More Singaporeans Engaged in Arts and Cultural Activities in 2017

The recently released 2018 Singapore Cultural Statistics (SCS) reflects on the increase of Singaporeans taking part in arts and cultural activities in 2017.

1. More Singaporeans took part in arts and cultural activities in 2017, according to the 2018 Singapore Cultural Statistics (SCS). The 2018 SCS, released today, shows that in 2017, record highs were achieved for the following:
   
   • Number of performing arts activities (over 9,500)
   • Attendances at non-ticketed arts and cultural events (11.3 million)
   • Visitorship to national museums and heritage institutions (5.4 million). 
2. Since 2013, the number of performing arts activities has risen annually, hitting an all-time high of over 9,500 performances in 2017. The attendance figures at nonticketed events have also increased steadily since 2013, reaching a record of 11.3 million in 2017. This was due to higher attendances at signature events such as Singapore Night Festival and Singapore Heritage Festival, as well as community events such as Arts in Your Neighbourhood and PAssionArts. The attendance figures for ticketed performances also increased to 1.9 million, a 5% increase from the year before.
3. 2017 also saw record visitorship of 5.4 million to national museums and heritage institutions, up from the 5.1 million in 2016. The increase was due to increased visitorship to key showcases at museums like the National Museum of Singapore, including its 130th anniversary celebrations and the special exhibition Witness to War.
4. Commenting on the findings, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu said, “The latest Singapore Cultural Statistics show that our arts and culture scene is vibrant and thriving. There is a wide variety of arts and heritage events for the public to enjoy, from large-scale festivals to performances in the heartlands.  All these are the result of hard work and dedication by our arts and culture practitioners, supporters, volunteers, and all who appreciate Singapore’s culture and heritage. We will continue to build on these efforts and partnerships to make the arts and culture an integral part of the lives of all Singaporeans."
5. The Singapore Cultural Statistics 2018 can be found here.