Bringing the arts to the wider community

Question

Mr David Ong Kim Huat: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what has been the take-up rate for the Arts Fund over the last five years; and (b) whether NAC will consider reviewing its funding guidelines, in particular the measurable indicators.

Response

Minister Grace Fu: Administered by the National Arts Council (NAC), the Arts Fund was set up by the Tote Board to bring the arts to the wider community.

1. Following a review in 2011, the Arts Fund sharpened its funding guidelines to encourage arts groups to reach out to new audiences with quality performances that resonate with Singaporeans. Artistic excellence has remained an important criterion. This is in line with the twin goals of the Arts and Culture Strategic Review to support arts excellence as well as make the arts an integral part of the lives of our people. There was an increase in funding provided by Tote Board from $750,000 to $1.5 million per year from FY12 onwards.
   

2. The take-up rate from FY11 to FY15, has been healthy at about 100% in FY11, 80% in FY12, 95% in FY13, 100% in FY14 and 75% for FY15 thus far.
   

3. After the implementation of these funding guidelines, we have seen a growth in the audiences reached under the Arts Fund, from around 220,000 in FY12 to a projected 340,000 by end of FY15. This indicator, together with measures of audience satisfaction continue to be relevant indicators given the objectives of the Arts Fund.