Mr Liam Wee Sin, UOL Group Chief Executive and Mr Choe Peng Sum, PPHG Chief Executive Officer, received the recognition from Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law.
UOL and PPHG have been conferred their third consecutive Distinguished Patron of the Arts award by the National Arts Council (NAC), a recognition of the Group’s significant contributions towards the development of the arts in Singapore over the years.
UOL Group Chief Executive Liam Wee Sin and PPHG Chief Executive Officer Choe Peng Sum received the accolade at the Patron of the Arts Awards ceremony held at Pan Pacific Orchard on 20 August 2024. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law, Mr Edwin Tong, was the guest-of-honour.
Mr Liam said: “We are honoured to be recognised for our steadfast commitment to the arts. Today, the biggest transformation that artists with disabilities are making is in the art world itself. When people recognise that art created by individuals with disabilities not only matches but often exceeds expectations, it underscores the universal nature of creativity and human expression. This realisation is not only empowering but also dismantles barriers and promotes inclusion. The possibilities are endless.”
A community initiative, Project OPENDOOR, was launched by UOL with six ART:DIS artists to co-create an art installation from doors recovered from the conserved Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) flats at the Avenue South Residence site. The project aimed to upcycle the doors into art sculptures for display at the development, not only promoting sustainability but also opened doors of opportunities for artists with disabilities.
“We are very happy to receive this wonderful award together with UOL. Our commitment to the promotion of local arts is central to UOL-PPHG’s vision of enriching Singapore’s cultural landscape and enhancing the vibrancy of our community. In 2023, PPHG organised 14 art exhibitions across our hotels in Singapore, collaborating with organisations like Extra•Ordinary People and renowned art galleries in support of local and overseas artists,” added Mr Choe.
As an award recipient of POAA since 2019, UOL remains committed to nurturing and empowering artists of all backgrounds, and contributing to the vibrancy of the local art scene.