The inaugural edition of SAMPAN: The LASALLE Anthology of Creative Writing, an anthology of literary and creative writing by students from the MA Creative Writing programme at LASALLE College of the Arts, will be released at the Singapore Writers Festival during the session “No One Is an Island” on Friday, 11 November 2022 at 8:00pm.
The session, which will take place in the Living Room at The Arts House, will feature live readings of selected works from the new anthology. Following the release, an online version of the anthology will be made available on the LASALLE website later in November.
SAMPAN includes works of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction that respond to the theme of “Island of ______”, inviting contributors to recount how similarly – or differently – they see Singapore. The 22 contributors to SAMPAN hail from Singapore, India, Vietnam, Canada, the United States and more. The publication, which is the first student and alumni-centered anthology of creative writing in Singapore, also features a foreword by Professor Gregory Leadbetter from Birmingham City University.
“The richness of expression that I have encountered in this anthology demonstrates the uniqueness of storytelling, poetry, creative non-fiction and dramatic writing in Singapore, a place with a vibrant literary culture,” said Dr Rosslyn Prosser, Publication Advisor for SAMPAN and Programme Leader for the MA Creative Writing programme. “SAMPAN adds to these literary traditions by presenting new writing, and in the process, showcasing the talent of the writers.”
The SAMPAN team was led by Chief Editor Gabriel Oh, who is also a student in the MA Creative Writing programme. “It’s exciting to see the anthology finally coming to fruition after a year in the making,” said Gabriel. “The SAMPAN team of editors and designers have worked hard to make this publication a reality, and we’re looking forward to having the inaugural edition of SAMPAN in our hands at the Singapore Writers Festival.”
Dr Prosser also commended the work of the postgraduate student and alumni editors, many of whom were new to the world of literary editing and publishing. “They’re an amazing team,” said Dr Prosser. “I have been impressed by their respectful team work, diligent editorial process and the constancy, patience and thoughtfulness of communication with everyone associated with bringing this important publication to fruition.”
Both Gabriel and Dr Prosser hope that the SAMPAN anthology will contribute to the vibrant and growing literary ecosystem in Singapore.
“Historically, the sampan has had a valued place in Singaporean life and culture,” said Dr Prosser. “I trust that the works in SAMPAN will transport you to unfamiliar and surprising places and encourage you to see the familiar with fresh eyes.”
