Attendance at Singapore’s performing arts events and visual arts exhibitions was higher than ever before in 2002, according to figures released by the National Arts Council (NAC). NAC Deputy Director (Strategic Development) Teo Kian Giap announced that in 2002 attendance for performing arts events had crossed into seven-figure territory for the first time. Meanwhile, the number of visual arts exhibitions grew by four per cent over the previous year. NAC Chief Executive Choo Thiam Siew said that such numerical indicators helped to gauge the general progress of the arts. Possible reasons for the increases were credited to arts education and audience-building efforts being undertaken by the council, arts groups and other agencies. For more information visit the NAC website.