Awards
Supporting and recognising artistic excellence
Last updated 3 March 2026
At North East CDC, we are committed to celebrate and uplift artists with disabilities. We introduced two prestigious awards: one recognising overall artistic achievement, and another honouring excellence in painting.
Register for Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts Awards 2026 by 31 March 2026
Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts Awards
The Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts Awards is designed to nurture artists with disabilities throughout their artistic journey, from early education to professional development.
The awards consists of scholarship, bursary and early intervention grant categories to provide financial assistance for persons with disabilities to pursue art. It recognises the artistic achievements of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and aims to make art education more accessible, especially for those facing financial constraints.
The awards are supported by a S$1,000,000 commitment over five years from Kiat Lim, a new patron of Shaping Hearts. The funds ensure that PWDs can access opportunities to facilitate their artistic pursuits, empowering them to explore their creativity and develop essential skills for personal growth and development.
Grant Type for Kiat Lim - Shaping Hearts Awards
Grant Type | Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts | Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts | Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts |
|---|---|---|---|
Description | For beneficiaries (7 years old and above) who have attained a good level of art proficiency and will like to further develop their skills professionally, including but not limited to:
| For beneficiaries (7 years old and above) who use art as a foundation in their daily living to express themselves and for personal development, including but not limited to:
| For beneficiaries (below 7 years old) who use art for early intervention to develop important daily living skills including but not limited to:
|
Each successful applicant is only allowed to apply for the Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts Shining Award once in their lifetime. | Successful applicants for North East Hearts Awards and Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts Encouraging and Budding Awards are eligible to apply for the Encouragement / Budding Award once every 24 months. | ||
Eligibility | N.A | Gross Per Capita Income of $1,500 and below | |
*Any other conditions not listed will be considered on a case-by-case basis. | |||
Award | $5,000 | $2,000 | $1,000 |
Recipients | Up to 10 pax per year | Up to 50 pax per year | Up to 50 pax per year |
Neo Kah Kiat Arts Awards
The Neo Kah Kiat Arts Awards recognise artistic excellence among artists with disabilities. This award celebrates diverse talents across various art disciplines, showcasing exceptional work by persons with disabilities and promotes inclusivity.
By honouring these achievements, we aim to elevate the visibility of artists with disabilities and their valuable contributions to the arts community.
Award Categories for Neo Kah Kiat Arts Awards
Neo Kah Kiat Arts Award | Prize |
NKK Painting of the Year | $20,000 |
NKK Arts Award – Gold | $10,000 |
NKK Arts Award – Silver | $8,000 |
NKK Arts Award - Bronze | $5,000 |
NKK Most Popular Painting of the Year | $2,800 |
NKK New Artist of the Year | $2,000 |