Sir, I would like to speak about the arts as a Singaporean who is an avid theatre-goer.
By the numbers, our arts ecosystem appears supported and healthy. The Public Sector Outcomes Review reports rising heritage awareness, stable graduate employment in the arts and growing attendance at festivals and community programmes. The Cultural Matching Fund has disbursed over $400 million since 2014. Last year, every Singaporean over 18 received $100 in SG Culture Pass credits.
Yet if our arts ecosystem is so well supported, why does it remain so fragile? The Substation had already shut its doors back in 2021. Last year, The Projector closed. Last month, Pangdemonium announced its final season after 16 years. Now each closure had its own reasons. But when established companies with a track record and loyal audiences cannot sustain themselves – or choose to stop as the conditions have become too demanding – then it is not just a series of individual decisions. It reflects an ecosystem that remains stretched. And the numbers bear this out.
90% of our arts ecosystem comprises small organisations. One in two arts and culture practitioners is self-employed. Many work project to project. While the more accessible grants administered by NAC cover between 50% to 70% of project costs, this also means every production begins in deficit, and needs to fundraise the remainder costs. Yet donations to the arts make up less than 2% of total charitable giving in Singapore.
On the demand side, there is a paradox. The 2023 Population Survey on the Arts showed that while three-quarters of Singaporeans agree that the arts benefit our community, only three in ten consume local arts content. Now this same Survey also points us toward answers. It found that Singaporeans with childhood exposure to the arts were significantly more likely to value, attend and advocate for the arts as adults. Students and youths already have among the highest physical attendance rates for performances. The data tell us both where the gap is and where the opportunity lies.
Sir, I have two suggestions:
- First, introduce micro grants for small-scale, community facing arts projects. They should come with simplified administration criteria, and should not be pegged to a percentage of the overall budget. For small projects, such micro grants could be the difference between a project happening and it not happening at all.
- Second, make the arts more affordable and accessible for our youths. They are already the most willing attendees. Let us meet their enthusiasm with sustained, subsidised access. This could mean expanded subsidised student pricing, extending the SG Culture Pass to students aged 13 to 18 or even exploring allowing them to co-pay for tickets using funds from their Edusave account.
- If we believe the arts build character, empathy and understanding, then we should treat access to them with the same seriousness we treat access to enrichment and education.
