ArtsWok Collaborative
ArtsWok Collaborative is a Singapore non-profit founded in 2011 that delivers arts-based community development programmes, including end-of-life dialogue (Both Sides, Now), youth theatre, and practitioner training, funded primarily by government grants and donations and offered free to participants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSingapore, Singapore
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ArtsWok Collaborative does
ArtsWok Collaborative is a Singapore-registered non-profit founded in 2011 by Ngiam Su-Lin and Ko Siew Huey that operates as an arts intermediary between public, private, and people sectors. Its core function is arts-based community development: convening cross-sectoral partnerships and delivering programmes that use creative practices to address social fragmentation, intergenerational disconnect, and taboos such as end-of-life. The organisation serves four overlapping segments: general community members across Singapore neighbourhoods (Yishun, Jurong/Yuhua, Toa Payoh, Cassia Crescent, Whampoa), youth aged 13-25, seniors, and arts/community practitioners. Its underlying technology is a documented methodology stack comprising the proprietary DIME framework (Design, Implement, Monitor, Evaluate), Community Cultural Mapping, and arts-based facilitation drawing from visual arts, applied drama, music performance, artistic movement, and literary arts.
The product portfolio consists of current programmes (Both Sides, Now focused on end-of-life and active ageing; Greenhouse Sessions for practitioner gatherings since 2013; Learning Forum; and Professional Development offerings including Lab and Train-and-Attach variants) and previous programmes (The Greenhouse Lab, M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival 2015-2020, Everyday Waltzes for Active Ageing 2014-2015). The organisation also maintains a public Library comprising Glossary, Project Journal, Field Studies, Insight Reports, and Research Papers, the last including third-party academic analyses. The team numbers 6 employees, supplemented by a network of trained Labbers, artistic directors (Jean Ng, Alvin Tan), and board members (Justin Lee, Charlene Rajendran).
ArtsWok's business model is grant-funded: primary revenue streams are grants from Our Singapore Fund, National Arts Council Singapore, and Agency for Integrated Care, supplemented by individual donations routed through Giving.sg. All programmes are delivered free of charge to community participants; there is no participant fee model. The go-to-market motion is community-led and partner-anchored, distributing programmes via co-commissioning with healthcare institutions (Yishun Health), social service providers (Loving Heart, Youth Guidance Outreach Services), cultural venues (Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay), and government bodies. The Professional Development line is the principal move toward monetised, non-grant training services.
ArtsWok Collaborative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ArtsWok Collaborative
- Legal name
- ArtsWok Collaborative
- Website
- https://artswok.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ArtsWok Collaborative is a Singapore non-profit founded in 2011 that delivers arts-based community development programmes, including end-of-life dialogue (Both Sides, Now), youth theatre, and practitioner training, funded primarily by government grants and donations and offered free to participants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ArtsWok Collaborative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Arts Development
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Cultural, Arts & Humanities Community Education (Museums/Arts Councils) (EDAAAFAD)
Keywords
Where ArtsWok Collaborative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Singapore
- HQ country
- Singapore
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
ArtsWok Collaborative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: ArtsWok Collaborative receives funding through grants from government agencies and foundations. Funding sources include Our Singapore Fund, National Arts Council, and Agency for Integrated Care.
- Donations: The organization accepts donations through Giving.sg platform for individual contributions to support arts for change.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
ArtsWok Collaborative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ArtsWok Collaborative designs and delivers arts-based community development programmes in Singapore, including community engagement projects (Both Sides, Now), practitioner gatherings (Greenhouse Sessions), annual forums (Learning Forum), and professional development training (Lab, Train-and-Attach). Services are delivered free to community participants and are funded through grants from government agencies and foundations, alongside individual donations.
Product overview
ArtsWok Collaborative is a non-profit arts organization focused on arts-based community development in Singapore. Their portfolio consists of current programmes (Both Sides Now, Greenhouse Sessions, Learning Forum, and Professional Development offerings) and a resource Library containing glossary, project journals, field studies, insight reports, and research papers. They have also produced previous standalone programmes including The Greenhouse Lab, M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival, and Everyday Waltzes for Active Ageing. The organization functions as an arts intermediary, bridging public, private, and people sectors to create partnerships and sustain an environment for community development through the arts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Both Sides, Now: Community development initiative focusing on conversations around living well and leaving well, including end-of-life matters.
- Greenhouse Sessions
- Greenhouse Lab
- M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival
- Learning Forum
- Professional Development
Products and services
- Both Sides, Now A community development project focused on end-of-life conversations and supportive community building for living well and leaving well. Features year-long collaborations with seniors and community members and produces community exhibitions such as 'tides 潮'. Targeted at seniors, community members, and healthcare partners.
- Greenhouse Sessions A series of intimate gatherings for a multidisciplinary network of practitioners with a shared interest in arts-based community development. Includes sessions, discussions, and reflections. Targeted at arts practitioners, facilitators, and community workers.
- Learning Forum An annual professional development event bringing together practitioners to learn about arts-based community development approaches and methodologies, with focus on diversity and community engagement topics. Targeted at arts practitioners, community workers, and policy stakeholders.
- Professional Development Lab An experiential training programme that develops the skills needed to effectively facilitate meaningful experiences with diverse groups through arts-based approaches. Targeted at arts practitioners, facilitators, and community workers seeking structured capability building.
- Professional Development Train-and-Attach A training programme combining hands-on experience with attachment opportunities in arts-based community development settings. Targeted at practitioners seeking field-based learning combined with structured training.
- The Greenhouse Lab An action-learning programme offering training and mentoring in producing arts-based community development work, using the DIME (Design, Implement, Monitor, Evaluate) model. Targeted at multidisciplinary practitioners including those from art education, art therapy, arts management, architecture, facilitation, and community programme management.
- M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival A youth theatre festival with a social conscience platforming youth aged 13-25 to develop and showcase original work on social issues through drama and dialogue. Included the M1 Theatre Ninja Programme for production and design mentorships. Targeted at youth aged 13-25 and arts educators in Singapore.
- Everyday Waltzes for Active Ageing A creative movement programme stimulating cognition and physical mobility of seniors in senior centres and nursing homes, with training provided to care staff as facilitators. Targeted at seniors and care staff in active ageing settings.
Quantifiable outcome
- Greenhouse Sessions convened annually since 2013, with decade of reflections published
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ArtsWok Collaborative
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ArtsWok Collaborative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ArtsWok Collaborative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Yishun HealthcoreCommissioner for Both Sides, Now at Yishun project at Wellness Kampung @ 765 Nee Soon Central (2023-24). Project aimed to develop supportive communities for living well and leaving well. Dr Wong Sweet Fun served as project commissioner.
- Bold At WorkcorePartnership in The Greenhouse Lab Yuhua 2021-2022. Bold At Work provided venue and collaboration for the youth mental wellness programme 'Thrive-Thru'.
- Loving Heart Multi-Service CentreminorLocal stakeholder partner in Yuhua community engaged for The Greenhouse Lab 2021-2022.
- Youth Guidance Outreach ServicesminorCommunity partner serving youth in Yuhua for The Greenhouse Lab programme.
- Tak Takut Kids Club by 3PumpkinsminorPractitioners shared about community-engaged work with children and young people through the arts as part of The Greenhouse Lab workshops.
- Institute of Policy StudiesminorResearchers from Institute of Policy Studies analyzed ArtsWok Collaborative's projects as local exemplars of arts-based community development in their paper 'The Unique Value of the Arts in Community Development'.
- Esplanade – Theatres on the BaycoreOngoing collaboration on M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival since 2015. Esplanade serves as the venue and co-presenter for the annual youth theatre festival platforming youths aged 13-25 to develop and showcase original work on social issues.
- The ARTS FISSION CompanyminorCurriculum and resource developer for Everyday Waltzes for Active Ageing, and co-producer of The Mazu Chronicle and The Rite of Spring performances.
- Drama BoxcoreCo-production partnership on IPS Prism (2012), a process engaging Singaporeans to reflect on governance through forum theatre, multimedia installations, and interactive exhibits.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
ArtsWok Collaborative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The ARTS FISSION Company: Singapore dance company focused on seniors and intergenerational work, including the Everyday Waltzes for Active Ageing programme co-developed with ArtsWok. Highly comparable on community-engaged arts practice targeting elderly Singaporeans.
- Centre 42: Singapore non-profit focused on developing Singapore theatre writing and supporting practitioners. Comparable as a Singapore arts intermediary investing in practitioner development and knowledge resources, similar to ArtsWok's Greenhouse Sessions.
- The Necessary Stage: Singapore theatre company known for socially-engaged and issue-driven work. Alvin Tan served as Artistic Director of M1 Peer Pleasure from 2015–2017, evidencing deep programme-level overlap with ArtsWok's mission of theatre for social dialogue.
- The Substation: Singapore's leading independent contemporary arts centre supporting experimental and community-engaged practice. Comparable as a Singapore arts intermediary supporting cross-disciplinary practice and capacity building.
- Drama Box: Singapore theatre company that uses applied and forum theatre for social engagement. Direct comparable: ArtsWok co-produced IPS Prism with Drama Box in 2012, and both are among the most prominent socially-engaged arts practitioners in Singapore.
Emerging players
- Lifetime Arts (US): US non-profit that trains organisations to deliver creative aging programmes. Highly comparable on the intersection of arts, aging and community health, which mirrors ArtsWok's Both Sides, Now work.
- Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film: Singapore non-profit promoting photography and film as tools for community storytelling. Comparable as a small arts organisation using creative practice for community engagement and audience development in Singapore.
- Artspace Singapore (NUS Centre for the Arts): Singapore-based visual arts platform supporting emerging artists and community programmes. Comparable in supporting practitioner development and community-oriented arts initiatives within Singapore.
- People's Palace Projects (UK/Brazil): International non-profit producing arts and social research projects with marginalised communities. Comparable as a research-driven arts intermediary operating across borders and using arts for community development outcomes.
Broad incumbents
- Singapore Art Museum: Singapore's national contemporary art museum with community and outreach programmes. Broader incumbent in Singapore's arts and culture ecosystem with overlapping community engagement objectives, but operates at much larger scale than ArtsWok.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ArtsWok Collaborative social profiles
Digital presenceArtsWok Collaborative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ArtsWok Collaborative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
ArtsWok Collaborative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ArtsWok Collaborative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ArtsWok Collaborative
What does ArtsWok Collaborative do?
ArtsWok Collaborative designs and delivers arts-based community development programmes in Singapore, including community engagement projects (Both Sides, Now), practitioner gatherings (Greenhouse Sessions), annual forums (Learning Forum), and professional development training (Lab, Train-and-Attach). Services are delivered free to community participants and are funded through grants from government agencies and foundations, alongside individual donations.
Is ArtsWok Collaborative a public or private company?
ArtsWok Collaborative is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ArtsWok Collaborative founded?
ArtsWok Collaborative was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ArtsWok Collaborative based?
ArtsWok Collaborative is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore, in the Asia region.
How does ArtsWok Collaborative make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are ArtsWok Collaborative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The ARTS FISSION Company, Centre 42, The Necessary Stage, The Substation and Drama Box. Emerging players are Lifetime Arts (US), Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film, Artspace Singapore (NUS Centre for the Arts) and People's Palace Projects (UK/Brazil). Singapore Art Museum is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does ArtsWok Collaborative have an API?
No public API is recorded for ArtsWok Collaborative.
What industry is ArtsWok Collaborative in?
ArtsWok Collaborative's product category is Community Arts Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAL, Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building), with a secondary code of BPAGALAO, Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises. Its NAICS code is 813410 and its SIC code is 8600.