The National Arts Council (NAC) yesterday signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UOL Group Limited (UOL), and its subsidiary Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG), collectively referred as the Group, to integrate the arts more deeply into Singapore’s commercial and hospitality spaces.

The MOU was signed in conjunction with the International Society of Performing Arts (ISPA) 2026 Singapore Congress, held from 19 to 22 May, which brought together over 400 global performing arts leaders. PPHG is the official hospitality partner for ISPA 2026.

The partnership between NAC and the Group is significant on three fronts. NAC and the Group will strengthen support for the arts in Singapore, create new opportunities for local artists, including artists with disabilities, and introduce arts experiences across the Group’s hotels and properties.

The Group will support key national arts platforms such as Singapore Art Week, Singapore International Festival of the Arts and Singapore Writers Festival through venue access, hospitality support and specially rated accommodation for visiting artists and guests. These efforts strengthen Singapore’s ability to host international arts events and talent, while demonstrating how businesses can contribute meaningfully to Singapore’s arts ecosystem. The collaboration also expands the presence of the arts within commercial and hospitality environments, creating new arts touchpoints between artists, businesses and the public.

A long-standing supporter of the arts, the Group was accorded the Distinguished Patron of the Arts award from 2022 to 2025, bringing a strong track record of arts philanthropy and community-based engagement to the partnership.

“NAC’s partnership with UOL-PPHG reflects the important role the private sector can play in growing a vibrant arts scene in Singapore. Together, we bring the arts closer to everyday life and to everyone, while creating new opportunities for our artists,” said Mrs Elaine Ng, Chief Executive Officer, NAC.

Local artists will gain new platforms to present their work to wider audiences through exhibitions, performances and literary showcases across the Group’s properties. Initiatives may include live performances in commercial spaces, curated exhibitions and Singapore literature titles featured in hotel rooms.

The partnership will also expand opportunities for artists with disabilities through the Group’s established inclusion platforms, including the UOL X ART:DIS Art Prize and the ‘More Art. Made Inclusive.’ exhibition. At PARKROYAL on Beach Road, artists with disabilities will also have opportunities to showcase and sell their works, with proceeds supporting artists or local charities. More information on the UOL X ART:DIS Art Prize and ‘More Art. Made Inclusive’ can be found in Annex A.

The collaboration will support artists with disabilities in growing their practice and engaging different audiences through leveraging UOL’s existing art showcases and art jamming sessions at United Square. Workshops led by artists with disabilities offer shoppers a chance to learn art techniques, while enabling the artists to earn fees and gain experience in facilitating such programmes.

UOL Group Chief Executive Liam Wee Sin said: “UOL and PPHG have been at the forefront of supporting inclusive arts initiatives. We believe that the arts have an important role to play in shaping inclusive communities and enlivening everyday spaces in Singapore. With our partnership with NAC, we can create new pathways to integrate the arts more deeply across our spaces, making arts experiences more accessible and immersive. This will serve as a catalyst for the continued artistic and professional development of artists.”

PPHG Executive Director, Sustainability Partnerships, Lifestyle & Asset Wee Wei Ling said: “This partnership builds on our collaboration with NAC over the past years, reflecting our continued commitment to supporting local artists and inclusive arts. We hope to further broaden community engagement with the arts and bring greater visibility to local artists.”

Visitors, hotel guests and shoppers can look forward to encountering more arts experiences across the Group’s properties, from curated artworks and performances to public programmes integrated into shared spaces. PPHG concierge teams will also receive training to better connect guests with arts experiences across Singapore, helping visitors discover the city through its arts offerings.

At UOL’s upcoming NoMad hotel, slated to open in Q4 2026, a public space within the hotel called Faber Hall, with access to the former Singapore Chinese Girls’ School campus via the connection link known as Faber Gallery on Level 3, will serve as a venue for performances, community programmes and inclusive arts activities in the heart of Orchard Road. The hotel will also feature bespoke works by local artists, including artists with disabilities, contributing to Orchard Road’s ongoing transformation into a more vibrant lifestyle and cultural destination.

This MOU is part of NAC’s concerted effort to bring more corporate partners into sustained, structured support for the arts, complementing existing initiatives such as the Cultural Matching Fund, Sustain the Arts (stART) Fund, and the Patron of the Arts Awards. Guided by NAC’s Our SG Arts Plan (2023 – 2027), these efforts are part of a larger vision to transform Singapore into a distinctive city, with the country as a canvas for the arts.