Advertising & Marketing Association, Singapore Expands The Crowbar Awards Program

The Advertising & Marketing Association, Singapore has launched an expanded Crowbar Program for 2023. Co-created with seasoned marketing communications and creative advertising practitioners McCann Worldgroup Singapore the program aims to provide real-world learning experiences for young creative professionals and institutes of higher learning (IHLs) with a multi-disciplinary platform for talent development.

Built around the tentpole of the Crowbar Awards, the program encompasses a variety of talent outreach & training initiatives from various participating integrated marketing communication agencies led by Crowbar Council leaders Alfred Wee, executive creative director of McCann Singapore and Dante Abelarde, executive creative director of MRM Singapore. The line-up in the new Crowbar Program includes Creative Book Reviews, Career Fairs, Winners Workshops and the Crowbar Challenge intended to inspire graduating students from institutions participating in the Crowbar Awards, helping them to fast-track the development of potential creative leaders of tomorrow and be viable with their curriculum to train and educate. 

“As veterans in their respective fields, the pioneer Crowbar Council co-chairs Alfred and Dante have been involved with the education Institutions as industry leaders and have led the Crowbar Awards to its high level of success today. As the bridge between academia and industry, The Crowbar Awards have been the cornerstone of Creative development in our Industry for decades. This year, we are taking the next step of further closing the gap between graduation and employment and I’m encouraged to see this initiative progress under their leadership.” said Bernard Chan, CEO of AAMS.

As the leading award show for emerging creatives from institutions and universities, Crowbar continues to promote talent discovery as AAMS announces the appointment of Tribal Worldwide Singapore (Tribal Worldwide) as agency partner with Benson Toh (executive creative director of Tribal Worldwide) as the new chair, and co-chair, Wei Ling Gwee (creative director of Tribal Worldwide) for the Crowbar Awards 2023.

“It’s a great honour and a fantastic opportunity to be chairing Crowbar Awards. Our agency has played a leadership role in discovering and nurturing talent through our youth advancement courses in partnership with Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) for over half a decade. We recognise that our youths are our country’s future, and this is what motivates us to run skills-building programmes like Campfire and SPARKS. I have been part of the Crowbar jury for several years now, and taking on the chairmanship this year extends our unflinching commitment to helping young talent in our industry shine.” Benson Toh, executive creative director of Tribal Worldwide Singapore.

“I am thrilled when Benson approached me to help him co-run this year’s Crowbar Awards. I consider myself a beneficiary of great mentorship. I know how powerful it can be for youths to be given a platform to stage their talents and open pathways to a long and productive career in our industry. The search for talent is global, award shows like Crowbar fast-tracks your success.” Wei Ling Gwee, creative director of Tribal Worldwide Singapore.

Bernard Chan, CEO of AAMS, “We are excited to have Benson Toh and Wei ling Gwee chair the Crowbar Awards 2023 and look forward to their passion and enthusiasm shining new light on the Crowbar Awards,” said Bernard Chan, CEO of AAMS.

AAMS has always been the leader in championing creativity and relevancy in Singapore’s advertising, marketing, and communication industry to raise Asia’s profile.