Celebrating and preserving our food heritage

Question

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what short-term and long-term measures are developed to protect our culinary heritage and nurture our culinary arts; and (b) whether the National Heritage Board as custodian of our heritage can take on the primary responsibility of protecting the nation's culinary culture and, if not, what agency is being tasked to take this on.

Response

1. Minister Lawrence Wong: The National Heritage Board (NHB) recognises that food is an important part of Singapore's shared heritage.
   

2. NHB actively organises talks, exhibitions and events to promote our culinary heritage. The Singapore Philatelic Museum's popular interactive and multi-sensorial “Spice is Nice” exhibition for young children is a case in point. NHB also supports a range of projects to document our culinary culture. For example, it recently produced a six-part documentary based on its well-received publication Wartime Kitchen: Food and Eating in Singapore 1942-50.
   

3. Many of these exhibitions and programmes are done in partnership with the community. For instance, NHB partnered a group of heritage volunteers to create a food and heritage trail for Balestier, and plans to do more of such trails. The NHB's Heritage Grant scheme has also supported several food publications related to Singapore food, including a book by food blogger Dr Leslie Tay, author of the popular blog ieatishootipost.
   

4. Education is another important way of preserving our food culture. Recognising that hawker food culture forms an integral part of our culinary heritage, NHB in collaboration with the National Environment Agency (NEA) produced a travelling exhibition on the history and evolution of hawker centres. NHB will also co-organise with NEA an Art and Heritage Initiative involving 75 schools and organisations to create site-specific murals inspired by our heritage and food culture to raise public appreciation of hawker centres which are unique to Singapore.
   

5. In addition, the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and NEA piloted the Hawker Master Trainer Pilot Programme (HMTPP) to give aspiring hawkerpreneurs the opportunity to train with veteran hawkers in order to preserve our hawker heritage. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) also organises and promotes the annual Singapore Food Festival (SFF), which showcases our local culinary talents and local food, including heritage cuisines and restaurants.
   

6. There will be several initiatives during our Golden Jubilee year to celebrate our food heritage. For instance, Let's Makan will support interested individuals in organising up to 300 potluck local home-cooked food sessions among small groups of neighbours. NHB will work with partners for special projects that celebrate food heritage, including documenting and featuring 50 signature Singaporean dishes and their recipes.
   

7. Many stakeholders in the public, private and people sectors have an interest in our nation's food culture. The NHB has and will continue to do its part in celebrating and preserving our food heritage.