Our SG Arts Plan 2.0: Bringing Arts Everywhere for Everyone

Speech by Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law, at the launch of ArtsEverywhere@CDC on 27 July 2024

1. A very good morning to everyone. I am delighted to be with you out here in full force, supporting the arts, supporting the artists, and bringing arts to the neighbourhood. And I want to give a special shout out to the artists around here - a big thank you for being here, and bringing your art, your craft and your imagination out here to the neighbourhood and to our heartlands. 
2. In a short while, you will see Nadi Singapura back on stage again, an ensemble that uses traditional Malay Archipelago drums in highly unique and very innovative ways. These are uniquely Singaporean artists.
3. Nadi was formed over 10 years ago. It is made up of young aspiring musicians who wanted to do something different. They wanted to be true to the sounds of the Malayan Archipelago, but also adding a touch of Singapore to it, blending the sounds and made it uniquely Singapore.
4. Nadi is led by distinguished artists who have brought traditional Malay music and culture to local and international audiences. And they have done us proud, not just in Singapore, but internationally. They have brought recognition and pride to Singapore, and I am so glad that they are all here performing for us.

    

   Our SG Arts Plan 2.0: Bringing Arts Everywhere for Everyone

5. Nadi’s performance will mark the start of ArtsEverywhere@CDC, a joint initiative by the National Arts Council (NAC), the five Community Development Councils (CDCs), and the People’s Association (PA). 
6. Last year, NAC had a vision for what the Arts Plan 2.0 will look like. We said we wanted arts to bring people together, creating a Connected Society; we wanted the arts to make Singapore special, so a Distinctive City; and we wanted the arts to be accessible to all and be sustainable, so we wanted to have a Creative Economy. 
7. Today, we are all very well connected digitally. But less so physically.  We wanted to use the arts forms as well as our artists and the art that they bring to bring people closer together. 
8. And I wanted to say that besides arts everywhere, arts should also be for everyone. And therefore, whether you are from different backgrounds, whether you appreciate art or not, we have a space for you. That’s why we also want to infuse the arts and bring it out into our heartlands, not just in our museums, our galleries, or our concert halls. Art is how you relate to a performance onstage and what you make of the visual art that you see on the wall. It speaks to you personally. That is why it does not have only to be in our museums, our galleries, or our concert halls. We bring it out here where we work, where we play, where we live, where our public transport is. It is arts everywhere.
9. And we also want to significantly expand opportunities for Singaporeans to get to know local arts artists. We all know the famous Western artists, famous concerts that come here, famous stage performances from Broadway or West End. But I think it is really important for our local artists to be supported by our local audience, and that is all of you. The more we support, the stronger they will be. The bigger our support, the grander they will be. And the more pride they will bring to us fellow Singaporeans. 

   
   ArtsEverywhere@CDC

10. ArtsEverywhere@CDC is an example of how we will concretely translate the plans we have for arts to be everywhere, to build up our arts economy, and to benefit residents and artists alike. 
11. Let me say a little bit about this new initiative. NAC and the CDCs will bring high quality performing arts from established arts groups across the different art forms. Our art forms in Singapore are truly special; it is not one genre but different genres coming together to  create new, blended genres. That is what makes Singapore so special. 
12. And this is a significant step up from ongoing efforts such as PA’s PassionArts, we are going to do more in the community.
13. With ArtsEverywhere@CDC, Singaporeans across the island will be able to enjoy quality performances. Let me give you a heads up, besides Nadi, we will also have a quality Chinese chamber group Ding Yi, they are going to be performing in the heartlands. We also have a very wonderful Indian music ensemble Brahmastra, who will perform right where you and I will be living, playing and working.
14. We will start with monthly performances by these arts groups, along with fringe arts activities, at major heartland nodes such as Our Tampines Hub, Toa Payoh Hub, Yew Tee Square, Heartbeat @ Bedok, and Teck Whye Market. To make sure that all my Mayor friends have something in each of their districts. 
15. We aim to bring gradually all these art forms to all five CDC districts over time. And I’m very heartened that Singaporeans around all of us have begun to be very receptive.
16. Based on the 2023 Population Survey of the Arts, 73% of Singaporeans believe that it is important to have arts and culture events in their immediate neighbourhood so that they can walk across the road, go across the street, have your coffee and see the arts. But we will push for more.
17. Over the next 3 years, we hope to engage more than50,000 residentsin various communitiesacross Singapore, to come onboard to appreciate the arts even more.
18. The performances and activities will also provide valuable opportunities for residents to enjoy the arts and form closer bonds with each other. 
19. There is nothing like appreciating a superb performance onstage with friends and family. It’s an opportunity to come together and have a day out without having to dress up, as it is right here in the heartlands of your neighbourhood.

    
    Conclusion

20. In the weeks and months ahead, NAC and the five CDCs will begin to see more arts performances on stage.
21. Here is where I need you all to do me a favour. All of you need to support them strongly. Tell your friends and family about this.
22. Our artists in Singapore are special. They have so much to offer, reflecting our unique and vibrant multi-racial, multi-cultural heritage. I daresay there are not many arts groups around the world who can reflect this quality and this diverse heritage as we have in Singapore. It is a very precious part of who we are, and our artists tell our stories, they speak to our imaginations, and they live out our aspirations. All of these make us a richer, much stronger, culturally more diverse, and uniquely Singapore, and more cohesive Singapore.
23. I hope that through these performances, our artists will grow with our residents, each of us will support each other, support them and be proud of them, and gain a greater appreciation for them, and their passion will make us rise above ourselves. 
24. At the same time, I know ArtsEverywhere@CDC will bring communities closer, ignite a passion for the arts, inspire creativity and a sense of belonging for Singaporeans. 
25. So I’m very glad to be here at ArtsEverywhere where arts is for everyone, sharing and celebrating this occasion with all of you. Thank you very much for supporting this event, and thank you very much for supporting the arts in Singapore. 
26. Thank you.