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Culture Academy
The Culture Academy plays a key role in championing the development of the next generation of Singapore’s cultural leaders.
Last updated 28 May 2025
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The Culture Academy (CA) of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), plays a key role in championing the development of the next generation of Singapore’s cultural leaders. It is a centre of excellence for cultural thought leadership that develops and aligns cultural leaders of MCCY institutions towards MCCY ’s strategic outcomes, centred on two key areas: Leadership & Corporate Development and Research & Partnership.
Leadership & Corporate Development
CA champions the development of the next generation of Singapore’s cultural leaders in the public and private sectors, in alignment with Singapore’s strategies to foster a caring people, cohesive society, and confident nation.
The Programmes enable participants to enhance their understanding of and alignment with Whole-of-Government (WOG) and Whole-of-Nation (WON) priorities. The Programmes are undergirded by the Culture Sector Leadership Competency Framework which seeks to build participants’ leadership capabilities.
Participants will gain a better appreciation of operating context and challenges faced, learn about leadership and governance, cultural sensitivities, and stakeholders’ management and engagement, and acquire the knowledge and skills to chart future challenges and opportunities in the Arts and Culture and Creative Economy. The programmes also help one to build network, camaraderie and collaborations within and outside the Culture Sector.
Research & Partnerships
CA drives strategic research initiatives and international partnerships to strengthen Singapore's position as a regional cultural hub. Through collaborative research with universities, cultural institutions, government agencies, and private sector partners, we generate valuable insights that inform MCCY family policies and programmes. We share our research findings through various platforms including symposia, online resources, and publications, reaching policymakers, cultural sector stakeholders, and the public. Our partnerships complement this work by positioning Singapore as a leading centre of excellence in cultural policy, while building confidence among domestic stakeholders and reinforcing Singapore's endeavour as a cultural hub in the region.
Key Programmes
Leadership Programmes
Future Leaders Programme (FLP)
The Future Leaders Programme (FLP) is a 1-week initiative designed for high-performing mid-level officers who demonstrate leadership potential and aspire to higher management positions. The programme aims to broaden participants' perspectives on the Cultural and Creative Sectors by enhancing their understanding of the operating context and identifying opportunities and challenges posed by dynamic geopolitical, economic, and social issues in Singapore.
Through lectures and discussions, participants will learn about sound leadership and governance practices, cultural sensitivities, and better engagement practices to navigate future challenges and opportunities in the Arts and Culture and Creative Economy. The overarching objectives include strengthening participants' understanding of MCCY’s strategic outcomes, fostering a common ethos and mission, building effective teams, and promoting camaraderie and inter-agency collaboration at the Middle Manager level.
Senior Leaders Programme (SLP)
The Senior Leaders Programme (SLP) is the premier initiative for senior leadership within the MCCY family of cultural agencies and key partner institutions. It serves as a platform for participants to refresh and update their knowledge on Whole-of-Government, MCCY’s, and the sector’s strategic priorities for the upcoming year.
Participants engage in discussions about driving forces and trends in the local and global operating context that impact the Arts, Heritage, Culture, and Creative Sectors. The programme also aims to strengthen networks and linkages within the culture sector and with key partners in the wider public sector, private sector, and overseas counterparts. The overarching objectives include enhancing participants' understanding and sensitivity towards Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Nation operating contexts, fostering a common ethos and mission, building consensus on addressing sector challenges and opportunities, and promoting strong professional relationships, camaraderie, and inter-agency collaboration among leaders in cultural agencies and institutions. Participants also learn to adapt and complement various leadership styles to lead teams effectively.
Cultural Leaders Programme (CLP)
The 2-week Cultural Leaders Programme (CLP) is designed for high-performing Directors with leadership potential in senior management positions, aiming to gain broader perspectives on the Cultural and Creative Sectors. The programme deepens participants' understanding of their operating environment to better navigate dynamic geopolitical, economic, and social issues in Singapore. Through lectures, discussions, and leadership dialogues, participants learn about sound leadership and governance practices, cultural sensitivities, and effective stakeholder engagement. Equipped with knowledge and skills from case studies, they explore sectoral issues to chart future challenges and opportunities.
The programme includes an overseas trip for mutual exchange and learning with international counterparts. The overarching objectives are to strengthen understanding of Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Nation contexts, foster a common ethos and mission, build consensus on sector challenges and opportunities, and promote strong professional relationships, camaraderie, and inter-agency collaboration among leaders in cultural agencies and institutions.
CAx
CAx Events feature intimate fireside chats that bring together distinguished speakers and cultural leaders for meaningful conversations about arts and culture. Through partnerships with key institutions, these curated sessions explore contemporary themes, trends, and opportunities in the cultural sector, fostering knowledge exchange and professional networking. The programme leverages expertise from both local and international thought leaders to strengthen Singapore's position in the cultural landscape while creating valuable dialogue that benefits industry professionals, policymakers, and cultural leaders.
Research Reports
Read about Singapore Cultural Statistics here.
Newsletters
Culture Bytes
The Kebaya: Weaving Southeast Asian Unity Through Shared Heritage:
Culture Bytes – May 2025 [PDF, 585 KB]How is Arts and Cultural and Cultural Education Relevant for Today and Tomorrow?
Culture Bytes – September 2024 [PDF, 847 KB]Arts and Cultural Companies: Their Environments, Everyday Experiences and Growth
Culture Bytes – February 2024 [PDF, 396 KB]Arts and Culture: From Education to Employment
Culture Bytes - August 2023 [PDF, 936 KB]Data Matters: The Arts, Culture and Big Data
Culture Bytes - January 2023 [PDF, 2.1 MB]
Publications
Cultural Connections
Culture Connections Volume 1-9:
The theme for the ninth edition of Cultural Connections, “A Future-Ready Workforce – Thinking about Tomorrow’s Jobs in Culture”, will resonate with many as the cultural sector grapples with fast-changing technologies, including generative A.I. as well as the complex geopolitics and competing allegiances in a turbulent world. | |
Cultural Connections' eighth issue’s theme, “Of Tailwinds And Turbulence” - explores how the cultural sector can navigate post-pandemic challenges amidst global uncertainty. The publication examines how geopolitical complexities and economic pressures affect cultural planning, whilst identifying potential opportunities. | |
The seventh issue of Cultural Connections examines post-pandemic adaptations through the lens of "Learning, Unlearning and Re-tooling for the Future". It focuses on two main areas: the Creative Economy and the development of Cohesive and Liveable Societies. The publication features global arts and cultural leaders' insights on how communities are adapting to fundamental changes, whilst offering perspectives on managing change and future planning. | |
With two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, this sixth edition of Cultural Connections delves into the broader question of crises and their impact on the arts and culture sector. This edition presents the perspectives and experiences of arts and cultural luminaries and thought leaders from Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the UK and gives us pause for reflection. Step back in time with us, as we find out how institutions, governments and communities have dealt with crises through the years and helped societies weather such turmoil, as well as their lessons learnt and hopes for the next generation. | |
This fifth volume of Cultural Connections focuses on the arts and culture’s response to the year 2020—a year that will be remembered for the COVID-19 pandemic that tested the entire world economically, socially, and politically. This edition is a testament to the arts and culture communities who have rallied together to bring solace, entertainment, and joy during this isolating time. The issue offers a range of perspectives contributed by thought leaders from Australia, China, France, Germany, Indonesia and Singapore, on how institutions, governments and communities have, and are responding to the pandemic, as well as their thoughts on the way forward to keep the arts and culture alive well into the future. | |
In commemoration of Singapore’s Bicentennial in 2019, this fourth volume of Cultural Connections focuses on the themes which are relevant to our cultural development over the past 200 years. The articles in this issue remind us of how fast and far we have progressed from our early colonial days to a modern liveable cosmopolitan nation which is rooted in its multicultural heritage. This issue thus explores the bicentennial through an exciting collection of essays, contributed by notable personalities and culture professionals. | |
In commemoration of Singapore’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2018, this third volume of Cultural Connections is dedicated to everything ASEAN from the arts and cultural front. It celebrates the uniqueness, beauty and richness of Southeast Asia through the essays which have been presented in two parts. The first part showcases the long and close people to people and historical links Singapore has had with her Southeast Asian neighbours over the centuries through thought articles contributed by academics, diplomats and domain experts. The second part features the inter relatedness of the histories and heritage of Southeast Asia through showcasing artefacts from the Southeast Asian collection of Singapore’s National Collection. | |
The second volume of Cultural Connections is dedicated to this theme of how arts, culture and heritage contribute to the creation of Liveable Cities. This issue contains essays from public sector leaders from the arts and culture sectors as well as eminent diplomats, academics and scholars. | |
The inaugural issue contains essays from Dr Alan Chong, Prof Tan Tai Yong, Dr Eugene Tan and other cultural professionals working in Singapore, who have also contributed essays which address new developments in Singapore’s museum scene as well as technologies being pioneered in conservation sciences in Singapore. |
Contact us
For feedback or general enquiries, please fill in our contact form here or email us at culture_academy@mccy.gov.sg.
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