Plans to progressively resume live performances

Question

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry: To ask the Minister for Health whether the Ministry and the Multi-Ministry Task Force on COVID-19 can proactively work with the National Arts Council to come up with proper safe distancing guidelines on outdoor live performances instead of going with a blanket restriction, so that our artistes can make a living.

Response

Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law:

1. The arts and culture community has been significantly affected by COVID-19. The resumption of live performances is important not only to restore a source of livelihood for our arts practitioners, professionals and organisations, but also a way in which the community can contribute to uplifting spirits of Singaporeans.

2. Since 19 June 2020, all workplaces in the arts sector have safely resumed operations. Museums and galleries are now also open to visitors. We have taken a cautious approach towards the resumption of activities in the arts and culture sector, particularly on live performances which carry higher transmission risks. Around the world, we have observed COVID-19 clusters forming as a result of such performances. For example, a choir performance in Netherlands resulted in 102 members of the choir falling ill with COVID-19, while in Japan, at least 6 clusters of cases were linked to performances in music venues.

3. MCCY and NAC have been working closely with MOH and other agencies, such as A*STAR, to develop safe management measures and tools that will help ensure the safety of our performers, crews and audiences in the context of live performances.  As announced on 21 August 2020, MCCY and NAC are currently conducting live performance pilots at selected indoor and outdoor spaces, to trial the safe management measures that we have developed. Several pilots, including a traditional music performance at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, have been completed successfully. The experience of these pilots will allow us to progressively scale-up live performances in both outdoor and indoor spaces. I would therefore like to assure you, Mr Speaker, that MCCY and NAC are working proactively with MOH, through the pilots, on safe management measures to allow outdoor – and indoor – live performances to resume as soon as feasible, even as we continue to prioritise the health and safety of our performers, crew, and audiences.

4. I am confident that our arts groups and practitioners will rise to the challenge, and transform how they present and perform their craft as we transit to the new normal.  I also seek the public's understanding that the experience of attending a pilot performance will be different from the past, and ask for everyone's cooperation to abide by the safe management measures, so that we can better enable our arts community to resume their activities over time.

5. NAC and NHB will continue to support our arts and culture groups and practitioners to engage new audiences, and cultivate new ones, in new and innovative ways.  We urge members of the public to also continue supporting Singapore's arts and culture – by attending online shows and donating to your favoured groups and artists, to sustain them and help them emerge stronger after COVID-19.