Written PQ 5245. Ms Usha Chandradas: To ask the Minister for Culture,
Community and Youth (a) how many artworks, artefacts and antiques
from the National Collection are presently on loan for display to entities
which are not museums; (b) what are the criteria for determining the
kinds of entities that are entitled to such loans; (c) whether
accompanying wall text or explanatory statements of all such loans are
required to be displayed at all times; and (d) if not, what are the criteria
for determining whether wall text and explanatory statements should
accompany the display of such loans.
- Loans are a common practice among museums to facilitate greater
access to its collections for display to the wider public, as well as for
research purposes. This helps the wider public gain a better appreciation
of our culture and heritage. There are currently 283 objects from the
National Collection which are on loan to non-museum entities, including
the Istana and various Ministries for display in their buildings. This forms
less than 1% of our entire National Collection.
- NHB assesses such loans to non-museum entities based on their
ability to enhance the profile of the National Collection and our
Singapore culture and heritage. Such loans must be used for non-commercial purposes, and the objects loaned must be displayed
appropriately and respectfully. NHB also considers the security and the
environmental condition of the proposed display space of the loan
object. Additionally, NHB assesses the suitability of the object's condition
for display in the proposed space and for the duration of the loan.
- NHB requires all borrowing institutions to minimally display a label
text showing the title of the object, its artist (if applicable), its donor (if
applicable), and a credit line to acknowledge the museum which
manages the object on behalf of NHB.