ABOUT 600 pupils from low-income families will have a chance to discover their artistic potential through highly subsidised art and drama camps.

The Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), in a first-time tie-up with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa) School of Young Talents, is behind this.

The three-day camp for 64 pupils aged seven to 13 started yesterday at Zhenghua Primary School in Bukit Panjang - 45 are enrolled in the art camp, and 19 in the bilingual compering and drama camp.

CDAC education committee chairman Gan Kim Yong said: 'The objective is to give children access to high-quality arts courses, which are usually held privately and at a high cost.' The next camp will be held in December.

Courses will be run at other times of the year at the Nafa campus in Bencoolen Street and CDAC centres. Students with potential will be identified for a Nafa assessment, and possibly picked for part-time certification courses.

School of Young Talents principal Fang Yuan said: 'Many children are talented, but due to low family income, lose the chance to develop these talents.'

Pupils whose families earn no more than $2,500 a month are eligible for up to a 95 per cent subsidy on these courses.

The CDAC has set aside $150,000 to run this programme for three years. Depending on the response, it may also look into including sports courses.

Madam Jancy Chong, whose 10-year-old son is in the drama camp, said: 'He's never been to one because these courses are usually very expensive, and often too far away from home, so I'm glad they have this now.'

JALELAH ABU BAKER

This article was first published in The Straits Times.