Wednesday June 3, 11:49 AM
Singapore arts thriving in financial crisis
The most severe recession in Singapore's history is proving a boon for the arts scene, as local works and performers share the limelight at the annual arts festival with foreign productions.
As the city-state presses ahead with plans to become an Asian arts hub, the Singapore Repertory Theatre is staging Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" with a Singaporean, Adrian Pang, in the lead.
It's a far cry from the 2007 festival, when British luminary Sir Ian McKellen left audiences spellbound with his performance in "King Lear".
In these tough times, arts establishment figures say, imported stars are just too expensive, opening the stage door for performers such as Pang just as government financial support for the sector is paying off.
Multi-million-dollar subsidies for the arts are intact, while museums and performance centres built or refurbished in recent years are now drawing growing numbers of local and foreign visitors.
"In some ways, the recession may redress the imbalance of expensive foreign to local and Asian works presented in many venues," said Benson Puah, chief executive officer of the Esplanade, Singapore's main performing arts complex.
"This is not necessarily a negative development arising from the crisis," he told AFP.
In the month-long Singapore Arts Festival which began on May 15 -- an event that draws thousands of visitors to Singapore every year -- foreign acts are still taking part in the festival, but domestic artists and productions are enjoying top billing too.
Thanks to a thriving nightlife and vibrant arts scene, Singapore has shed its image as a cultural desert to become one of Asia's hippest destinations alongside Tokyo and Hong Kong.
Puah said there are fewer large foreign touring companies coming to Singapore but the gaps are being filled by local works, artists and performers.
The Singaporean film industry is also hoping to benefit from the fallout from the recession.
Kenneth Tan, director of the Singapore Film Commission, said the city-state is well-placed to attract international producers, who are increasingly looking to Asia to cut costs and gain a foothold in emerging markets.
"It is vital to note that there are substantial media funds grounded in Singapore, with approximately 1.3 billion Singapore dollars (867 million US) in funds available here for media projects," he said.
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) received a record 1.2 million dollars (800,000 US) in donations at its 30th anniversary dinner this year.
"With the global economic downturn significantly impacting SSOs Endowment Fund, the SSO is no longer able to draw on its returns to fund its operating expenditure," said Odile Benjamin, a senior member of the SSO.
The National Heritage Board (NHB) said its museums welcomed more than 652,000 visitors in the last quarter of 2008, a rise of nearly 50 percent over the same period in 2007.
The NHB also received record donations in 2008, in the form of cash as well as heritage pieces. Chinese artist Wu Guanzhong, considered a master of 20th century Chinese painting, donated paintings valued at 73.8 million dollars (49.2 million US).
"Our exhibitions can provide solace and enjoyment as well as an educational experience for visitors in difficult times like these," said the board's chief executive officer Michael Koh.
The National Arts Council says it plans to provide more funding for artists to help them weather the tough economic climate.
"We are also looking at the possibility of investing more to develop the capabilities of our artists and arts groups," the government body said recently.
Financial aid such as bursaries, scholarships and direct grants, which totalled 12.7 million dollars in 2008, to artists and groups will be maintained, the council said, adding it was hoping to tap corporate donors too.
"We continue to work closely with the private sector to find more creative initiatives that are in line with their corporate objectives and budget, and to encourage them to continue taking a stake in the long-term development of Singapore arts," it said.
Composer and musician August Lum, 24, welcomed the news.
"A lot of people in the industry believe that people will continue to need enjoyment and entertainment, but looking at the attendances, people are still going out to watch shows," he said.
|
