Two Decades, One Stage: HERE I AM Marks 20 Years of Transforming Lives Through the Arts
A powerful celebration of legacy and renewal, The Business Times Budding Artists Fund’s 20th anniversary production united alumni and young beneficiaries on one stage. It reflected on two decades of change while setting the stage for the next generation.
19 October 2025 – The curtains closed on HERE I AM, a milestone theatre production that marked the 20th anniversary of the Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF) with more than 600 audience members across two sold-out nights at SOTA Drama Theatre.
Produced by TRCL in collaboration with The Little Arts Academy and 10 Square Youth, HERE I AM brought together past and present beneficiaries of the Fund in an intergenerational reflection on what two decades of accessible arts education have built and what the next 20 years may bring.
The two-night performance drew strong support and heartfelt applause, reflecting the community’s continued belief in the power of the arts.
A Stage that Spoke for 20 Years and the Next 20
In her closing address, Ms Chen Huifen, Editor of The Business Times, described the performance as “a declaration.” She said: “For 20 years, The Business Times Budding Artists Fund has worked to give young people a platform, and tonight, with this powerful production called HERE I AM, they declared their presence, their talent and their spirit.”
She reflected that the evening’s significance lay in seeing alumni return as directors, playwrights, stage managers and designers. “Once the children and youths on this very stage, they are now the builders for the next generation.” Among them was Joo Soon, an alumnus of the Fund who returned to serve as the production’s stage manager, exemplifying the full-circle spirit that defined the evening.
It also paid tribute to Ms. Jennie Chua, Chairman of TRCL, who has journeyed with the Fund since its early years. Having joined the cause just two years after the Fund was founded, she has remained a steadfast champion of its mission to make the arts accessible to all children and youth, and a pillar of strength in guiding its growth over the past two decades.
Ms. Chen also acknowledged the founding vision of former Business Times Editor Alvin Tay and long-term supporters
including UOB, the Hong Leong Group companies, BNP Paribas and other corporate partners whose generosity continues to power the Fund’s mission. “As we look to the next 20 years,” she added, “the stage is set and the voices are ready to be heard.”
Full Circle Journeys
Written and directed by Vishnucharan Naidu, alumnus of The Little Arts Academy and an emerging educator, HERE I AM featured performers who themselves grew up within the BT BAF ecosystem.
“HERE I AM is especially meaningful to me. It brings together alumni I have known for years and current students I still teach. I was a student here myself so being part of this now feels full circle. Seeing all these generations come together is incredibly heartwarming,” said Mr Vishnucharan Naidu, Director of HERE I AM.
Ms Santhiya Subra, Head of The Little Arts Academy and 10 Square Youth, added: “Over the past 20 years, we have seen how the arts transform lives, giving children and youth a voice, confidence and belonging. HERE I AM is more than a
performance. It is our students’ stories brought to life and a reminder that access to the arts is a right, not a privilege.”
Looking Ahead
For TRCL and its partners, HERE I AM symbolised both reflection and renewal. It served as a bridge between the past 20 years and the next 20. What began in 2005 as a belief that no child should be denied the arts because of financial circumstance has now become a national movement that has transformed more than 25,000 young lives.
As the final spotlight dimmed, the message was clear. The stage that spoke for the past 20 years is ready for the next generation to stand up and say Here I am.
For media enquiries contact
Daphne Loo, Head of campaigns and communications
Contact 8945 9388 email daphne_loo@trcl.sg
