Lasalle College of the Arts, part of the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), celebrated 355 diploma graduates at its 2026 Diploma Convocation on August 14, marking the institution’s 40th anniversary of arts education in Singapore.
The convocation was held across two ceremonies at the Singapore Airlines Theatre on Lasalle’s McNally Campus, the first time the college has hosted its diploma graduation ceremony at the campus. Graduates were joined by their families, faculty members, and invited guests as they prepared to enter Singapore’s arts, media, fashion, and design sectors.
The ceremonies were officiated by Denise Phua, mayor of Central Singapore District and member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC (Kampong Glam), and Hazlina Abdul Halim, member of Parliament for East Coast GRC. Both presented awards recognizing outstanding academic and creative achievement, including the Creative Future Impact Award and Lasalle Awards for Academic Excellence.
The Class of 2026 graduates at a time when Singapore’s creative industries continue to evolve, with growing opportunities in digital media, performance, design, music, and interdisciplinary arts. As part of the University of the Arts Singapore, Lasalle has increasingly emphasized preparing students to work across creative disciplines while responding to new technologies and changing industry demands.
Professor Venka Purushothaman, president of Lasalle, said the graduating class is entering a creative landscape being reshaped by technological change.
“Our Diploma class of 2026 is graduating into a world of rapid and profound transformation, where new technologies are reshaping how we work and entire fields are emerging, while familiar ones are being remade. For artists, designers, performers, and creative thinkers, this is a time brimming with potential—a space where something new can be formed. We are proud to have been part of our graduates’ journey, and we look forward to seeing how they will shape the future with courage and imagination.”
Among the top honorees was music graduate Heema Izzati, who received the Creative Future Impact Award for her artistic vision and potential as an emerging creative practitioner.
A multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Heema has established herself in Singapore’s music scene through collaborations with artists including Sezairi, Charlie Lim, and Rahimah Rahim. She has performed at the 2025 National Day Parade and the Esplanade, and released her debut EP, Sleep When You’re Tired, blending alternative rock, pop, and soul. She will continue her studies at Lasalle in the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Music program while pursuing her career as an independent artist.
The Lasalle Awards for Academic Excellence were presented to seven graduates who demonstrated outstanding performance across their respective diploma programs. The awards recognize academic achievement alongside creative practice, highlighting students who have excelled both in the classroom and through professional or artistic projects.
One recipient was Ong Jiakang Roger, who completed a Diploma in Theatre Production and Management. His work spans prop-making, set construction, camera operation, and technical management, with credits including Ding Yi Music Company’s ECOncert. His experience reflects the role of technical and production specialists in bringing live performances and artistic productions to audiences.
Fine Arts graduate Dessa Nur Binte Khair was also recognized for using art to engage communities. In 2025, she designed and executed a large-scale mural at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital featuring uplifting typography for healthcare workers. Her work has also been recognized at the Singapore Youth Festival and exhibited at the National Gallery Singapore.
Rather than entering a single industry, the graduating cohort reflects the breadth of Singapore’s creative future—from musicians and performers to designers, production specialists, and visual artists. Their work spans live performance, public art, digital media, and interdisciplinary practice, underscoring Lasalle’s role in preparing graduates for a creative sector that increasingly values collaboration, technology, and cultural impact.
As Lasalle marks four decades of nurturing creative talent, the Class of 2026 leaves the college with portfolios, performances, and projects that already extend beyond the classroom, signaling a new generation of artists and creative practitioners poised to shape Singapore’s cultural landscape.
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