Recognising the synergies between the cultural & creative sectors in contributing to economic growth

Speech by Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law, at UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development, MONDIACULT 2022, on 30 Sep 2022

1. Let me begin by thanking UNESCO and the Government of Mexico for hosting the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development, MONDIACULT 2022. 
   1. All of us are navigating the challenges and opportunities in this increasingly complex world.
   2. This conference provides a valuable and timely opportunity to discuss cultural policy priorities, share best practices, and also deepen global cultural cooperation.
2. Singapore recognises the synergies between the cultural and creative sectors in contributing to economic growth.
3. Together, these sectors have the strong potential to generate good jobs and livelihoods for our peoples. 
   1. The creative economy is among the most rapidly growing sectors, contributing 3% of the global GDP and employing 30 million people worldwide.
   2. Jobs involving content creation and human ingenuity are at the heart of the culture and creative sectors. 
4. As cross-sector collaborations increasingly become the norm, arts and culture can encourage creativity and innovation in society at large.
   1. A vibrant and resilient arts and culture sector fosters dialogue and social inclusion in wider society, contributing to sustainable development. 
5. In Singapore, we continue to empower our cultural practitioners and organisations to push boundaries and contribute to the broader creative economy.
6. First, we recognise that to collaborate across sectors and disciplines require capabilities beyond traditional cultural disciplines. To do this,
   1. we support our cultural practitioners through training and education to build up skills in new and emerging areas, such as e-pedagogy, commercialisation and also Intellectual Property law.
   2. We are also working with industry partners to ensure better protection and working conditions, especially for self-employed persons. 
7. Second, we cultivate opportunities for our cultural practitioners and organisations to forge partnerships across diverse industries to reap new synergies. For example,
   1. We piloted a scheme called Craft x Design which paired traditional craft practitioners with designers to co-create innovative products, drawing on both contemporary design and traditional craft.
   2. Through grants, we support cultural organisations in transforming their operations to engage new and existing audiences, improve productivity and organisational effectiveness, and also complement existing revenue streams.
8. Last but certainly not least, digitalisation is a key enabler for the cultural sector to pursue new artistic, cultural and business opportunities.
   1. Earlier this year, we launched the Arts and Culture Digital Roadmap, a framework to guide our cultural organisations and practitioners in the adoption of digital solutions.
   2. Our arts and culture organisations and practitioners can also tap on a range of grants to level up their skills to operate in the digital environment. 
9. Singapore agrees that further cooperation and exchanges will strengthen national and international policy frameworks, allowing us to fully realise the potential of synergies between the cultural and creative sectors.
   1. Singapore has benefited tremendously from the sharing of experiences and best practices by our friends, particularly at international platforms such as UNESCO. We hope that we have also been able to contribute to these engagements.
   2. Singapore would be happy to work with our partners here today on new and exciting opportunities to collectively reap the benefits of the creative economy.
10. Thank you.