Building a Cohesive and Inclusive Community for the Future

Speech by Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, at the Committee of Supply Debate 2025, 10 March 2025

Chairman,

1. Minister Edwin Tong spoke about building a caring, cohesive, and confident Singapore. Let me touch on how we will accomplish this through the arts and heritage. 
2. Today, we have a vibrant arts and heritage scene that Singaporeans can be proud of.
   • In 2024, attendance of arts events across music, dance, and theatre in Singapore reached more than 4 million.
3. I will outline two areas we will focus on to bring Singapore’s arts and heritage sector forward.
   • First, we will expand Singaporeans’ access to the arts, and encourage all, from the young to the old, to participate in and appreciate our vibrant local arts.
   • Second, we will strengthen support for arts and heritage workers and businesses and empower them to shape an enduring future for our arts and heritage ecosystem. 
   
   

   Democratising the Arts

   Ensuring widespread access to the arts
4. Under the Arts Plan 2.0, we aim to build a Connected Society and a Distinctive City through the arts. A key part of this is bringing the arts to every part of our city. 
5. We launched the ArtsEverywhere@CDC initiative last year and brought high-quality performances into places where Singaporeans live, work, and play.
   • Since July 2024, more than 40,000 people have enjoyed performances islandwide at popular locations like Kampung Admiralty, Heartbeat@Bedok, Toa Payoh HDB Hub, Our Tampines Hub, and Jurong Lake Gardens.
   • Through ArtsEverywhere@CDC, Singaporeans with little or no exposure to the arts have gained a newfound appreciation for both the arts and the Singapore culture. For example, Mdm Yang Siew Shan, an engineer who lives in Woodlands, discovered a new interest in the arts after attending an ArtsEverywhere performance in her neighbourhood.
   • For 67-year-old Mdm Jamaliah, she felt a sense of pride in her culture when she watched NADI Singapura’s traditional Malay drumming performance in Brickland Estate with her friends.
6. Ms Usha Chandradas asked about encouraging cross-cultural appreciation and engagement through the arts. I want to assure her that ArtsEverywhere@CDC is a key platform for this purpose.
   • ArtsEverywhere@CDC performances have featured arts groups from different cultures such as Indian ensemble Brahmastra, Chinese traditional ensemble Ding Yi, and the Philharmonic Winds Orchestra.
   • ArtsEverywhere@CDC also includes fringe activities, where arts groups provide audiences, participants with more immersive cultural experiences. It is a multi-sensorial engagement. For example, Brahmastra’s performances were accompanied by a Parai and Karagam Workshop, where participants learned to play the parai, a traditional Indian percussion instrument, and perform the karakattam, an ancient Indian folk dance. NADI Singapura also ran a Paper Tanjak Workshop, where participants of all backgrounds or races, could create their very own traditional Malay headgear.
7. Overall, the response to ArtsEverywhere@CDC has been encouraging. We will keep bringing the arts to Singaporeans like Mdm Yang and Mdm Jamaliah, with over 200 ArtsEverywhere@CDC performances this year. 
8. Beyond physical spaces, we will also bring the arts into the virtual world. Ms Usha Chandradas asked about the plans to enable our arts practitioners to use technology to reach younger audiences.
   • As part of Arts Plan 2.0, NAC launched Project Arts Metaverse, an Alliance-for-Action to co-create arts experiences in virtual spaces with the arts and tech community. 
   • This year, NAC will support and develop three pilot projects that allow our artists to experiment with new ways of making art and nurturing new audiences, especially among young people.
9. While we invest in bringing the arts and culture to all Singaporeans, we also want to encourage them to attend local arts and cultural events and activities. This is why, PM Lawrence Wong and Minister Edwin Tong, shared more about the introduction of the SG Culture Pass. We are proud of our unique Singapore arts and culture, and we call on all Singaporeans to “support local”.
10. Beyond this, we also hope to continue fostering cultural philanthropy through the Cultural Matching Fund (CMF). 
    • As Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced, we will top up the CMF by $100 million and extend it until 2029.
    • To date, we have disbursed more than $400 million in dollar-for-dollar matching grants to 127 unique charities. This means almost 8 in 10 arts and heritage charities have received such grants. The number of donations matched by the CMF has multiplied from 2,000 in year 2014 to more than 16,000 in 2024.
    • Ms Usha Chandradas asked if the CMF could be expanded to match earned income, and if matching grants can be broadened.
    • The CMF encourages philanthropic giving to Singapore’s arts and heritage sector. CMF grants fund expenses which are directly related to the delivery of programmes by arts and heritage groups because we want to ensure that public monies deliver impact for Singaporeans. Expenses like legal fees, staff bonuses, and welfare benefits are not covered. This applies only to the matching grants,not to the donations raised by the charities and IPCs.
    • Now, the CMF is just one of many schemes administered by MCCY and NAC, that our arts and heritage groups can use. For example, Minister Edwin Tong talked about the new SG Culture Pass, for example, focuses on helping our arts and culture groups increase their earned income. 
    
    Enhancing access to the arts among preschool children 
    
    
11. Chairman, we will continue to foster and encourage arts participation among our children and students.
    • For instance, NAC and MOE introduced the Artist-in-School Scheme and the Arts Education Programme, in short AEP, in MOE schools. NAC also worked with MOE to introduce Museum-Based Learning in primary schools and Performing Arts-Based Learning for lower secondary students. 
    • Our cultural institutions offer many programmes for children, such as the National Gallery of Singapore’s Children’s Biennale. In 2022, you will remember that we opened the Children’s Museum – the first local museum dedicated to children aged 12 and younger. 
    • To help parents promote and participate in the arts with their children, NAC provides recommendations on family-friendly arts events and experiences on Catch.sg. 
12. As suggested by Ms Hany Soh, we will bring these benefits further upstream to include preschoolers.
13. NAC will scale up the AEP in Government-supported preschools.
    • Currently, more than 500 Government-supported preschools are onboard the AEP. 
    • In 2025, NAC will scale up to 70% of Government-supported preschools – around 700 schools – and eventually reach 100% of the pre-schools by 2027. This means nearly 1,000 preschools and 44,000 students will have access to quality arts learning experiences. 
    
    Enhancing access to the arts among seniors
    
     
14. In addition, the arts is a powerful force to help elderly people and residents live well and age well. 
15. The Government has been investing in this area as well.
    • For instance, NAC’s WeCare Arts Fund supports Social Service Agencies providing arts programmes that strengthen the physical and the mental wellbeing of elderly people. The Fund has supported more than 80 programmes, including batik printing, dance, ukulele sessions, for more than 1,500 beneficiaries.
    • NAC is currently collaborating with SingHealth Community Hospitals and AIC – Agency for Integrated Care – to develop a framework and resources to guide the design of arts programmes that promote wellbeing. 
16. NAC is currently collaborating with SingHealth Community Hospitals and AIC – Agency for Integrated Care – to develop a framework and resources to guide the design of arts programmes that promote wellbeing. 
    
    

    Developing the Arts & Heritage Sector

17. Chairman, MCCY is dedicated and committed to supporting our arts and heritage practitioners and helping them realise their full potential as Mr Fahmi Aliman and Mr Darryl David have suggested. In fact, this is what Creative Economy pillar of the Arts Plan 2.0 is all about. 
18. We will
    • Number one, expand our support for the next generation of Singaporean artists; 
    • Number two, ensure that our arts and culture workers have the right skillsets and capabilities; and
    • Number three, support our arts and culture companies in growing their businesses to bring the sector to new heights.
    
    Expanding support for aspiring artists
    
19. The Government has consistently supported the development of artistic talent in Singapore. 
    • In the past three years, NAC has invested over $5 million in talent development programmes, including scholarships, international residencies, and the YAA – Young Artist Award. These initiatives have supported more than 400 local artists.
    • These investments have added more talents to our pool of arts and culture practitioners. For example, Mr Adib Kosnan received the NAC scholarship in year 2023 to pursue a Master of Arts in Arts Pedagogy and Practice at LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE). I met him in 2023 when he received his scholarship. Adib is an Associate Artist at a local theatre company, Checkpoint Theatre. 
20. MCCY and NAC will certainly enhance our arts scholarships this year.
    • We will allocate an additional $2 million per year for arts scholarships, allowing us to award more NAC Arts Scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
    • This funding will also go towards a new NAC Creative Arts Scholarship for pre-tertiary and diploma studies offered by SOTA, NAFA – the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, as well as LASALLE. 
    • Taken together, this will support around 40 more students to pursue higher arts education each year. 
    
    Developing skills for a competent and nimble arts sector
    
21. Our arts practitioners will also receive support. We will help them upskill and stay ahead in today’s fast-evolving landscape.
22. Today, the arts sector is about 19,000 strong. They have diverse backgrounds, talents, capabilities, and skills. 
    • Around the world, the creative sector has always led the wider economy in terms of project-based and freelance work. This is also true in Singapore. 
    • Many arts practitioners, including some of our most talented, are Self-Employed Persons (SEPs). They comprise about a third of the arts sector workforce.
23. We will ensure that our arts workforce has the right capabilities to bring the sector forward. We will:
    • Number one, expand the resources available to our arts SEPs; and 
    • Number two, develop a robust leadership pipeline in the sector.
24. NAC will expand its offerings through the Arts Resource Hub (ARH), which was set up in 2019 to help arts SEPs establish their careers. 
    • Currently, more than 3,400 arts SEPs subscribe to the ARH. Subscribers enjoy free access to co-working spaces, preferential rental rates on performance and rehearsal spaces, as well as updates on ARH programmes. They also receive career and professional development support. 
25. In the next phase of ARH, NAC will work with the arts community to shape ARH offerings across artforms and career stages. 
    • Ms Jean See asked about how MCCY will work with stakeholders to improve freelancers’ mental health and wellbeing. I want to assure her that we are doing more in this area. 
    • In 2024, ARH conducted a series of peer-sharing sessions with arts collective CITRUS Practices, focusing on self-care tools, as well as practices. 
    • Going forward, we will expand ARH initiatives to cover issues such as improving working conditions for arts practitioners, legal issues including protecting – IP – intellectual property rights, and developing wellbeing resources for mental resilience.
26. In addition to developing individual talents, we also want to build up our arts companies. 
    • Like corporates in any sector, arts companies need business and management capabilities. This may be even more crucial in the arts sector, where economics are challenging.
27. We will introduce targeted support to develop a robust leadership pipeline in the arts sector. This is critical as most arts companies are micro-enterprises without dedicated human resource capabilities. 
28. NAC will pilot an Arts Management Leadership Programme for emerging and mid-career arts managers to undergo mentorship and coaching, milestone leadership programmes, and industry attachments.
    • In the next three years, we aim to equip a core of arts managers for leadership roles. Over time, we want to cultivate stronger leadership bench to catalyse further growth in the sector.
    
    Supporting local heritage companies
    
    
29. Elevating our arts and heritage sector requires more than developing individual talents and supporting organisational capabilities. In particular, the Government can play a role to stimulate demand for heritage goods and services. 
30. Mr Henry Kwek asked how the Government will support our heritage businesses. We have set up an inter-agency taskforce on this issue. This year, MCCY will pilot the SG Heritage Business Scheme to recognise exemplary heritage businesses and help boost demand for such products. 
31. Businesses that have been operating for at least 30 years, providing locally rooted trades, goods, or services, and contribute significantly to the identity of community or place, can be designated as “SG Heritage Businesses”. They will receive brand campaign support, as well as access to business support such as consultancy services.
32. So, I want to invite heritage business owners and members of the public to submit nominations for SG Heritage Businesses so that we can recognise, celebrate, and support these businesses in our communities.
33. Chairman, please allow me to say a few words in Mandarin.
34. 新加坡的艺术和文化遗产，是我们凝聚力的支柱。艺术和文化将我们凝聚在一起，帮助我们彼此了解，让我们拥有一个共同的归属感。在今年新加坡欢庆建国60周年之际，让我们通过艺术和文化，一起展望国家和社区建设的下一步，让所有国人都有机会能接触到艺术，并加强对艺术和文化工作者和商家的支持。
35. 由国家艺术理事会、社区发展理事会和人民协会联合推出的 “艺术处处”项目，就是一个让许多国人有机会接触到文化艺术的平台。从勿洛心动大厦 （Heartbeat@Bedok）至海军部村庄（Kampung Admiralty），这个项目自去年推出以来，已经吸引了超过4万名观众，欣赏来自不同文化团体，如华乐团"鼎艺团"的演出。
36. 政府将会继续资助这个项目。今年，“艺术处处”将到各个社区，呈献超过200场的艺术表演。
37. 除了让更多国人有机会接触到艺术，我们也将通过艺术活动促进我们年长者的身心健康。
38. 国家艺术理事会正在和新保集团属下的社区医院以及护联中心合作，制定框架、提供资源，为设计促进国人身心健康的艺术节目，提供指导。我们正在和四家活跃乐龄中心，以及欧南社区医院测试包括视觉艺术、讲故事、音乐和舞蹈等等的艺术形式的活动，让我们的年长者参与其中。
39. 接下来一年，我们会把试行计划，扩展到更多的活跃乐龄中心，将艺术融入到社区活动里头，促进我们国人的身心健康。
40. 今年，文化、社区及青年部，也将试行"新加坡文化遗产企业计划"，以表扬优秀的文化遗产企业，让国人可以进一步地认识历史悠久的本地企业、产品和服务，对这些产品和服务的成就感到骄傲，支持我们本地文化企业的发展。
41. 可以被指定为“新加坡文化遗产企业”的商家们，必须经营至少30年，同时提供本地化的产品或服务，并对促进国人的身份认同有显著的贡献。这些获得认可的企业，将获得品牌推广以及业务发展方面的支持，如咨询服务补贴等等。
42. 我们欢迎社区组织和公众们，踊跃地提名商家成为“新加坡文化遗产企业”，让我们继续以行动来支持这些企业，肯定他们对我国文化遗产的贡献。
43. 今天所宣布的一系列措施，旨在把艺术和文化，带给所有的新加坡人。通过这些活动和计划，我们希望把国人凝聚在一起，鼓励更多人加入本地的艺术和文化领域，为丰富我国独特的多元文化艺术作出贡献。
    
    

    Conclusion

44. Chairman, our arts and heritage scene has come a long way. Today, on any given day, Singaporeans can watch a performance in the heartlands, attend an art exhibition, or walk into any one of our excellent museums. 
45. We aim to bring the arts and heritage to all Singaporeans and enable more Singaporeans to appreciate and contribute to the richness of our unique culture. Thank you.