The 2025 National Day Parade (NDP) pack will come in seven designs, featuring works of art by 41 artists with disabilities.
Through these works, the artists, who are aged 10 to 73, aim to express their hopes for Singapore, and what the Republic’s journey and future mean to them.
Multiculturalism, Resilience, Openness and Boldness are the themes of four of the NDP pack designs.
These themes were created by 21 artists aged 20 to 73 at ART:DIS, a non-profit organisation aimed at creating opportunities for people with disabilities in the arts.
Works of art that encompass the three other themes – Care, Contribute and Future – were made by 20 students aged 10 to 18, the parade organisers said on June 9 as they gave the media a first look at the designs of the pack.
These students come from special education schools supported by SG Enable, a charity for disability and inclusion in Singapore.
As for the contents of the NDP pack, Major Desmond Lim, chairman of the NDP 2025 pack committee, said it will contain several staple food items to keep the audience refreshed and energised throughout the show.
The public can also expect several interactive items, such as clappers, in their packs.
The artwork will be printed on the packs, which are recycled polyester tote bags. It will also be incorporated in a National Day 2025 stamp set produced by national postal service Singapore Post.
The NDP pack will be distributed to those who are attending National Education shows, NDP preview shows and the National Day Parade on Aug 9.
The packs will be distributed at random to ensure a fair process.
For the first time, the live show on Aug 9 will be extended from the Padang to Marina Bay, as part of an “expanded canvas” to mark Singapore’s 60th year of independence.
Those who have registered to visit heartland celebration sites and various Bay Celebration sites, or participate in pledge events, will also be eligible to collect the NDP pack on-site.
A pledge event is a new initiative to support Singaporeans in organising their own community celebrations, such as intergenerational wellness activities, from July.
Of the seven themed works, Multiculturalism, for instance, celebrates local cultures, highlighting the nation’s diversity through iconic symbols such as the traditional Malay food ketupat, and capteh, a traditional game where players keep a feathered shuttlecock in the air by kicking it with their feet.
Another theme, Future, gives Singaporeans a glimpse of a nation shaped by innovation and care. The artwork features elements of artificial intelligence and technology to celebrate the Republic’s spirit of progress and the embrace of new inventions.
Meanwhile, Resilience honours the strength and unity of Singaporeans, such as front-line workers during challenging times, and the artwork for Care is set among Housing Board blocks and green spaces to show people from all walks of life coming together.
HDB blocks were also featured in another design, under the theme of Contribute.
Rihansh Manoj Chugani, who has cerebral palsy, proudly held up the pack as he pointed to the HDB block he drew.
MAJ Lim said the hope is that the collaboration with the artists will honour their abilities, recognise their talents and bring their vision for the country to fellow Singaporeans.
“Drawing on the artists’ unique strengths and shared experiences, they have co-created seven pieces of unique artwork for this year’s NDP pack, inspired by their reflections on Singapore’s heritage, shared experiences, and their imagination of Singapore’s shared future,” he added.
Ms Angela Tan, executive director of ART: DIS, said this was the first time the non-profit organisation had partnered with the NDP organisers on such a scale.
Ms Lee May Gee, chief executive officer of SG Enable, said this was the sixth year that the organisation joined hands with parade organisers.
