Strengthening multicultural identity and building a more inclusive society through the arts

1. Mr Chairman,

Introduction

2. Acting Minister spoke about how multiculturalism bridges communities and forms the core of who we are as Singaporeans. Multiculturalism is, and has always been, the bedrock of the Singapore identity.

3. For Singapore, a sense of shared identity is essential. It holds us together and gives us a sense of belonging.

4. Our multicultural identity reminds us of what it means to be Singaporean. Today, we embrace it as a way of life.

   1. This was on display just recently, when Chinese New Year coincided with the start of Ramadan. Last Saturday afternoon in my constituency, I saw Muslim residents doing the lou hei together with the community at the Chinese New Year celebrations, and grassroot leaders dabao-ing the buffet so they can enjoy it after breaking fast.

5. Even so, there is more that we can do and should do to deepen our multicultural DNA.

   1. Around the world, we see how social diversity leads to fragmentation.

   2. It is therefore critical that we strengthen our cross-cultural understanding and deepen our shared identity.

6. This is where the arts can be a powerful catalyst.

   1. Through the arts, we get to know ourselves and where we came from.

   2. More importantly, arts encourage us to look beyond the differences and value our commonalities.

7. It is encouraging that in the Population Survey on the Arts, conducted by the NAC, 8 in 10 Singaporeans agreed that the arts allow us to better understand people from different backgrounds and cultures.

The Art(s) of Being Singaporean

8. Over the years, the local arts scene has developed generations of practitioners, groups and platforms that embody Singapore’s diverse cultural traditions.

   1. Two weeks ago, I attended the Spring Reception held at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre.

      1. One of the performances was a multi-ethnic percussive showcase.

      2. Drum Feng opened the performance with Chinese drums, which was then joined by Nadi Singapura’s kompang and rebana drums, and Singapore Dhol Squad’s parai drums.

      3. These instruments from different cultures blended seamlessly to deliver a great performance.

9. We will continue to support our traditional arts and culture, so that this precious part of our cultural heritage is passed down to future generations.

10. Various artists and arts groups whom we have consulted gave us this advice to develop multiculturalism through and in the arts. We must work harder to engage the young to understand and appreciate the cultural heritage within and across the various ethnic communities, and to expand the reach of mono-cultural traditional art forms within the general population.

11. In particular, we should promote cross-cultural awareness and appreciation. By building these bridges, we learn to better appreciate the culture and art forms outside our own ethnic community.

12. Upon this strong foundation, we can do more to support cross-cultural artistic creations that are sophisticated, innovative, high quality, and that are uniquely Singapore.

13. To achieve this, we will provide more support to promote the development of multicultural art forms, whether through productions that infuse the influences of other cultures, creations and organisations that express our multiculturalism, or artists learning a new cultural art form from another ethnic community.

14. This must start at a young age. As Ms Elieen Chong spoke about, fostering greater participation among the young is important for the long-term sustainability of the arts sector.

    1. Early and meaningful engagement with our diverse arts traditions lays the foundation for our children and youth to appreciate one another’s cultures.

    2. NAC is expanding opportunities for students to do so.

15. At the preschool level, NAC will commission artists and arts groups to develop offerings that enable sustained access to arts experiences.

    1. One of the programmes, designed with The Artground, focuses on multicultural arts. The programme will feature Malay and Indian dance, Peranakan arts, traditional hand puppetry, and Chinese Opera.

    2. NAC will pilot these programmes with selected preschools.

16. At the secondary school level, NAC will introduce a two-year Ethnic Fusion Dance Programme, delivered by O School Limited.

    1. This enrichment programme will allow students from different schools to learn about various ethnic dance forms together, then apply them in contemporary dance.

    2. The students will have a chance to audition for a final showcase at Super 24, a regional competition featuring dance groups from across Asia.

17. We will strengthen funding support for schools to bring in artists to deliver traditional and multicultural arts learning experiences.

    1. Currently, under the Artist-in-School Scheme, or AISS, NAC funds 70% of supportable costs for schools to bring in artist-run programmes, up to $15,000 per year per school.

    2. NAC will increase support for artist-run traditional and multicultural programmes under the AISS, to fund 100% of supportable costs, up to $25,000 per year per school.

18. For 2026, NAC has curated close to 300 programmes under the NAC-Arts Education Programme, working with MOE schools to nurture an appreciation of Singapore's multicultural identity among students across all levels.

    1. This is nearly a 35% increase from 2025, offering schools more choices to spark greater interest in multicultural arts.

19. Beyond schools, we will increase the exposure of multicultural arts in the community.

    1. We have been doing this through ArtsEverywhere@CDC, which brings arts and cultural performances to our everyday spaces.

    2. For example, Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts presented a blend of traditional Malay art forms, with musicians playing angklungs, dancers weaving melodies into stories, and intricate wayang golek puppets.

    3. The initiative has reached audiences of more than 63,000 since its launch in 2024.

    4. Looking ahead, we will focus on showcasing Singapore’s multiculturalism through ArtsEverywhere@CDC in our heartlands.

       1. We will introduce more traditional arts and cross-cultural performances and programmes. These will deepen Singaporeans’ understanding and appreciation of the cultures and traditions of different ethnic communities.

       2. For instance, the Open Score Project, co-founded by Gildon Choo, combines global ethnic musical cultures and pushes the boundaries of cross-cultural collaboration.

       3. As part of ArtsEverywhere@CDC, their ensemble performed at Jurong Lake Gardens last year.

       4. Through such programmes, we can grow a deeper appreciation for arts experiences that connect our cultures.

20. We want to encourage even more arts practitioners and groups to nurture connections and collaborations that express who we are as a people.

21. To support this, I am happy to announce a new Multicultural Arts Programme Grant, seeded by the President’s Challenge and MCCY. $20 million will be available over the next 5 years to support practitioners and organisations developing traditional and multicultural art forms, and promoting cross-cultural engagement through the arts.

    1. The Grant will support artists and projects blending elements from different cultures, traditions and disciplines.

    2. This could support artists who interweave elements from different cultures in a meaningful way, and those who wish to develop mastery in art forms beyond their own cultural traditions.

    3. It will also support ecosystem-building activities that strengthen the multicultural arts landscape.

    4. The Multicultural Arts Programme Grant will be launched in the coming months, and NAC will share more details then.

22. Another initiative that expands access to local arts and culture offerings is the SG Culture Pass, launched in September 2025.

    1. Dr Kenneth Goh had asked whether it is reaching new audiences. I am pleased to share that:

       1. Over 1.2 million citizens have registered for the SG Culture Pass. Of these, seven in 10 had not attended a local arts and culture programme in the past five years.

       2. Among those who have used their credits, nine in 10 expressed interest to attend another local programme.

       3. Through the Culture Pass, Singaporeans have discovered more about different cultures in Singapore beyond their own..

    2. I thank Mr Terence Ho for suggesting regular top-ups of the Culture Pass, first-timer discounts and bonus credits. As the scheme was just launched recently, MCCY will monitor utilisation trends before making adjustments.

    3. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the statistics, which show that the Culture Pass has helped Singaporeans discover the diversity of our local cultural landscape.

    4. Mr Terence Ho also asked about whether more could be done to support our local publishers and bookstores.

    5. Since 1 March 2026, Singaporeans have been able to spend their Culture Pass credits on Sing Lit books at participating bookstores. This strengthens our support of the local literary arts sector, and directly benefits publishers and bookstores.

23. Besides expanding access to the arts and developing audiences, we are exploring ways to harness the potential of the arts to generate positive social impact.

24. One such area is arts education research.

25. Positive engagement with the arts from a young age supports holistic development.

    1. Through sustained and localised research, we can better determine how arts-based education can nurture the next generation of Singaporeans.

    2. MCCY has commissioned a five-year research study on how arts engagement can boost creativity and strengthen the socio-emotional well-being of our students.

    3. The study is led by the National Institute of Education, in partnership with MCCY, NAC and the Esplanade.

    4. Through this study, we hope to provide insights for schools and arts agencies that inform efforts to support youth development.

26. Another emerging area that shows great promise is the nexus of arts and wellbeing.

    1. The National Gallery Singapore’s Slow Art Guide is an example, delivered through a self-guided audio experience, and reflection booklets.

    2. Through slow looking and mindfulness exercises, the initiative encourages visitors to engage mindfully with artworks. This evidence-based approach positively impacts mental health and cognitive function.

    3. As Singapore’s population ages, the arts provide a platform for our seniors to live and age well.

    4. NAC has partnered SingHealth Community Hospitals and the Agency for Integrated Care on a research study. The study aims to determine the impact of arts programmes on senior well-being.

       1. The insights will help design effective interventions to support our seniors.

    5. NAC is also working with the arts community, and healthcare and community care practitioners, on a series of arts programmes. These programmes are designed to enhance the well-being of seniors at Active Ageing Centres, or AACs.

    6. We aim to grow the pipeline of skilled practitioners who can deliver effective arts-based well-being programmes.

       1. We have conducted these programmes in 28 AACs, and aim to reach a total of 110 Centres by 2028.

Growing the Ecosystem

27. Dr Kenneth Goh and Ms Goh Sze Kee asked about how we are supporting our artists to build sustainable and resilient careers.

    1. We will continue to invest in the growth and development of our local arts and culture sector to support its ambitions.

    2. This includes encouraging and catalysing private sector support through measures such as:

       1. The Cultural Matching Fund – which provides matching grants for donations to arts and heritage charities. And to date, more than $450 million have been matched to around 130 unique charities.

       2. We also have the Patrons of the Arts and Patron of Heritage Awards – to recognise contributions to the local culture sector.

28. Arts Self-Employed Persons, or SEPs, form a significant segment of Singapore’s arts workforce. We are committed to empowering them to build capabilities, and forge meaningful careers.

    1. Since I launched the Arts Resource Hub, or ARH, back in 2019, more than 4,000 SEPs have subscribed to the ARH. This is around two-thirds of our Arts SEPs in Singapore.

       1. Julian Low is one example. He went through ARH’s IGNITE programme, which provided mentorship, networks, and guidance in building a brand identity.

       2. Julian established Wushiren Theatre with his wife in 2024. Their debut production, I Am Finally In Love With The World, was successfully staged in 2025.

    2. We recognise that our arts SEPs face evolving challenges that require enhanced support. I am happy to announce that NAC will enhance the Arts Resource Hub to better address the challenges they face.

    3. Over the years, ARH has provided SEPs access to legal guidance through contract templates and peer learning opportunities. We are starting a partnership with Pro Bono SG this year.

       1. It will provide SEPs education programmes and tailored resources to strengthen their understanding of legal topics, and empower them to capitalise on opportunities. SEPs can also tap on consultations with a dedicated onsite lawyer.

    4. NAC will also introduce a new Creative Entrepreneurship Programme, to support SEPs in developing entrepreneurial skills and growing their portfolios for greater financial resilience.

    5. Both initiatives will be available in the second half of this year.

29. These initiatives that I shared today ensure that we continue to have strong funding, talent and domestic support pipelines for the arts, which Ms Eileen Chong spoke about.

30. As we support our artists and arts groups to thrive and express our cultural heritage, they serve as our ambassadors to the world. Dr Kenneth Goh had asked about using cultural diplomacy to reinforce our Singapore identity.

    1. We will continue to support our practitioners to make their mark internationally, and to showcase our Singapore identity beyond our shores.

    2. For instance, the Singapore Pavilion at the Osaka World Expo 2025 featured many local performing artists, including multicultural ensemble yINHarmony, acapella group The Island Voices and Bharathanatyam dancer Shruthi Nair, showcasing Singapore’s rich cultural diversity to global visitors.

Conclusion

Mr Chairman,

31. As we look ahead, Singapore must prepare to face new waves of challenges from a changing world.

32. Strengthening our shared identity will enable us to overcome these challenges with confidence.

33. We must renew our commitment to multiculturalism. The arts have the unique power to deepen our distinctive brand of multiculturalism and build a more inclusive Singapore.

34. We will continue to invest in, and grow, the arts landscape to amplify its positive impact.

35. Thank you.