The National Arts Council (NAC) announced today three new initiatives to boost the development of traditional arts in Singapore. In recognition of the importance of traditional arts and to ensure its growth at a sustainable level, the initiatives are intended to address the existing structural limitations of the sector and meet the needs of the traditional arts community. A total of $23 million, provided under the five-year National Traditional Arts Plan will be dedicated to improving the quality of productions, growing potential peak companies as well as increasing audience base and accessibility to the art form.
Ms Elaine Ng, NAC Director of Sector Development, explained the focus on traditional arts, “Singapore, made up of a diversity of cultures from some of the oldest civilisations in the world, received its earliest cultural capital from the traditional arts. They have been vital in shaping Singapore’s unique identity as well as contributing to its living cultural heritage and continuity. At the same time, they are a deep resource of inspiration and innovation for the development of distinctive Singapore content. Recognising this, NAC has continually invested in the traditional arts. In order to deepen our engagement and development efforts, the Council will augment the current support framework to strengthen capabilities of our traditional arts practitioners and sustain a broad, appreciative audience base”.