The UOB Southeast Asia Gallery is temporarily closed and will reopen in late 2027. In the meantime, works from the National Collection remain exhibited across the Gallery. 

Strength Through Art (stART)

Strength Through Art programme (stART) is a resilience-building, art exposure programme focused on developing visual and emotional literacy for youths aged 13 and up.

Registration

Strength Through Art is open to all students aged 13 and above in Singapore. For programme enquiries, email outreach@nationalgallery.sg

Download booking form

   stART Initiatives

Hands holding colorful art supplies, including crayons, paintbrushes, and paper, on a wooden table for stART x schools.

stART x schools

Strength Through Art (stART) is an art and wellness programme started in 2021. This multi-session workshop is designed to strengthen students’ visual and emotional literacy through guided dialogue, reflection and inquiry using artworks from the National Collection.

Rather than teach students what to make, stART focuses on how to explore, experiment and transform emotions into creative expression.

A group of diverse individuals gathered around a table with figures, discussing ideas for stART x Fei Yue Community Services.

stART x Fei Yue Community Services

In collaboration with Fei Yue Community Services, stART Here: From Every Vantage Point creates an art engagement platform for youths who may feel overlooked, isolated or disconnected. Through the programme, NEET youths explore their feelings through artmaking — their lived experiences becoming the content, and themselves the creators and meaning-makers.

Rather than operating through a treatment or problem-based lens, the programme foregrounds capability, creativity, and shared authorship.

Watch the videos here:​

A group of diverse young individuals seated in a circle, engaged in discussion within an art gallery setting for stART x Institute of Mental Health.

stART x Institute of Mental Health

stART from Within is a special edition of stART for youth participants with lived experiences, engaged through the Institute of Mental Health to contribute artworks for the Biennial International Congress on Mental Health 2026. They are also invited into the Gallery as viewers, thinkers, and makers.​

Rooted in the belief that healing and meaning-making can unfold beyond medical settings, this initiative reflects the value of cross-sector collaboration across arts and health. The programme offers a culturally safe space in the community for creativity to support mental health recovery and identity building. Without pressure to explain or perform, art allows space for reflection, imagination and connection. 

View some of the artworks from the collaboration here:​

Testimonials

Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School

CHIJ Secondary

Greenridge Secondary School

Saint Anthony's Canossian Secondary School

1 4

Key features

Participants are guided to identify their emotions and develop strategies to cope with negativity through 6 sessions of artwork discussions and artmaking. The activities empower adolescents to turn their creativity into opportunities for self-care and equip them with basic knowledge of emotional first aid.
Flowchart illustrating the initial steps of a program logic sequence, including decision points and actions.

Learning outcomes

Colorful journals designed for self-discovery through art.

Focus areas of stART

  • Name: Identify your emotions
  • Frame: Notice how your emotions affect you
  • Reframe: Uncover new perspectives and find strength through art
Colorful books and cards designed for self-discovery through art.

stART Resources

  • Playbook
  • Care Collection Cards
Publications & Features

Discover publications, articles and stories about stART and its work with young people and partners. stART has been featured in the following publications:

Awards & Recognition

Silver Ribbon Mental Health Award for Community, Culture and Sports

  • Recognising the contributions in championing mental health initiatives through stART, National Gallery Singapore received this award in 2023, 2024, 2025​, and 2026.

Colorful journals designed for self-discovery through art.

Strength Through Art Playbook

Emotions take us on a journey of self-discovery. Participants can transform their thoughts and feelings into art through the Playbook. They are invited to express themselves when faced with challenges in whatever way feels right to them; be it write, sketch, or doodle.

Download our Journal playbook here

Explore More

School Group Visits

The Care Collection

Art x Wellness

Our Outreach Efforts