Non-profit lauded for project that created jobs for people with disabilities

To create more employment opportunities for those with disabilities, nonprofit organisation ART:DIS set up a studio focusing on handmade goods and original art merchandise made by persons with disabilities.

- Rosalind Ang

Among the products sold were tote bags, passport covers and reusable bags.

ART:DIS, which was founded by Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh in 1993, provides a wide range of programmes to enable persons with disabilities to develop their artistic interests and grow their self-confidence.

“The ART:DIS studio came about because we noticed a gap in the ecosystem, where persons with disabilities in Singapore have access to only a narrow range of employment opportunities,” said Ms Angela Tan, executive director of ART:DIS.

“These roles may not always align with individual interests or strengths, and often follow fixed full-time arrangements that can be less accessible for those who require more flexibility.”

Ms Tan added: “We hope that ART:DIS Studio helps to address this gap by offering flexible and interest-driven opportunities, enabling individuals to engage in work that is both fulfilling and aligned with their strengths.”

The studio also functions as a creative agency, supporting over 80 artists with disabilities, equipping them with industry-relevant skills and connecting them to flexible and gig-based opportunities.

ART:DIS was among 25 companies that received the annual Steward Leadership 25 (SL25) award, which recognises viable solutions for the environment and society across Asia and the Pacific.