Tisch School of the Arts Asia

Tisch School of the Arts Asia was a premier institution for arts education in Singapore, offering a range of programs in film, theater, dance, and photography. The school was established in 2007 as a partnership between New York University and the Singaporean Government, with the goal of providing a world-class arts education in Asia. The school's curriculum was designed in collaboration with the Tisch School of the Arts in New York City, and featured faculty members from Yale University, University of California, Los Angeles, and Columbia University. The school's programs were accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

● History

The history of the school is closely tied to the development of the Singaporean arts scene, which has been supported by institutions such as the National Arts Council (Singapore), the Singapore Art Museum, and the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay. The school's establishment was also influenced by the Singaporean Government's efforts to develop the country into a hub for arts and culture, as outlined in the Renaissance City Plan. The school's founding dean was Pari Shirin, who previously taught at University of California, Berkeley and California Institute of the Arts. The school's early years were marked by collaborations with other institutions, including the Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, and Lasalle College of the Arts.

● Academics

The school's academic programs were designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in the arts, with courses taught by faculty members from Juilliard School, California Institute of the Arts, and School of Visual Arts. The school offered undergraduate and graduate degree programs in film production, theater production, dance performance, and photography, as well as certificate programs in screenwriting, playwriting, and directing. The school's curriculum was influenced by the Bologna Process and the Lisbon Recognition Convention, and was designed to provide students with a global perspective on the arts. The school also offered study abroad programs in partnership with University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, and University of Toronto.

● Campus

The school's campus was located in the Singapore downtown area, near the Marina Bay Sands and the Gardens by the Bay. The campus featured state-of-the-art facilities, including a black box theater, a dance studio, and a film production studio. The school's library collection included works by Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Quentin Tarantino, as well as art books and journals from Phaidon Press, Taschen, and Aperture Foundation. The school's campus was also home to the Tisch School of the Arts Asia Gallery, which featured exhibitions by artists such as Ai Weiwei, Anish Kapoor, and Cindy Sherman.

● Notable Alumni

The school's alumni have gone on to successful careers in the arts industry, with many working as film directors, theater producers, dancers, and photographers. Notable alumni include film director Eric Khoo, who has worked with Jackie Chan and Zhang Ziyi; theater director Ong Keng Sen, who has worked with Peter Brook and Robert Lepage; and dancer Eileen Tan, who has performed with Martha Graham Dance Company and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Other notable alumni include photographer Chien-Chi Chang, who has worked with National Geographic and The New York Times; and screenwriter Tan Pin Pin, who has worked with HBO Asia and Mediacorp.

● Programs and Research

The school's programs and research initiatives were focused on the development of the arts industry in Asia, with a particular emphasis on film production, theater production, and dance performance. The school's research centers included the Center for Film and New Media, the Center for Theater and Performance Studies, and the Center for Dance Research. The school also offered programs in partnership with other institutions, including the Asian Film Archive, the Singapore International Film Festival, and the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay. The school's faculty members have published research in journals such as Film Quarterly, Theater Journal, and Dance Research Journal, and have presented papers at conferences such as the Society for Cinema and Media Studies and the International Federation for Theatre Research.

● Closure

The school closed its doors in 2012 due to financial difficulties, despite efforts by the Singaporean Government and New York University to support the institution. The closure was met with sadness from the arts community in Singapore, which had come to rely on the school as a hub for arts education and cultural production. The school's legacy continues to be felt, however, with many of its alumni going on to successful careers in the arts industry. The school's closure also led to a re-evaluation of the arts education landscape in Singapore, with institutions such as the Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore expanding their arts programs to fill the gap left by the school's closure. Category:Defunct universities and colleges in Singapore