In history
Since its INception, IN’s ideal has been that the respective art departments of Singapore’s international schools should be partners, sharing our best practices, collaborating for the mutual benefit of students and teachers alike, improving outcomes for our students by supporting each other. IN grew out of an initial collaboration between four schools, Tanglin Trust School, Australian International School, United World College (Dover) and St Joseph’s Institution International.
The initial concept had the support of an established gallery, One East Asia who supported us primarily with providing us with a gallery space and the connections to the media and prospective sale of students’ work. This exhibition was called Four-Into-One. Nearly eighty student works from the schools were exhibited between 10th November and 30th November 2011.
At that time, the artworks were shown in two separate exhibitions due to the volume of artwork and the limitations of the gallery space. This initial venture was a commercial exhibition and the selected student works were required to be for sale and percentages of sales assisted the gallery in covering some costs. To satisfy this requirement many conditions of sale were placed upon these works as they had been produced for exam assessments that had not yet taken place. It was, however, a huge success for all involved, forming lasting collaborative partnerships between the schools involved.
In 2012, the combined exhibitions second year of operation, more schools requested involvement (UWCSEA East) due to the overwhelming success of the previous year with UWCSEA Dover. It was again hosted by One East Asia, but in their new high-profile location on Scotts Rd. Yet again, the newly named 5 to 1 exhibition was a great success, in part owing to excellent media coverage and the wider school community’s involvement in the Arts. A school’s involvement in this event allowed for another dimension to the school public profile. During the exhibition, other Singapore schools came and visited, and the prestige of being selected for the exhibition grew among the various student bodies.
As educators, we could see significant benefits from the involvement of the schools, as we had a variety of curricula and nationalities working together. Our philosophy of teaching, and the objective for our specific school’s art curricula, could be practically investigated and built upon with a collegiality not easily established between schools. Sharing of resourcing, ordering locations and media developments built on genuine interests with the works emerging from the exhibition.
In 2014, more schools came onboard with the interest of The German European School of Singapore. The venue also moved to a larger space in the Atrium Gallery at the Australian High Commission, on Napier Road. As a result, we had a single show lasting longer at 5 weeks leading up to Christmas, and the completion of the southern hemisphere academic calendar. With the increased gallery space we were able to hang all works in one exciting and diverse exhibition. Of course, this provided much greater advantages for all.
In 2017 IN expanded to 15 schools. Many of the teachers involved agreed that as an exercise, IN constitutes some of the highest quality professional development available to them. In part, because of the genuine and rich relationships developed over long stretches of time, as well as the tangible results and high levels interaction and engagement for all participants.
In 2018 Nexus International School and Dover Court, both making superb contributions and expanding further the variety of subjects, approaches, skills and techniques. This range of artistic methodology is a primary characteristic for which IN has become known, and which so enriches our students’ experiences in the visual arts.
Last year, 2019, we were very pleased to welcome Overseas Family School who submitted a number of excellent works.
This year's pandemic has placed a number of restrictions on events and gatherings, which meant organising a physical exhibition was an impossible task. IN had to adapt quickly and create a fully-fledged digital platform to host the student work. Embracing the potential of technology, we decided to showcase some of the artist processes and reflections in interview-style mini videos which can be found on selected schools' exhibition pages. Though it is no substitute for a real life exhibition, we hope you enjoy this year's show.