Continuing to invest in the arts

Good evening everyone,

1. I want to welcome you to the Singapore Tyler Print Institute (STPI), especially our guests from overseas. It is good to be here at STPI because this is really a jewel among our cultural institutions. STPI was started more than ten years ago with some Government assistance, but it has come a long way in the last ten years. Today it is among the best print making institution in the world. It is truly an achievement all of us can be proud of.

2. One of the things STPI does really well is its residency programmes for artists to come here and experiment with print and paper. It has done this with many artists, both internationally and in Singapore. In fact, one Korean artist, Haegue Yang, had spent time here and her work - made in Singapore, made in STPI - now hangs in the lobby of New York's Museum of Modern Art. Again, something we can be proud of as Singaporeans, and for STPI as well.

3. Today, I am glad that we are able to launch new artworks by Suzann. She is no stranger to us in Singapore. We have seen her artworks many times because they have been exhibited at the Biennale. She had something at the grand entrance of the National Museum of Singapore for the Singapore Biennale. She also represented Singapore for the Venice Biennale some years back as well. Looking at her works, you will find that they are wonderful and amazing. I am sure her exhibition is something all of you will look forward to.

4. Today is special also because today is the start of a whole week of visual arts. It is the start of the Singapore Art Week. There are many events that all of us can look forward to, so I hope all of you will enjoy them. Not just today, but it also stretches on for the rest of the nine days. We did a count and found that there are more than 100 events over these nine days. So pick your choice, and enjoy the whole week of art!

5. I am sure the arts have a special place in the hearts of all of us. Art is important because it is about self-expression. It is about creative expressions and that speaks to all of us as individuals because it speaks to the fundamental human need to express ourselves - creatively and imaginatively.

6. That is why the Government believes in the importance of the arts – it is true for individuals, it is true for society. That is why we are continuing to invest in the arts. We are making this year's Singapore Art Week bigger than ever. It is the largest Singapore Art Week that we have ever had. And beyond the Art Week, we have many more arts and cultural events that we can look forward to throughout the year.

7. We are going back to participate in the Venice Biennale in May. So if you are travelling to Venice in May, you can catch the Singapore pavilion at the Biennale. If not, it will also be travelling back, so you will get a chance to see the artworks that are showcased there. Some time by August, our National Museum and the Asian Civilisations Museum revamp will be ready. So you will see the two major museums in Singapore completely revamped with new permanent exhibitions. We will also have the Night Festival and the Singapore International Festival of the Arts in August.

8. And come November, the new National Gallery of Singapore will be opened. It will be the biggest visual arts venue in South East Asia with a variety of top quality South East Asian and Singapore arts. This is the site of our old Supreme Court and City Hall. If you drive by, you will see the restoration works being done and it looks wonderful. I am sure all of us are looking forward to it.

9. This is a brief summary of all of the things you can expect this year. And it so happens that this year is also a special year for Singapore because it is our 50th birthday. This year, we celebrate Singapore's 50 years of independence. So as we celebrate our Golden Jubilee, I hope this year will also be a year where we can do something special to celebrate Singapore's arts and culture.

10. Thank you very much.