Working Towards an Inclusive Arts and Heritage Landscape

1. A very good morning to all, and a special welcome to our international guests. [I am] very happy to see so many of you here for the fifth edition of the Arts & Disability Forum (ADF), jointly organised by the National Arts Council (NAC) and ART:DIS. The last few years have been significant for the disability community right here in Singapore, with major milestones in the policy sphere, and innovations in accessibility across various sectors. 

2. As we envision the Arts and Disability landscape we want to build together in the coming years, I encourage us to draw from two national plans. The first is the Enabling Masterplan 2030, or EMP2030, which sets out Singapore's vision as an inclusive society by the year 2030. The second is Our SG Arts Plan, which builds upon the collective efforts of the arts community, to chart out a roadmap for the next 5 years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have been working closely with NAC to give your valuable feedback to Our SG Arts Plan. Now, allow me to share a bit more about each of these plans.

Developing an Inclusive Arts Landscape under the EMP2030

3. First, the EMP2030 envisions a caring and inclusive Singapore, where persons with disabilities are enabled to pursue their aspirations, achieve their fullest potential, and participate as integral contributing members of Singapore society.

4. I had the honour of co-chairing the EMP2030 Steering Committee with Mr Gan Seow Kee, Vice Chairperson of the Singapore Business Federation. As part of the Steering Committee, we worked closely with persons with disabilities, caregivers and disability sector professionals. We shared 29 recommendations spanning some 14 focal areas along three strategic themes.

5. One of the focal areas in the EMP2030 is developing an inclusive Arts and Heritage landscape right here in Singapore. The arts are a powerful platform to deepen our sense of belonging and build our shared sense of national identity – what it takes to truly be Singaporean. With a shared culture based off our collective experiences, the arts can foster empathy and understanding between different communities, contributing to a cohesive Singapore society. This is why persons of all abilities must be given more opportunities to appreciate and participate in the arts. 

6. Under the EMP2030 Strategic Theme on creating inclusive physical and social environments, the government will continue to drive accessibility and inclusion in the arts. One way is through NAC – NAC will facilitate the creation of more inclusive arts experiences, including building the capabilities of the arts community in areas such as audio description, captioning and signing. We will also increase support for persons with disabilities to pursue the arts professionally, through initiatives such as scholarships. Partners like ART:DIS offer industry mentorship programmes for artists with disabilities to develop professionally.

7. We will also work closely with community partners to ensure that persons with disabilities have regular opportunities to participate in the arts, whether as consumers, practitioners, or volunteers. By 2030, I hope that our arts landscape will be even more accessible, and one which celebrates diversity and the contributions of persons of all abilities.

Building A Connected Society through Our SG Arts Plan (2023 – 2027)

8. Second, Our SG Arts Plan seeks to build A Connected Society, one where Singaporeans from all walks of life will be able to partake in quality arts programming through accessible arts initiatives. This is especially applicable to persons with disabilities and their caregivers, who face unique challenges when accessing the arts.

9. I am heartened to see that in the past few years, many arts institutions in Singapore have incorporated access components for audiences with disabilities, and have increased the number of artists with disabilities in their programming. The newest ART:DIS centre at Bukit Merah, for example, boasts inclusive infrastructure throughout its facilities. And it has also become commonplace for arts venues to offer signed or captioned performances.

10. We must continue to work towards increasing opportunities for persons with disabilities to showcase their art, paving the way for a more diverse arts and culture ecosystem.

11. At the recent Light to Night festival, Access Path Productions and RJ Thomson led an international team of artists to present short films inviting viewers to contemplate living in a world that overlooks persons with disabilities. The performance combines text, visual and audio description with shadow interpretation and performance art. This is a great example of how disability can catalyse creativity and collaboration in the arts all at the same time.

12. Today's forum also presents an opportunity for all of us – social service professionals, artists, foundations, funders, policymakers and researchers – to come together under one umbrella and reflect on what more can be done in partnership with one another. Through platforms such as the ADF, I hope the community will continue to advocate and share best practices for engaging and collaborating with persons with disabilities, to ensure that everyone can participate in the arts.

ART:DIS' Contributions to an Inclusive Arts Ecosystem 

13. I must say at this point that I have been really privileged to have been a small part of ART:DIS' amazing journey championing inclusive arts in Singapore over the past three decades.

14. The ART:DIS team's work include conducting foundational classes and professional training for persons with disabilities at their three centres, opening up more pathways for persons with disabilities to pursue the arts. By organising masterclasses and residencies that bring together artists of all abilities, ART:DIS also facilitates meaningful collaborations and builds bridges with the wider arts sector. These efforts allow everyone to enjoy, benefit from, and contribute to Singapore's unique arts and cultural landscape.

15. At this juncture, I would like to call on all community partners out there to join us, so that we can achieve our collective vision for a more vibrant arts scene, as well as a caring and inclusive society right here in Singapore. It is only [by working] together that we can grow the opportunities for persons with disabilities – not only to access the arts as audiences, but also to showcase their artwork, grow professionally, and most importantly, contribute meaningfully to the arts. In doing so, artists with disabilities will be empowered to develop self-confidence, achieve their aspirations, and live life with dignity.

ADF 2023: Enabling Aspirations, Diversifying Pathways

16. The theme for this year's forum is “Enabling Aspirations, Diversifying Pathways”. Disability is not a monolithic and singular experience. Having embarked on the first steps to increase access to the arts, it is now timely to take inclusive arts in Singapore to the next level, by giving artists with disabilities more opportunities and choices to pursue diverse pathways and excel.

17. This includes opening up avenues for people with disabilities to become leaders in the arts sector, paving the way for others in the community to pursue their preferred artforms, whether professionally or recreationally. One of our panellists at the forum later is Dr. Azariah Tan. He is an NAC scholar and a very accomplished concert pianist and educator. He has navigated many challenges of being a hearing-impaired classical musician, and today he sits on the Board of ART:DIS. Ensuring that persons with disabilities have such leadership opportunities is important, as we work towards building an arts ecosystem that is globally relevant and resilient at the same time.

Conclusion

18. As with every edition of ADF, I am sure that the upcoming discussions will further widen our perspectives, and show that there is a community of people who believe in and want to work together to build an inclusive Singapore where no one is left behind.

19. With that, I would like to thank everyone for your attention and having me here this morning, and I wish you an inspiring day ahead.