Aiming to Be Singapore’s Leading Contemporary Arts and Design Institution: LASALLE College of the Arts

Guiding students to excellence is the aim of every institute and LASALLE College of the Arts does exactly that. In Singapore, it is a leading tertiary institution in cutting edge contemporary arts and design education and practice. The College offers more than 30 diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in fine arts, design communication, interior design, product design, film, animation, fashion, dance, music, theatre, arts management, art pedagogy and practice, art therapy, Asian art histories and creative writing.

Its faculty is led by a community of award-winning artists, designers, educators and researchers, and their practice-led research sets LASALLE apart as an international centre of excellence. Critically acclaimed alumni form the core of the cultural and creative sectors in Singapore and increasingly, internationally.

Founded in 1984 by De La Salle Brother Joseph McNally – a visionary artist and educator – LASALLE is a not-for-profit, private educational institution. LASALLE receives tuition grant support from the Singapore Ministry of Education. Its degree programmes are validated by Goldsmiths, University of London.

The late Brother Joseph McNally, the founder of LASALLE College of the Arts, was one of Singapore’s champions of the creative arts and arts education. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists and arts educators, as we strive towards a higher level of creative excellence.

The Institute’s Global Experience

It starts with art, to excel as an artist and be a leader in your field, it is essential to stay in touch with the world around you. That's why LASALLE offers an international curriculum that’s infused with a global consciousness.

Its students and academics have opportunities to engage with their international counterparts, based in Singapore and overseas. The College hosts hundreds of artists-in-residence, visiting artists, specialist mentors and researchers at both our McNally and Winstedt campuses. This creates a great learning environment for artists to share and exchange ideas and insights.

LASALLE’s strategic partnerships with international institutions and active participation in global networks are also a key to ensuring an exciting and holistic educational experience for it students and staff.

Immersing You in a Truly Global Arts Environment

Singapore’s reputation as a global city to do business and for attracting the world’s best talents has set the stage for the arts to thrive. With the country’s vision of becoming a Global Arts City, there is no better time to be in LASALLE than today.

As a leading contemporary arts institution, LASALLE’s programmes testify to the power of the arts to communicate across cultures and geographies. They reflect LASALLE’s certainty that education and art enlighten both the student and the world. More importantly, they prepare its graduates for sustained and fulfilling careers in the creative industries.

What sets it apart from most art colleges is that both visual and performing arts live and work together under one roof. Such a combination helps artists from different disciplines to get the best out of each other, leading to a creative collision that sparks innovations and inspires all.

LASALLE spans a breadth of international creative professionals who are mentors to the students. Collectively, they represent an international career portfolio that includes organisations like ZKM Centre for Art and Media, CILECT (International Association of Film and Television Schools), The Esplanade Co Ltd, Glasgow School of Art, National Arts Council of Singapore, ESMOD, National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), New York University, and Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAPA). The institute has also played host to numerous arts celebrities, who have inspired and mentored students and guests alike. They include Diane von Furstenberg (fashion icon), Gilbert & George (Turner Prize-winning artists) and Thomas Heatherwick (designer), to name a few.

The Master Leader

Steve Dixon, President

Steve completed his education at Brunel University London (Doctor of Letters) in Middlesex University (MA Distinction) and Manchester University (BA Hons). He is a world-renowned academic, researcher and interdisciplinary artist with a distinguished career in both higher education leadership and the professional creative industries. Following a successful career as an actor and award-winning director of theatre, film and digital media productions, Steve joined the University of Salford where he developed innovative programmes including the UK's first degree to combine Media and Performance and the first module in Stand Up Comedy.

He established an international reputation for his research in the use of media and computing technologies in the performing arts. He has published over 50 refereed journal articles and book chapters, and his 800-page book Digital Performance: A History of New Media in Theater, Dance, Performance Art and Installation (MIT Press 2007) won two international book awards. He is co-founder/Advisory Editor of the International Journal of Performing Arts and Digital Media (Routledge).

“Our mission is to nurture enterprising and employable graduates who will become cultural influencers and leaders and also be central to the development of the arts and design in Singapore, inspiring innovation in practice and research.”