The National Arts Council (NAC) of Singapore has recently announced the recipients of the 2-Year Major Grants and the Annual Grants for the new financial year, with a sum of $3.95 million to be disbursed to 19 local arts companies. The 2-year Major Grant Scheme will see 6 companies receive a total of $2.375 million, ranging from $180,000 to $765,000. Action Theatre Ltd and the Singapore Repertory Theatre Ltd, received funding for the first time, with Singapore Dance Theatre Ltd, the Necessary Stage Ltd, the Theatre Practice and TheatreWorks(S)Ltd, continuing to receive their annual funding, first awarded in 2000. According to the NAC, spreading the Major Grant Scheme over a 2-year cycle gives organisations greater flexibility. By easing the load of the arts organisation's operating expenses, the grants aim to allow companies to concentrate on the long term development, creation and presentation of quality programs and performances, as well as of the growth of the organisation's professional staff and administration. The Annual Grant Scheme will see 13 groups receive an estimated total of $1.6 million in FY 2002, ranging from $58,000 to $270,000. The NAC selected the recipients in line with its objectives of providing more groups with the necessary support to help them grow as professional companies and to groom a range of companies that will reflect the cultural diversity of the arts in Singapore. The following companies received funding; Plastique Kinetic Worms, Bhaskar's Arts Academy, Chinese Theatre Circle Ltd, City Chinese Orchestra (Singapore) Ltd, Dance Ensemble Singapore Ltd, Dramaplus Arts Ltd, Ecnad Project Ltd, Sculpture Square Ltd, Teater Ekamatra, the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore, the Singapore Lyric Opera Ltd, the Substation Ltd and the Young Musicians' Society Ltd. The two grant schemes aim to advance the professional development of Singapore's arts companies, as well as to encourage the production of high quality works that meet international standards, with up to 30% of the arts company's expected annual budget funded.