saw the establishment of the University of the Arts Singapore, an umbrella institution bringing together LASALLE and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, which enrolled its first intake in 2024. 

A few years on, Purushothaman said the “experiment” was “still evolving” and while transitions are never easy “we are in a good place”.

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The federated model has allowed each institution to retain its own identity while collaborating on research and teaching while gaining the university title has “put our students shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts in local STEM universities”, he added.

Singapore continues to attract creative students from across Asia, Purushothaman said. “Singapore remains a hugely aspirational site for many young people from the region,” he said. “And so they do want to come out and study and work with us and find opportunities.”

Purushothaman, the first Singaporean-born leader of the institution, took over as president of LASALLE from Steve Dixon, who led the institution for 14 years and will remain at the college as senior fellow. Purushothaman joined LASALLE in 2000 and previously served as deputy president and provost.

He said he aims to build on LASALLE’s existing strengths while expanding its engagement with the wider Asian region.

“There’s a great opportunity to really build on LASALLE’s history in quality arts higher education, to really take it to the next frontier as we engage with greater Asia in this regard,” he said.

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Purushothaman said growing interest in arts programmes reflects broader changes in Asia’s economic landscape, as cities invest in cultural sectors and creative industries.

“You have multiple emerging second, third, fourth tier cities that are transforming into new economic and creative zones,” he said.

Arts graduates are increasingly moving into industries beyond the cultural sector, he added, as employers recognise the value of creative thinking in areas ranging from business and consulting to technology.

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“Many of our LASALLE graduates are working in non-art sectors,” he said. “This ability to think differently is becoming a skill that’s in much need, especially where transformation is required in an increasingly complex economic environment.”

Purushothaman said the importance of the arts also depends on the role they play in shaping societies as they evolve.

“The arts matter by virtue of where you’re located and what it means for each society, as it transforms itself,” he said. “Singapore is a young society and will continue to invest in the arts as it shapes its own nation and its own creative citizenry.”

He added that “where there is a youth market, the demand will be there. And we will always structure how we can build capacity”.

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With interest in creative education continuing to rise across Asia, Purushothaman said Singapore’s arts institutions are well placed to play a larger regional role. “We are delighted that the demand is strong,” he said.

tash.mosheim@timeshighereducation.com