Government is committed to enlarging the space for ground-up arts and heritage initiatives

Question

Mr Ang Hin Kee: To ask the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth whether the Ministry would consider providing a localised platform for arts and culture interest groups to partner training institutes such as the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and LASALLE College of the Arts to initiate ground up initiatives by (i) designating Short Street or Waterloo Street closed to motorised traffic once a month for arts and cultural initiatives and (ii) setting up an advisory committee to guide volunteers on organising suitable events.

Response

Acting Minister Lawrence Wong: MCCY and our agencies are committed to enlarging the space for ground-up arts and heritage initiatives. This year's PAssionArts Month is a case in point. Many Community Arts and Culture Clubs (CACCs), which comprise residents spearheading arts and heritage initiatives in their communities, have partnered national arts institutions such as the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), LASALLE College of the Arts and the Nanyang Polytechnic School of Interactive & Digital Media to organise arts and culture activities throughout Singapore. These include exhibitions, talks, workshops and other community art projects. 

The National Heritage Board (NHB) has also been working with partners such as the School of the Arts (SOTA) and Singapore Management University (SMU) to present exhibitions, performances and other collaborations in the arts and heritage district of Bras Basah-Bugis. 

Currently, we already work with the local community and other stakeholders to close certain roads for arts and heritage events. For instance, at this year's Night Festival in August and September, Armenian Street will be closed for a variety of programmes. We will look into the Member's suggestion of closing Waterloo Street or Short Street, and will do so in consultation with the various stakeholders involved, including the tenants and residents in the area. In fact, for the area around Waterloo Street, which is flanked by museums and arts facilities, we are also looking at ways to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, and to provide more space to stage arts and cultural initiatives.

Mr Ang also asked about assistance for volunteers in organising events. Our agencies already do so through various toolkits, advisory panels, workshops and other training programmes. For example, NAC works closely with volunteers to develop and present a sustained level of arts programmes in the community. In the process, volunteers also gain knowledge and practical experience in developing arts content and working with artists and other partners.