The art of rehabilitation with the Yellow Ribbon Community Arts festival

The Yellow Ribbon Community Arts Festival, organised by Yellow Ribbon Singapore, returns this year with an expanded slate of programmes designed to better connect with modern audiences — while continuing to spotlight inmate rehabilitation through the arts.

Timed to coincide with SG60, the month-long festival puts a spotlight on a group often overlooked in public conversations; it brings to the fore the creative expressions of inmates and ex-offenders, and invites the community to engage in their journeys of reintegration and renewal.

The art of it all

The festival opened on 1 August with an exhibition at One Holland Village, showcasing 60 works by 32 inmates — 19 men and 13 women — who are part of visual arts programmes at the Changi Prison Complex. This static exhibition runs until 6 August.

Themed “We Are Each Other’s Second Chances,” the exhibition artworks are available for adoption, with proceeds supporting the Yellow Ribbon Fund and its reintegration initiatives for ex-offenders and their families. Notable works include a woven sculpture of a hot air balloon, and a 3D dandelion sculpture, both chosen for their symbolism of aspiration, resilience, and renewal.

“One challenge was curating a wide range of expressions into a unified experience,” said Zak Lo, curator of the Yellow Ribbon Community Arts Festival. “The pieces not only embody emotional and mental struggles, but also transformation and hope. The goal was to ensure each work stood on its own while contributing to a broader reflection on second chances.”

Beyond their aesthetic value, these artworks serve as channels of personal reflection and emotional growth. One inmate shared that the experience of making art helped them realise that learning a new skill is still possible for them, and therefore, that they are still capable of growth.

Another inmate reflected on their medium: “When I work with clay, I need to slow down and be patient — you can’t rush the process. Working at the potter’s wheel helps calm my mind and gives me time to think. I have noticed that when I am stressed, my pottery does not turn out well, so I have learned to manage my emotions better.”

The artworks were created within two visual arts centres inside the Changi Prison Complex: the Visual Arts Hub, for male inmates, and Arts Behind Bars, for female inmates. These centers offered inmates the opportunity and training to produce art, with participating inmates notably becoming more disciplined and respectful.

Supporting these centers is CANVAS, an initiative that brings together ex-offenders, arts mentors, and volunteers to support ex-offenders and their continued artistic development after their release. The initiative helps bridge the transition from prison programmes to real-world artistic practice, ensuring that their support isn’t cut off after returning to the world.

New and modern highlights

This year’s edition of the festival also features several new efforts aimed at making the Yellow Ribbon message more accessible and engaging for the broader community.

One highlight is the return of the Yellow Ribbon Arts Truck, a roving mobile gallery and performance space. Throughout August, the truck will visit 12 secondary and tertiary institutions on the weekdays, and seven public venues including Gardens by the Bay, Our Tampines Hub and Suntec City on the weekends.

At this truck, visitors can view artworks created by inmates, enjoy live music performed by ex-offenders from groups such as the Performing Arts Centre Alumni Band and Teen Challenge (Singapore), and participate in complimentary art workshops led by supervisees and halfway house residents. The truck also houses illustrated storybooks and colouring books inspired by the experiences of inmates, and offers a simple touchpoint for young audiences to engage with.

Besides the roving arts truck, the Yellow Ribbon Community Arts Festival has also featured a Yellow Ribbon Art Competition held earlier this year, and a fashion show, with outfits inspired by the inmates’ artwork.

“To better connect with a wider audience and inspire greater community action to support second chances, we have embraced fresh, modern approaches in the Yellow Ribbon Community Arts Festival this year,” said Superintendent Angeline Chua, Chairperson of the Yellow Ribbon Community Arts Festival 2025. “We look forward to continue championing the Yellow Ribbon Project movement and inspire even more people to join us in the Yellow Ribbon cause.”

In a country where three in four citizens agree that the arts shape national identity, and believe it strengthens community bonds, the Yellow Ribbon Community Arts Festival brings those ideals to life — and directly to the community’s doorstep. What’s left is for Singaporeans to meet them there.