Enlarging space for innovation with Art and Science

Permanent Secretary MCCY, Ms Yeoh Chee Yan,

Chief Executive Director, PA, Mr Desmond Tan,

Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore, A/Prof Lim Tit Meng,

Yuhua PAssionArts Festival Village Organising Chairman, Mr Thomas Lim,

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good evening. A warm welcome to the launch of the “Science Art as One” Exhibition, part of the Yuhua PAssionArts Festival.

2. As a nation-wide community arts Festival, PAssionArts encourages people from all walks of life and of all ages to enjoy art. Into its 6th edition this year, PAssionArts Festival is going from strength to strength, engaging communities and bringing them together through art.

3. What makes the Festival so appealing to Singaporeans is how it enables residents and artists to collaborate and make art at housing estates around the island. This year, the Festival's theme of “Arts of Wonder, One Nation” celebrates the creativity and innovative spirit of Singaporeans. Some 50,000 residents are involved in the Festival as participants or volunteers. There are also 150 artists who are participating as “Art-Facilitators”. About 330 arts groups and organisations, including schools, VWOs, and community groups, are coming on-board as organising partners, together with the 88 Community Arts & Culture Clubs. Through PAssionArts, Singaporeans from all walks of life will have the common experience of creating or enjoying art at the heart of their constituency, whether as an artist, volunteer or participant. A big thank you to the People's Association, its 88 CACCs, and all your partners for bringing arts and culture to “Everyone, Everywhere and Everyday”. Give yourselves a big round of applause.

4. As you've heard earlier on, this year's art exhibition here is special, because we are celebrating Science and Art at the same time. The “Science Art as One” Exhibition demonstrates how the space for innovation is enlarged when science and art, although they seem to be two very distinctive and separate disciplines, come together. The exhibition also features ten unique installations by 2,100 residents, 11 artists, as well as numerous volunteers, VWO beneficiaries, and students. These works will be made accessible for all to enjoy over the next 3 weeks.

5. Besides the launch of the Exhibition, we are also here celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Singapore Science Centre. Congratulations on reaching this milestone! Over the years, you have educated, entertained and fascinated visitors with your exhibitions and programmes. For this exhibition alone, participants modified 50 weighing scales to replicate the workings of a synthesizer with electronics and electrical components. The final artwork will allow visitors to control music by stepping on the weighing scales. Science Centre has always been very much involved in educating Singaporeans, especially our young, in science, and I'm very glad to have this collaboration, with science and art coming together, facilitated by Science Centre Singapore. Thank you so much, Tit Meng, as well as all the staff of the Science Centre. Thank you so much.

6. This collaboration shows us that there are many similarities in art and science. Both require creativity and a pursuit of excellence. The fields of technology and art are converging as we have seen how technology opens up new media and creative spaces for the art; and how art is infused into technology to make better products. To the participants, I hope that the shared experience of creating the artworks will inspire you to explore multi-disciplinary works and to use your talents to create a better and more beautiful future for our society.

7. I would like to thank the PAssionArts Organising Chairman, Thomas Lim, Yuhua CACC Chairman, Andrew Yap and his team, as well as all the Chairmen and partners of Jurong GRC & Bukit Batok CACC. Thank you so much for the collaboration and making this event a great success. And thank you lastly to all the volunteers and participants for being here, and sharing a beautiful evening with each other. I hope the evening will bring many, many good memories for you for many, many years to come. Thank you and enjoy yourselves. 

8. Last of all, we would like to wish Singapore a very Happy Birthday, so Happy 52nd National Day! I hope that everybody will have a good time celebrating Singapore's birthday, and at the same time counting our blessings as Singapore has indeed come a long way. Thank you so much and enjoy yourselves.