The Yellow Ribbon Project is “Moving HeARTs in the City”

Singapore, 31 July 2024 – The Yellow Ribbon Project’s (YRP) “Moving HeARTs in the City 2024” roving art exhibition was launched today at LASALLE College of the Arts by Guest-of-Honour, Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance.

To commemorate 20 years of championing Second Chances, the YRP will showcase a roving art exhibition, themed “Our Journey, Our Hope", via a mobile art truck for the first time in August 2024. The exhibition will showcase a diverse range of artworks created by inmates and ex-offenders which includes canvas painting, pottery, and mixed media. It offers insights into their efforts and emotions as they progress through their rehabilitation journey, emphasising the theme of hope and their yearning for a second chance in life.

A total of 41 art pieces were created by 18 male inmates from the Visual Arts Hub, 25 women inmates from the Arts Behind Bars programme, and two ex-offenders from CANVAS.¹ The art pieces were completed over a period of six months, with guidance and support from a curator and three artist mentors affiliated with CANVAS.

The exhibition will reach out to the whole of Singapore as it goes round to seven public venues and seven schools including Ang Mo Kio Public Library, Gardens by the Bay, Jurong Regional Library, National Day Heartland Celebrations 2024 @ Central Singapore (Bishan), One Holland Village, Bugis+, Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. On weekends, apart from the art exhibition truck, members of the public can also enjoy live music performances by ex-offenders from the Yellow Ribbon Performing Arts Centre (YR PAC) Alumni band and participate in a variety of complimentary art workshops.²

Superintendent Avryl Tan, the Chairperson of the art exhibition organising committee said, “Moving HeARTs in the City is Yellow Ribbon Project’s first ever, month-long, island-wide roving art exhibition which showcases inmates and ex-offenders’ artistic talents and skills. The theme for this year’s art exhibition, ’Our Journey, Our Hope’, reflects our beneficiaries’ journeys marked by challenges, reflection and most importantly, a spirit of hope. Come and join us for this event and play your part towards creating a more inclusive society as we celebrate 20 years of the Yellow Ribbon Project.”

The YR PAC alumni band comprises ex-offenders who are deeply passionate about using the power of music to create a positive impact on those around them.

Members of the public are encouraged to show their support for second chances by adopting the art pieces showcased at the exhibition, or those featured in an accompanying online catalogue. Proceeds from the adoption of the art pieces will be channelled to the Yellow Ribbon Fund. This offers members of the public the opportunity to partner with inmates and ex-offenders to contribute to the community, and support the development and implementation of rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for inmates, ex-offenders, and their families.

Ms Huey Miin, a supervisee who co-created “Bliss of Mother” art piece with two other inmates said, “I feel fortunate to take part in this event as the theme inspires thoughts of growth. As I navigate my journey of reintegration, I aim to be a beacon of hope for other exoffenders, by demonstrating that positive rehabilitation and reintegration are achievable even in the face of significant adversity.”

Ms Evangeline, a mentor from CANVAS participating in the event said, “The most rewarding aspect is hearing from some of them (inmates) that, for once, they felt a sense of self-worth, realising what they were able to accomplish and that their works will be showcased to the public. It’s not about art, but how art can facilitate healing and serve as a communication tool that is capable of bridging gaps.”

Other activities to celebrate YRP’s 20th Anniversary

YRP debuted the song “You & I” at the launch event, to convey a message of resilience, hope, and the ability to overcome past mistakes and move forward together. The song was composed by the YR PAC Alumni members and produced in collaboration with InTune Music.

YRP also showcased the largest patchwork blanket ever made at the event. Measuring 20m x 24.6m, the blanket entered the Singapore Book of Records on 3 July 2024. This achievement was only possible through close partnership with CYC Made to Measure, Logwin Air + Ocean Singapore Pte. Ltd., Tampines Changkat Zone 8 Sewing Interest Group and the collective efforts of more than 1,000 individuals, consisting of volunteers, students and lecturers, and staff from aftercare agencies, Yellow Ribbon Singapore, and Singapore Prison Service, as well as inmates, ex-offenders, and their children.

¹ Visual Arts Hub is an art programme available to male inmates, while Art Behind Bars is an art programme available to female inmates. These programmes enable them to learn new skills, discover themselves and their self-worth, and help them through their past traumas. Most inmates who join the art programmes do not have any prior background in art, and they acquire art skills through engaging with more experienced peers under the programme. CANVAS was founded in 2019 to provide opportunities to former inmate artists who attended art programmes in prison and would like to pursue the arts after their release from prison.

² The YR PAC alumni band comprises ex-offenders who are deeply passionate about using the power of music to create a positive impact on those around them.