Kai Syng Tan

Kai Syng Tan (she/they) is an Associate Professor in Arts and Cultural Leadership at the University of Southampton's Winchester School of Art, joining in July 2023. An award-winning artist-academic-agitator, they have taught in over 200 universities worldwide and are known for pioneering innovative approaches at the intersection of art, leadership, neurodiversity, and social justice. Their work spans creative practice, research, and activism, with a focus on decolonial, anti-oppressive frameworks that reimagine leadership through neuro-queering and creative futurity.

• PhD in Fine Art (Slade School of Fine Art, University College London)
• MA in Art and Design (Royal College of Art)
• BFA (Tokyo University of the Arts)

Tan's research interests explore the intersections of art, leadership, neurodiversity, and social justice through multiple interconnected strands. Their work in Running Studies has pioneered running as an artistic discourse, challenging ableist frameworks in mobility studies. In art-science collaborations, particularly through the #MagicCarpet project, they've reframed neurodivergence as creative discourse. Their disability arts work, including directing the £4.8m Paralympics ceremonies in Southeast Asia, has been praised as 'game-changing.' Most recently, they're developing 'neuro-futurism' as a framework for reimagining leadership through neuro-queering, anti-oppression, and creative futurity.

Tan's recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward reimagining leadership through neurodivergent, decolonial, and creative lenses. Their 2024-2025 works focus on 'neuro-futurism' as a toolkit for diversified, beyond-colonial leadership approaches. The publications demonstrate increasing integration of neurodiversity studies with leadership theory, creative practice, and social justice frameworks. Common themes include tentacular pedagogy, love-led leadership, and decolonized approaches to knowledge production, reflecting Tan's commitment to creating more equitable and imaginative futures through artful agitation.

• National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement Culture Change Award (2018)
• Fellow, Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) (2014)
• San Francisco International Film Festival Golden Gate Award (1999)
• Principal Fellowship, Advance HE (PFHEA) (2022)
• Young Artist Award from Singapore President (2007)
• National Teaching Award 2023 nomination

Tan actively supervises PhD students and has developed the MA in Arts and Cultural Leadership at Winchester School of Art. They've secured significant funding for creative projects including the £4.8m Paralympics ceremonies and the £1.35m Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships project. Their Neurodiversity In/& Creative Research Network connects over 400 neurodivergent innovators globally. Current research includes 'Towards a Creative Practice Observatory' and developing frameworks for love-led leadership that challenges traditional hierarchical models through neuroqueering and anti-oppressive approaches.

Tan founded and co-chairs the Neurodiversity In/& Creative Research Network (over 400 members) and the Running Cultures Research Network. Their #MagicCarpet project at King's College London established groundbreaking art-science collaborations in neurodiversity. As Visual and Communications Director for the Paralympics of Southeast Asia, they created innovative inclusive approaches that have had lasting impact. Current projects include 'Towards a Creative Practice Observatory' and developing the MA Arts and Cultural Leadership program at Southampton, which takes a critical, creative approach to shaping arts leadership for social and climate justice.