National Gallery Singapore has launched an open call for its inaugural TikTok Creative Residency, marking the first museum led initiative of its kind in Southeast Asia.
The paid four-month residency will give a Singapore based content creator the opportunity to develop original TikTok content exploring new ways of engaging audiences with art and museum experiences.
The initiative comes as the Gallery enters its second decade and looks at new ways to create and share its stories with audiences. It also builds on the institution’s efforts to engage and support Singapore’s wider creative community by recognising the role that visitors and independent creators play in shaping how people experience its art, exhibitions and spaces.
From December 2026 to March 2027, the selected creator will develop content around key exhibitions and cultural moments, including Pop after Pop: Art around Us, described as the largest group exhibition of Pop Art ever staged in Southeast Asia, as well as Light to Night Singapore 2027 and Singapore Art Week 2027.
The creator will have sustained access to Gallery staff, exhibitions, collections and selected behind the scenes activities. This includes exposure to exhibition making, installation processes and the everyday work involved in running a museum.
Working with the Gallery’s teams while retaining their own creative voice, the selected resident will produce at least three to four original videos each week for the Gallery’s TikTok channel. Content can include spontaneous observations, experimental formats and more developed stories inspired by the Gallery’s exhibitions, people and spaces.
The residency will effectively give the creator the opportunity to take over the Gallery’s TikTok feed for four months, offering audiences a fresh perspective on the institution and its activities.
The selected creator will receive a monthly stipend of S$3,000, along with creative mentorship and opportunities to exchange ideas with Gallery staff working across different areas of museum practice. The programme is intended to support the creator’s development, encourage experimentation with short form storytelling and expand their portfolio through sustained engagement with a major cultural institution.
Applicants will need to submit a portfolio of short form videos demonstrating their creativity, storytelling ability and video production skills. They will also need to provide a proposal outlining their approach to the residency and how they would engage audiences with the Gallery through TikTok.
An established following is not required. Applications will be assessed based on the strength and originality of applicants’ ideas rather than follower count. Other considerations include the originality of their creative voice, their understanding of TikTok formats and communities, and their ability to make art and museum stories engaging and accessible.
The open call is open to Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview with the Gallery.
Applications opened on 14 September 2026 and will close on 4 October 2026.
