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A key thrust of the Arts for Good (A4G) Fellowship by the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) is to grow the Arts for Good ecosystem. One that brings together a community of cross-sector practitioners to harness the power of the arts in creating positive social change.

The impact of the Fellowship continues through Stay Home Quilt, which has evolved out of an ongoing artwork called Poverty Quilt by Singaporean artist, Jimmy Ong. The latter involves sewing buttons on large quilts as a tribute to his late grandmother. It was created in commemoration of Singapore’s Bicentennial. Led by Jimmy again, alongside arts company 3Pumpkins helmed by director, Lin Shiyun, Stay Home Quilt is a collaboration with Filipino artist, Francis Sollano. Both Shiyun and Francis are alumni of the A4G Fellowship.

The Stay Home Quilt project draws on the strength of the arts for people to express themselves. Through the collective action of quilt patch sewing and reflecting, individuals are invited to share about their experiences living in and through the current COVID-19 pandemic.

As Shiyun shares, “tapping on our alumni network, the project’s engagements in Singapore will see us, local Fellows, as well as our friends and the public, sewing individual quilt patches that represent each of our experiences.”

She added that in using the arts for good to empower our communities, the project will also invite overseas participants, including international A4G Fellowship alumni and the groups they work with, to share their creations and stories online.

As a global show of solidarity, individual patches of quilts – each with a unique story – will be digitally stitched together to form a collective online showcase that make its debut on social media, later this year.

To find out more or to participate, join the Stay Home Quilt Facebook group or email [email protected].

You can also get connected with us on Facebook and Instagram for more Arts for Good initiatives by the SIF!