Realise Your Somerset Project initiative returns, open call for proposals till May 22

To enrich the public spaces in the Somerset Belt, a call for new ideas from youths aged 15 to 35 years old is open from now till May 22.

Returning in its second season, the Realise Your Somerset Project initiative is accepting applications for projects ranging from installations to multi-disciplinary works.

Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the National Youth Council (NYC), the initiative was first held from May to December last year, to support unique and experimental programming projects that are in line with the Somerset Belt. 

In the second iteration, applicants can join a series of knowledge exchange sessions, where they will meet together and be mentored by industry professionals and youth leaders. These sessions will run throughout the open call period till early June.

All submitted proposals will be assessed on several criterias including innovativeness and feasibility of concept. From June to July, applicants with proposals that need further clarification may be invited to share their idea with an evaluation panel.

By the end of July, applicants will be notified of the outcome. Those successful will be mentored by youth leaders and changemakers, based on background and subject expertise. Aside from that, these applicants will be invited to join the initiative’s community channel to network and share best practices with other youths.

Mentors announced for the second season include Shahril Hassan, co-founder and managing director of Air Amber, Kent Teo, founder and CEO of Invade, and Carmen Low, co-founder of Afterglow. 

In a Facebook post by Spark The Next SG, Carmen Low said: “I hope that through Season 2, we can see how youths want to be engaged post-pandemic and learn more about the types of content and engagement platforms that they want. 

“Nothing is too radical – I hope to see a new way of thinking that pushes boundaries from the new project applicants.”

After the mentorship process, projects will be carried out between July to December later this year. Each project can last between a day or a maximum of six months, with funding support of up to $50,000 depending on its scale.

To enter the open call, participants are to send their completed proposals to somersetbelt@nyc.gov.sg by May 22. The fact sheet and application kit can be found on SG Youth Action Plan’s website.