S’porean businessman Kiat Lim pledges S$1M for an award that will empower disabled artists

Together with the North East Community Development Council (NE CDC), Singaporean businessman Kiat Lim launched the Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts Award today (November 20).

Lim has committed S$1 million over the next five years to help for this award, following the success of the first North East HeARTS Award earlier in April.

Shaping Hearts is an inclusive arts festival that is held annually that aims to support persons with disabilities (PWDs) through art. The original HeARTS Award provided 20 bursaries and 10 scholarships this year to PWDs, aiming to support their pursuit of higher education in the arts.

Lim’s donation will allow them to provide additional financial support and expand their reach and impact on the community, as the number of beneficiaries has tripled from 30 to up to 110 recipients annually.

Mr Desmond Choo, Mayor of the North East District, and Dr Deibby Mamahit, who is a functional health practioner and a mother of two children with Autism, were also present at the launch event.

In a fireside chat, Mr Choo expressed his passion for helping PWDs be exposed to bigger opportunities through Shaping Hearts and expressed his gratitude to Lim for his contribution to the cause.

The Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts Award furthers our mission to break down barriers and ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to pursue their artistic passions, regardless of their financial background.

We are pleased to work with like-minded supporters like Kiat, whose involvement goes beyond monetary contribution to strategic planning. With his passion for the special needs community and access to the creative industries, we can create new opportunities and larger platforms for our talented artists.

Mr Desmond Choo, Mayor of the North East District in Singapore All you need to know about the award

The launch event also featured the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), simultaneously opening the call for entries for the award in 2025 and inviting PWDs to submit their applications by January 31, 2025.

The Kiat Lim-Shaping Hearts Award consists of three award categories: the Encouraging Award, the Shining Award, and a new category for children under 7—the Budding Award, in which award recipients will receive a grant of S$1,000 each.

This is the first award that Lim has personally funded, continuing the Lim family’s philanthropic efforts dating back more than 15 years. Lim shared his aspirations for the programme, adding that art is “a universal language that transcends barriers and fosters connection.”

Featured Image Credit: Kiat Lim – Shaping Hearts Awards

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