Announcing First Recipient of the Inaugural Singapore Unbound Fellowship

New York, NY - Singapore Unbound announces the award of the inaugural Singapore Unbound Fellowship to emerging playwright Nur Sabrina binte Dzulkifli. The USD5000 award enables Sabrina to visit New York City for two weeks in the coming year to work on a writing project. Selected from a competitive field of 20 candidates, she will also have the opportunity to present her work to a New York public. The selection committee, comprising Constance Singam, Dan Feng Tan, and Philip Holden, all prominent literary observers and practitioners of Singapore, united in praising Sabrina's excellent writing sample and thoughtful explanation of what New York City offers for her artistic development and the local theater scene.

In her letter of application, Sabrina wrote, "... I came to the realisation that a Malay playwright in Singapore cannot just be a playwright. It is a politicised space and identity, and this sentiment is shared by other Malay playwrights I’ve talked to. These experiences have raised my awareness of the importance of telling stories about identity.... The vibrancy of New York will also give me the opportunity to gain insight as to what themes and issues are universal across New York and Singapore.... [I hope] my time in New York will expose me to a society that has been touched significantly by the effects of radicalization – in the event of 9/11."

The award event will be held in Singapore, on Wednesday, July 19, 7-9 pm, at Artistry Gallery Cafe (17 Jalan Pinang). Sabrina will receive her award and present a reading of her work. All are welcomed. Admission is free. RSVP is strongly recommended (jkoh@singaporeunbound.org). Full press release.