Title: Islamic Creative Arts in Singapore: In Conversation with Laili Abdeen and Ammar Mustafa
Date: 26 December 2025

Synopsis

In this podcast, we explore the intersection of faith, creative culture, and identity in Singapore. The conversation with our guest speakers aims to illuminate the advocacy landscape of this space, its history and foundations, while also reviewing the present and looking into the future. What are some key enablers and barriers to Islamic creative arts today?

Catch our second episode titled Islamic Creative Arts in Singapore: In Conversation with Laili Abdeen and Ammar Mustafa on YouTube and Spotify!

Speakers

  1. Ms Laili Abdeen, Co-Founder, Layl Ash-Shayr
  2. Mr Ammar Mustafa, Founder, Pena Seraya

Key Takeaways

  1. Art is one medium through which we can find beauty and connection with the world around us, increasing our faith and strengthening our deen (religiosity). Both speakers started their journeys from a place of love for art and Islam.
  2. Advocacy can be done through the spreading of the love of art. Although perhaps not conforming to common understandings of advocacy, organising and creating spaces that provide access for communities with different forms of art is a way of advocating and championing the importance and growth of the Islamic creative arts scene in Singapore.
  3. Representation of different minority identities is important in the arts landscape to create an inclusive and accessible space for people from all backgrounds to enjoy.
  4. Anyone can create art as long as they allow themselves to try. Ms Laili shared that everyone is inherently a writer, and she hopes for more openness in literature. Mr Ammar also shared how many first-time triers of calligraphy found themselves enjoying the process of the art and excelling at the basics.

Read more in the the full RIMA brief here: Islamic Creative Arts in Singapore (Brief)

Watch the video of the podcast here: Islamic Creative Arts in Singapore (YouTube)

Listen to the audio of the podcast here: Islamic Creative Arts in Singapore (Spotify)

Photo by Malik Shibly on Unsplash