Shaping Hearts 2026 Puts Artists with Disabilities at the Heart of Inclusive Experiences

Artists with disabilities are taking on a more active role at Shaping Hearts 2026, Singapore’s largest inclusive arts event, which returns this year with a focus on helping the wider community experience the world from different perspectives.

Organised by North East Community Development Council, the sixth edition of Shaping Hearts launched at Punggol Digital District on 12 September under the theme “Step Into Our World”. For the first time, artists with disabilities are directly involved in designing experiences that encourage visitors to see, hear, touch and move through the world from their perspectives.

The festival marks a shift from activities focused primarily on raising awareness about disability and inclusion towards experiences co-created by artists with disabilities and members of the community.

This approach is reflected across four co-created playgrounds themed around Texture, Motion, Rhythm and Visual. Each playground is shaped by the lived experiences of participating artists.

At the Texture Playground, visually impaired artist Katy Lee shared how she navigates the world through texture rather than sight. Student volunteers translated her descriptions into cyanotype blocks, which visitors can touch and explore as they experience the world from her perspective.

The launch was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, Adviser to Punggol GRC Grassroots Organisations, together with Baey Yam Keng, Minister of State for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Transport, and Mayor of North East District; Desmond Choo, Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence; and Grassroots Advisers from the North East District. The occasion was marked by a sand pouring ceremony.

Shaping Hearts 2026 also introduced Playdate@PDD, a new platform developed in partnership with Bold At Work that brings artists with disabilities and the wider community together through shared play.

Inspired by the internationally recognised Park(ing) Day format, Playdate adapts the concept around inclusion. Its first edition features 16 inclusive play booths created by artists with disabilities, community groups and partners, turning public spaces at Punggol Digital District into opportunities for people of different abilities to interact and create together.

The 16 booths are grouped under the same four themes of Visual, Rhythm, Texture and Motion. Visitors can take part in activities involving drawing, listening, touching and movement alongside artists and community creators.

Among the featured experiences is Silent Pet Portrait, fronted by Weng Shin, an artist navigating social isolation, as well as You Draw, I Draw, fronted by artist with disability Thaddeus. Other activities include Heart at Work, a collaboration between SPD and Salvage Garden, and It Takes 3! by Temasek Polytechnic.

The Punggol Digital District edition is the beginning of a wider rollout for Playdate, with plans to introduce a total of 80 inclusive play booths across the North East District over the coming year. The initiative aims to bring together ground up groups, local creators and community partners to build more opportunities for communities to co-create, connect and contribute.

Co-creation also began before the festival, with members of the public joining workshops alongside artists with disabilities. Works produced during these sessions are now part of the exhibition, highlighting the importance of creating with persons with disabilities rather than simply learning about their experiences.

Visitors can also take part in Shaping Hearts’ first audio trail. Co-created with artists with disabilities, the trail shares their experiences of navigating the world and explores what it can be like to move through spaces as a visually impaired or physically impaired person, while incorporating stories about Punggol Digital District.

The festival continues to provide artists with disabilities with a platform to showcase their work and share their personal stories with wider audiences.

Among this year’s featured artists is 11-year-old Nicholas Pang, who was diagnosed with Autism-Spectrum-Disorder at the age of three. He developed an interest in drawing and modelling from a young age, using art to express his thoughts, interests and experiences.

Now in Primary Three, Nicholas draws inspiration from his surroundings and personal interests, including books and train rides. Supported by Artzillions Art Studio, he continues to experiment with different ways of expressing his ideas through art. His works have previously been featured at Splendour of Clementi at The Arts House, Lions Art Fest and 101 Local Artists at the Asian Civilisations Museum.

Through artists such as Nicholas, Shaping Hearts aims to increase visibility for the talents and perspectives of artists with disabilities while creating opportunities for their work and stories to reach new audiences.

Following its launch at Punggol Digital District, the Shaping Hearts 2026 exhibition will travel to other public spaces in Singapore. It will be held at Punggol Digital District from 12 to 27 September, Tampines Mall from 8 to 13 October, and Suntec City from 26 October to 1 November 2026.

Across these locations, visitors can discover works by artists with disabilities and experience the different perspectives that form the heart of Shaping Hearts 2026.