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Culture, heritage and the arts as a way to promote the cultural identity of ASEAN
Arts & Heritage
18 April 2014
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong attends the Sixth Meeting for ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts, 19– 20 April 2014, Hue, Vietnam
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Lawrence Wong, will be attending the Sixth Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) at Hue, Vietnam from 19 to 20 April 2014.
At the Meeting, Ministers will review the progress of cultural collaboration between ASEAN Member States and with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, as well as outline priorities for the next two years. In addition, Ministers will affirm the importance of culture, heritage and the arts as a way to promote the cultural identity of ASEAN, and build a united ASEAN community. Mr Wong will also formally hand over Singapore's Chairmanship of AMCA (2012-2013) and designation as ASEAN City of Culture to the incoming Chair, Viet Nam.
The Ministers will meet with ASEAN dialogue partners, namely the People's Republic of China, Japan and Republic of Korea at the AMCA+3 meeting, and at the respective AMCA+1 (AMCA + China, AMCA + Japan and AMCA + Korea) meetings. The AMCA + Japan and AMCA + Korea meetings will be held for the first time.
As part of the Meeting, Mr Wong will attend the Art Festival, a cultural showcase involving performers from all ASEAN + 3 countries. Singapore will be represented by PA TALENTS, a multi-ethnic performing group from the People's Association.
Mr Wong will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and National Heritage Board.
Background on the Meeting of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA)
The Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) platform was inaugurated in 2003 to enhance efforts in promoting ASEAN arts and culture, cultural heritage preservation and developing arts and cultural industries within the region. The chairmanship of AMCA is rotated biennially amongst ASEAN Member States with the 5th AMCA held in Singapore in May 2012. The 6th AMCA Meeting will be held in Hue, Vietnam, from 19 – 20 April 2014.
Background on ASEAN City of Culture
The ASEAN City of Culture initiative aims to strengthen the identity and raise the profile of each member state and ASEAN as a whole in the region and internationally by celebrating the arts and culture, and promoting the growth of the region's creative industries. A slew of activities will be held over the two-year period to showcase and promote the arts and culture of the region. The selection of the ASEAN City of Culture will coincide with the Chairmanship of AMCA and the city hosting the AMCA meeting will be designated as the ASEAN City of Culture. As host of the 5th AMCA in 2012, Singapore was designated ASEAN City of Culture from 2012-2013. Vietnam will take over the designation of ASEAN City of Culture for 2014 – 2015 at the 6th AMCA Meeting.
Please see Annex A for a list of events organised by Singapore under the ASEAN City of Culture banner.