Image courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board

Inspiring Future Generations through Arts Education

A gift by the Choy Family

In 2025, the family of Choy Weng Yang created the Choy Weng Yang Teaching Excellence Award, the first award at the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) dedicated to recognising excellence in art education. The award honours the late artist, curator, writer and educator Choy Weng Yang, whose career was shaped by access to education. Throughout his life, he believed that teachers play a central role in nurturing creativity and shaping future generations of artists.

The award reflects Mr Choy’s values and his personal journey. Coming from modest beginnings, he often credited a Ministry of Education scholarship for enabling him to study at Hornsey College of Art in London, an opportunity that changed the course of his life. Determined to give back, he devoted the following decades to serving Singapore's arts community.

With this gift, the Choy family seeks to extend his spirit of generosity and mentorship. The award finds a fitting home at UAS, where the integration of artistic practice and pedagogy reflects principles that Mr Choy upheld throughout his life. It honours outstanding educators across LASALLE and NAFA whose teaching shapes the next generation of artists through both creative excellence and dedicated mentorship.

For the family, a teaching award was a natural choice. Following his return from London, Mr Choy lectured in art education at the Teachers' Training College, helping to prepare future generations of educators. He later played a pioneering role at the National Museum Art Gallery as Head of Exhibition and Design and subsequently Curator of Art, while continuing to build a distinguished artistic practice. Yet beyond these achievements, he was best known for his generosity in guiding others. He believed that an effective art teacher needed patience, curiosity and the ability to recognise potential in every student. The family hopes the award will encourage teachers to remain creative, passionate and committed to inspiring young artists.

Those who studied under Mr Choy often recall that he did more than teach artistic techniques. He encouraged experimentation, independent thinking and the confidence to develop one's own creative voice.

One memorable example came in 1996, when he mentored LASALLE students during a collaboration with Siemens. What began as a product launch became an artistic experiment under his guidance. Students explored colour, materials and ideas before producing their final works. His approach turned the project into a creative exploration and reflected his belief that creativity could be nurtured in everyone.

Mr Choy continued to explore new artistic directions well into his nineties. His family members recall that, during his final days in hospital, he made painting gestures in the air while asleep, as though he were still at work in the studio. It was a poignant reflection of a life devoted to art.

Through this gift, the Choy family ensures that his legacy continues not only through the artworks he created, but also through the educators who inspire future generations. Those who knew him best believe he would have preferred this outcome, remaining in the background while others received the recognition they deserved.

The Choy Weng Yang Teaching Excellence Award is a lasting tribute to his spirit of mentorship, generosity and belief in the value of arts education.

Radiant Yellow, 2023 by Choy Weng Yang
Acrylic on Canvas
151 x 120.5 cm
Image courtesy of The Private Museum, Singapore