We are seeking 3 budding writers that can offer fresh perspectives pertaining to contemporary art in Southeast Asia – on artistic production, cultural labour, digital intimacy, art and advocacy, etc. – to enrich our digital platform.

Essays should be original and unpublished work between 500 – 800 words in length. Beyond being featured on our website alongside writings from esteemed industry players, winning entries will be presented with SGD$100 vouchers to STPI’s The Corner Shop, which houses scholarly art catalogues and exclusive STPI artworks and merchandise.

Please complete the application form and include your submission within the relevant field. Do save this as a PDF document and email it to ​outreach@seafocus.sg with the subject “Critical Currents Entry” no later than 11 January 2021. Winners will be announced by 22 January 2021 via email and phone.

Click here to download the application form.

General Information

  • Entry word count: 500 – 800 words
  • Submission deadline: Monday, 11 January 2021, 11.59PM
  • Announcement of winning entries: Friday, 22 January 2021

Eligibility

  • This open call is limited to students from local or international tertiary institutions between the ages of 17 – 25.
  • Applicants should be Singaporean or hold a passport from any other Southeast Asian country or territory.

Submission Requirements

  • You should not exceed the stipulated word count; writing that exceeds the 800-word limit will not be considered.
  • Only one piece of writing per applicant is allowed.
  • Submitted entries are final and cannot be changed or altered following the initial submission.

Terms & Conditions

Please read the Terms & Conditions as follows.

Critical Currents: ​S.E.A. Focus Students’ Online Writing Competition ​(hereinafter referred to as ‘The Competition’) is operated and promoted by ​Singapore Tyler Print Institute as the organiser of ​S.E.A. Focus 2021 (hereinafter referred to as ‘STPI’). ​By entering the Competition, The Entrant agrees to these terms and conditions and confirms that any information provided is completely accurate.

The Competition

  • Essays should pertain to contemporary art in Southeast Asia. This includes, but is not limited to, the topics of artistic production, cultural labour, digital intimacy, and art and advocacy.
  • Entries should be no shorter than 500 words and no longer than 800 words in length, and must be written in English.
  • STPI will select and announce 3 winning entries by Friday, 22 January 2021, no later than 11.59 PM (SGT).
  • Winning entries will be published online by STPI on the​ S.E.A. Focus​ website – ​seafocus.sg​.

The Prizes

  •  Each winner will be entitled to a one-time SGD$100 voucher to STPI’s The Corner Shop, valid for one year from Saturday, 23 January 2021. Winners based in Singapore may collect their voucher upon visit at STPI’s The Corner Shop by producing their ID. Winners based overseas may collect a digital voucher, shared via email.
  • Vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash. No refund will be given if the value of the voucher exceeds the amount purchased on The Corner Shop.
  • Vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with other offers and promotional codes.
  • Prizes are non-exchangeable and non-transferrable.
  • The prizes do not include any items other than those expressly stated. They do not include, for example, the costs of travel to and from The Corner Shop or other personal expenses. Any such costs, or other costs incidental to the fulfilment of the prizes, are the responsibility of the winners.

How to Enter

  • All entries must be received by 11.59 PM (SGT) on Monday, 11 January 2021, the closing date of the Competition. Only entries that are duly received by the closing date will be eligible for consideration. Entries received after the stated time will not be considered.
  • Entries must be written in the application form, or attached as a separate PDF document along with the application form in an email to ​outreach@seafocus.sg​, with the subject line: “Submission Entry for Critical Currents”.
  • Entries cannot be returned so please remember to retain a copy.
  • All entries must be the original work of The Entrant previously unpublished on any public platform, and must not infringe the rights of any other party. STPI accepts no responsibility if The Entrant ignores these terms and conditions, and The Entrant agrees to indemnify STPI against any claim by any third party from any breach of these terms and conditions.
  • Entries must not contain defamatory, obscene, offensive, or any other unsuitable material; STPI reserves the right to disqualify entries containing such matter. Entries must be suitable to be published by STPI for audiences of all ages.
  • The Entrant retains the copyright for his or her entry but grants STPI a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to publish, broadcast (across all media) and post the entry online and on any other platforms yet to be envisaged, together with their name, age and country of residence. This licence will be deemed to include all the necessary rights and permissions to enable such use by STPI, to fulfil the prizes and to complete the administration of this Competition.
  • By submitting an entry, The Entrant agrees that STPI may at its sole discretion edit, adapt, abridge or translate the entry for the purposes listed in these terms and conditions. The Entrant grants permission to STPI, and to those acting under STPI’s authority, to use their name, picture, likeness, voice, biographical information and statements for promotional purposes without additional compensation, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide and on the Internet and World Wide Web, without notice, review or approval.

Eligibility

  • The Competition is open to persons between the ages of 17 – 25 with a valid student ID, except for employees of STPI or and anyone professionally connected with The Competition.
  • In entering the Competition, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and eligible to claim any prize you may win. STPI may require you to provide proof that you are eligible to enter the competition.
  • Only one entry per person is permitted.
  • Entries not submitted in accordance to these terms and all other rules and directions provided by STPI, or entries that are incomplete or illegible (as determined in our sole discretion) will not be considered.

Selection of Winning Entries

  • The decisions made by STPI are final, and at its sole discretion. Appeals for correspondence or discussion in relation to this decision will not be entertained.
  • Winners will be announced by Friday, 22 January 2021, no later than 11:59 PM. The winners will be notified by email or phone, using the contact details provided in the Application Form (Annex A).
  • STPI will make all reasonable efforts to contact the winners. If any winner cannot be contacted within 24 hours of the announcement date, STPI reserves the right to offer the prize to the next eligible Entrant selected from the correct entries that were received before the closing date.
  • STPI may request documentary proof of your identity and/or address before awarding the prize. The use of a false name or address will immediately disqualify you from receiving any prize.

Use of Information

  • STPI will use any personal information that are given to us by The Entrant in accordance with the law and our privacy policy at: ​https://www.stpi.com.sg/privacy-policy/​, for the purposes of the Competition, in the ways described in these terms and conditions, and for any marketing or other purposes The Entrant may indicate their consent to. STPI may also share The Entrant’s details with our service providers and agents for the purposes of providing prizes on our behalf, and any sponsors or Competition partners involved in this Competition.
  • STPI reserves the right to publish the winners’ names, ages and countries of origin on the ​S.E.A. Focus​ website – seafocus.org, and all other ​S.E.A. Focus​ digital platforms.
  • If you have any questions or concerns about the use of your personal information please contact us via email at ​outreach@seafocus.sg

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

  • The Terms & Conditions shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the Republic of Singapore. The Entrant must write in to STPI to register for any dispute. In the event of any dispute, the Parties (STPI and The Entrant) shall negotiate directly and in good faith, for a period of no more than 30 days, to achieve prompt and equitable settlement. In the event that such a dispute is not resolved 30 days after receipt of written notice of the dispute, the Parties agree to submit the dispute to a licensed advocate and solicitor to act as a mediator to facilitate the resolution utilizing non-binding mediation. In the event that such non-binding mediation is unsuccessful, the Parties shall be free to refer the matter to arbitration. All successful submissions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of Singapore and any dispute relating to or in connection with this Agreement shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Singapore courts.
  • STPI is not responsible for any media backlash or negative publicity in the period leading up, during or after The Competition.