Aim

The aim of the CAP is to nurture young writers.

Objectives

• To expose participants to local literature and other forms of art
• To enable participants to understand and appreciate the local, regional and global literature scene
• To provide participants with the opportunity to pursue their interests as well as learn and work together with like-minded peers
• To provide the opportunity for participants who show commitment and potential in writing to be mentored by a published author

Organisation & Structure

The CAP is jointly organised by the Gifted Education Branch, Ministry of Education and The NUS Centre for the Arts, National University of Singapore. It comprises a Creative Arts Seminar and a Mentorship Attachment.

The Creative Arts Seminar offers an annual literary adventure for selected pupils.
It comprises the following:

• Writing Workshops which give young writers the opportunity to interact with other young writers and to learn from established writers.
• Plenary Sessions which expose participants to current and exciting issues on writing and the arts.
• Hands-on Sessions which enable participants to experiment with different art forms.
• Performance Workshops which give participants the opportunity to learn an art form under the guidance of a professional artiste and perform it at the closing ceremony of the Seminar.

A 9-month Mentorship Attachment is offered to selected participants as a follow-up to the Seminar. Participants are selected by the mentors based on their portfolios of creative works and their participation during workshops. Mentored participants are given the opportunity to work under the guidance of a writer, learning from the expertise and experience which only a writer can provide. The works of mentored participants are published in the "Eye on the World" series each year.

Pupil Eligibility and Selection

The Creative Arts Programme is targeted at Secondary 2-3 and JC 1 students.

To apply for the Creative Arts Seminar, students must complete a 2-stage application process:

1. Submission of creative writing portfolio in triplicate by the last working day of January for secondary school students and the first working day in April for junior college students.
   The hard copies of creative writing portfolios must be sent to the following address:

   Creative Arts Programme
   Gifted Education Branch
   Ministry of Education
   51 Grange Road
   Blk 1, #01-09
   Singapore 249564

   Letter of undertaking:
   The hard copies of the creative writing portfolios must be submitted together with a letter of undertaking which can be downloaded here .

Secondary school students can submit portfolios in one of four languages i.e. English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. JC students can only submit portfolios written in English.

2. Application Forms:
   Submission of the application form by the last working day of January for secondary school students and the first working day of April for junior college students.
   
   Download Application Form for Secondary Students here
   
   Download Application Form for JC Students here
   
   Download CAP Mentorship Attachment Application Form and Letter of Undertaking for CAP Mentorship Attachment
   
   
3. Selection is based on creative writing ability. The following criteria will be used to assess the portfolios:
   • Sense of form
   • Precision with language
   • Truthfulness of feeling
   • Originality of thought and imagination
   • Sensitivity to the world at large

   Portfolios which contain plagiarised material will be disqualified.

Results of Application

Secondary School

Letters on the results of application will be sent to respective schools by March.

Junior College

Letters on the results of application will be sent to respective colleges by May.