Guidelines and conditions for arts funding

Response to parliamentary question on how guidelines and conditions for arts funding are processed, the frequency of the reviews and involvement of stakeholders and local artists

Question

Mr Leon Perera: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what are the processes behind the development of guidelines and conditions for arts funding; (b) how frequently are such processes, guidelines and conditions reviewed; (c) when is the next review; (d) who are the stakeholders and actors that participate in the review process; and (e) to what degree are local artists consulted in these reviews.

Response

1. Parl Sec Baey Yam Keng: As a steward of public funds, the National Arts Council, NAC seeks to enlarge the space for the arts to flourish without compromising on social cohesion and stability. Hence, applicants will need to meet NAC’s funding guidelines, which are publicly available on its website. They were updated recently in 2013 and are still relevant.
2. Mr Speaker, Sir, the government remains committed to sustainable funding of the arts. Over the years, NAC has seen a growth in the number of deserving artists and arts companies. Therefore, it must prioritise projects given finite resources.
3. For every individual grant application, artistic merit is an important criterion. NAC also takes into account the project’s contribution to gaps and needs in the art form’s development. The extent to which it is able to engage audiences is also of consideration. The criteria upon which funding applications are evaluated are available on NAC’s website.
4. NAC regularly convenes grants evaluation panels, comprising many members of the arts community, to give NAC their views on the proposal’s artistic merit. Annually, over 400 arts practitioners, researchers, industry professionals and others are appointed to these panels. These assessors offer NAC objective feedback and help NAC identify emerging developments in the sector. NAC has benefitted from their counsel and appreciates their continued support.
5. In addition to regular engagement sessions and meetings with arts practitioners and groups on funding as well as on other issues of common interest such as how to grow audiences, develop the various art forms and address the needs of freelancers, NAC also actively engages the arts community when embarking on major reviews of grant funding. For example, in 2016, NAC conducted an extensive year-long review of the Major Grant scheme, involving more than 100 members from the arts community. The revised Major Company Scheme was a response to the arts community’s feedback on the need for a more customised approach that recognises different capabilities and contributions.