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PERMISSION TO MEMBERS TO BE ABSENT Under the provision of clause 2(d) of Article 46 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the following Member has been granted permission to be or to remain absent from sittings of Parliament (or any Committee of Parliament to which she has been appointed) for the period stated: Name From (2008) To (2008) Er Lee Bee Wah 13 Mar 15 Mar
PERMISSION TO MEMBERS TO BE ABSENT ABDULLAH TARMUGI Speaker Parliament of Singapore
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [3rd Allotted Day].
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Head Q – Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Head Q – Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. Miss Penny Low.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 KPIs and Concrete Results from Arts Events
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Sir, I beg to move,
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 That the total sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Estimates be reduced by $100.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Sir, what is a place with production lines but no arts and culture? It is called a plain vanilla factory. Sir, what is a nation without arts and culture? It will be without a soul and imagination. Would this be a place to attract the top talents? Obviously not. In the race for top talents, a strong arts and culture sector turns a high-skill, high-innovation economy into a great, liveable place. I applaud MICA’s effort to promote the Renaissance City plan. In 2006, MICA spent $31.2 million to support hundreds of artists and events. Revenue generated amounted to $3.45 billion in 2006 and $3.67 billion in 2007 – a tremendous value-add to our economy. However, I fear the efforts at promoting arts and culture could be shortchanged by the narrow criteria set as definitions of success and KPIs.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 MICA prides itself on supporting hundreds of arts-related activities with thousands of attendees. Funding criteria are very much numbers-focused. However, quantity is not always quality. Arts and culture take time to evolve and be integrated into everyday life. A more sustainable way of nurturing the arts is to identify key stakeholders and focus on building the Renaissance City eco-system. To this end, why not have yearly awards to glam up and focus the sectors on measurements that build the eco-system? Awards can be open to all arts-related events, including artistic productions, fashion shows, corporate and grassroots events, indoor and outdoor performances, and so on. Some suggestions are:
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 "The most experiential and creative arts production of the year Award", judged based on the innovative idea, impact an event has on its audience, audience participation strategy, inspiration quotient, and so on. (2) "The arts or event organiser of the year Award", judged based on the evidence of clear strategic thinking, marketing effectiveness, cost per audience, return on investment and audience interaction.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 We could also have "The best backroom support provider of the year Award", given to the props or audio visual technical experts that enhance the artists’ works. Criteria include how innovative solutions to a client’s brief were arrived at and executed, cost effectiveness and audience endorsement.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 We could also have "The most buzz event of the year Award", judged based on its media hit rates.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 The list goes on, but it suffices to show that arts and culture can be measured with a more liberal set of KPIs than mere audience numbers. Otherwise, events that offer goodie bags and lucky draws may overwhelm the funding pie. KPIs should aim at nurturing the critical paths and stakeholders, involving the private, public and people sectors to produce a multiplier effect. Nurture the stakeholders, provide a favourable tax and open environment and allow the arts and culture eco-system to flourish.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Finally, can the Minister provide an update on:
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 The excellent Renaissance City Plan, 3.0? (2) The School of the Arts? (3) National Arts Gallery?
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Renaissance City Plan
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Sir, I applaud MICA for its bold step to turn Singapore into a globalised city through its Renaissance City plan. Amidst the flurry of the infrastructure built and the tickets sold, I would like to pause and ask: Are we a creative city or a karaoke city?
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 A creative city is marked by innovation, ideas and an authentic cultural vibrancy. A karaoke city is one which excels at stylish imitation, taking a well-sung song and putting its own rendition on it. The Integrated Resorts, the Singapore Flyer and the F1 race, these add to our buzz, but I would argue they do little to project Singapore as a creative city. They may be good ideas, but they are not ours. We have the Arts Festival, the Biennale and many arts events. But we should take stock. How have we invested in creating something unique which builds on our strong traditions and heritage and which will leave a cultural legacy not only for Singapore but for the rest of the world? How are we tapping our indigenous cultural capital to recreate our city to turn public spaces into aesthetic experiences that move our spirit? How generously and actively do we commission artistic and musical works to Singaporeans, take risks with them and pioneer their work in Singapore and other parts of the world?
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 We need to devote more funds to our Singapore arts groups. The budget for our National Arts Council seems puny, compared to that of the arts councils in major cultural cities. This year, I see that it receives 2.6% more over last year's budget. This will hardly keep up with inflation. What progress has been made to inculcate an appreciation of our heritage and to strengthen the Singapore heartbeat to the creation and sharing of Singapore stories, be it film, theatre, dance, music, literature or the visual arts?
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Sir, cities need stories of cultural narratives about themselves, to both anchor and drive identity as well as to galvanise residents. A city which describes itself as we do, as a global city of opportunity with its economic undertones fosters different behavioural patterns in citizens than a city that projects itself as a city of culture, a creative city or a city of ideas. Adelaide, which started the Festival of Ideas in 1999, explicitly conceives of itself as a thinking city. It invites thinkers from all over the world to assist South Australia to build on its climate of creativity. The ideas festival has since been copied by other cities, such as Bristol and Aspen. We have the Renaissance City plan. But my sense is that we do not see or project ourselves as a renaissance city as such. "Renaissance" is French for rebirth. It implies a flowering of ideas, an openness to novel and even strange ones. It implies a period in which artistic, social, scientific and political thought turn in new directions.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 If we are serious about becoming a Renaissance City, we should take a more relaxed approach to some of our old policies which may be too cautious for this great task before us. The incident involving the Complaints Choir highlights the historical mindset against foreigners that seems out of place in our arts scene today. Collaborations between different arts groups from different parts of the world are part of the creative process in this globalised world. With the better educated and more cosmopolitan population, should we not allow our citizens to listen to different views, wherever they come from, and make their own judgment? Beyond the two subjects which we should stay off-limits, ie, race and religion, why should we fear foreign talents working with our arts groups to produce something that may touch on life and politics in Singapore?
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 To be honest, I was not too exercised about the Complaints Choir incident because:
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 I do not understand what we need to learn from two Finns on how to complain. We are very good at that already; and
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 I do not see what is so creative about singing complaints that Singaporeans are already mouthing to themselves every day, ie, karaoke.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 But I thought that MICA's decision to clamp down on the foreigners in this group jarred like a chalk screeching across the board. The notion of a creative city, as opposed to a karaoke city, implies a level of openness that might potentially be unsettling to some. We should be ready for that and be more relaxed if we are serious about our quest to be a global arts city.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Another event we should prepare for is the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. We should treat this major event not only as a sporting event but also as a major cultural festival with effects lasting long after the Games are gone. I would urge MICA to start planning for this and to involve our creative and cultural sector. We should use this opportunity to regenerate the cultural life of our cityscape, reposition Singapore and project ourselves a truly Renaissance City – A New City Reborn.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Mr Chan Soo Sen. Take your two cuts together, please. Total of nine minutes.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Fusion Arts
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Sir, I must say that Singapore has a better "cooling" spell now culturally. We have been successful in organising the Youth Olympics Games. That makes us cool. Last year, I was in China and I had the opportunity to be at the Singapore Seasons in Shanghai as well as in Beijing. I remember telling the Minister at the end of the show that I felt very good as a Singaporean because we were demonstrating to the Chinese that we were there not only for economic mutual benefits but also for cultural exchange. And that was cool.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 For the two Singapore Season events, there are two things that made the events very cool. One is our fusion food which I thought everybody enjoyed – Chinese, Singaporeans, everybody. There was also this thing called the fusion arts which I saw – big cultural items, multi-racial artistes going up, putting on each other's costumes, dancing, and I think the opinion for that one is a little more mixed. Some said it was neither here nor there, it was a weird mixture. Some of my Chinese guests who were there told me that actually they did not know what it was all about but that it was interesting. I suppose "interesting" is a very polite way of saying that, yes, it is something that I cannot understand, but thanks for the effort anyway.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 I think fusion art is something that we can have a unique opportunity to be innovative about, because Singapore is really a place where a lot of cultures meet – East and East, East and West, North East vs South East, South East vs South West – everybody seems to meet here because the monsoon meets here and brought our own forefathers together. So we have the opportunity to appreciate each other's arts, and a lot of our traditional artists come here with the immigrants and they meet, make friends, exchange and create unique brands of arts. Fusion art is not, as what I have said earlier, people of different ethnic groups putting on each other's costume and dancing, performing western dance. That is, in a sense, a kind of fusion art. But then we remember chemistry. I remember when we studied, one of the first experiments that we did was to mix iron powder with sulphur and, after mixing it, that is called a mixture. A mixture can be separated through physical method. You use a magnet and you can remove all the iron dusts. Or you use – was it called carbon disulphide? – you can dissolve all the sulphur, let it evaporate and you separate the sulphur from the iron. But if you heat it up, it becomes some kind of iron ferric type of compound. It can never be separated again.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 I think, for our fusion arts, we have achieved the mixture stage. The challenge is whether we can achieve some kind of a chemical reaction compound stage so that we will create something that is really unique. As I have said, this has already happened in the past. We have this very famous style of painting called the Nanyang style. This is basically the Chinese artists who came from China to Southeast Asia and who were influenced by the Malay way of painting as well as the Western way of painting. They looked at the Southeast Asian subjects and then they evolved into some unique way of painting. We have people like, for example, Liu Kang and Chen Wen Hsi. These are very, very famous world-class, or at least regional class, fusion artists. In the case of writing, we also have a group called the Malayan Chinese literature. Frankly, Malayan Chinese literature, in large part, means Singapore Chinese literature, because a lot of them actually worked in Singapore. It is just that, at that time, this place was called Malaya. So Malayan Chinese literary style. Again, Chinese writers coming to this part of the world influenced by each other's way of creativity and looking at the local subject matters and issues and evolved into a unique style of writing.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 If this has happened in the past, I am sure it can happen in the future so long as we get the compound right. The correct compound consists of people who are steep in multi-cultural creativity, in the sense that you have somebody who is equally good in Chinese arts as well as Western arts, there is a chance that he would evolve into a kind of unique fusion art. If you have somebody who is very good in Chinese arts as well as Malay arts, eg, Chen Wen Hsi and Liu Kang, it evolved into a Nanyang style of painting. What we need are multi-cultural types of artists. We now have an opportunity. We are going to have an Arts School. Part of the objectives for our education is to be multi-cultural. I would like to urge that the Arts School pay much attention in the multi-cultural approach to arts education so that we may have a chance to evolve our unique style of fusion arts that we can truly call Singaporean. Of course, this is for the future. If this happens, then we will have something that we can truly be proud of and feel very, very cool about – our unique fusion art. It is not only East-West. It is also East-East. It can also be North East-South East, South East-North East, South East-South West. In case you do not know what I mean, we can have many, many styles of fusion arts for the future.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 12.15 pm
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 As for the past, we already have all the masters that I mentioned earlier.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 I do not know where their works are. I think it is worthwhile to bring their works together to have our proposed Pioneer Artists' Museum, to deliberately collect all these arts and lay them out in proper manner, introduce them, firstly, to be fair to our history of innovation. This is a souvenir shop to keep, but, more importantly, to also inspire our future generation of fusion artists. This has happened in the past. It has got to happen in the future. These are the people who have made it. How about you finding yourself in our Pioneer Artists' Museum sometime in the future?
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Recognition and Rewards for Artists
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Sir, Megan Zheng, the child actress of local move, "Home Run", won Best Newcomer at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards, Oscars of the Chinese movie industry, in 2003. Another Jack Neo movie, "Just Follow Law", was nominated for Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay and Best Visual Effects at the same Awards last year. Another local movie, "881", was also accepted as Singapore's selection for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2007. These are news that many people would have learnt about in the media.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 The National Arts Council has a target of 25 international awards by Singapore artists as a performance indicator. The number achieved was 20 in 2007. I doubt many people would have heard or knew about any of these 20 award winners last year, or of the 25 international award winners to be known this year, assuming that we hit the target set. I think if things do not change, this would be the scenario.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Many artists and arts groups have given feedback that when they received international awards overseas for their works and achievements, they often do not get attention in Singapore. Here, we have a Singapore son or daughter coming home doing the country proud, but there is no pat on the shoulder. The trophy is left on the shelf in the child's bedroom, collecting dust.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Let us look at and learn from another sector, the sports sector. The Singapore National Olympic Council initiated the Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme in 1991 as an incentive for athletes to win medals at four major international and regional games. The Singapore Totalisator Board and Asia Pacific Breweries are sponsors for these awards. According to the answer by MCYS to my Parliamentary Question (PQ) last month, I quote, "The purpose of the MAP award is to recognise our athletes' individual and team efforts and sacrifices in training intensively at the elite level and attaining medal honour for the country." The answer also reminded that the award should be viewed as part of a comprehensive support and recognition framework for our athletes.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 I totally agree. Just like we have the School of the Arts now to develop young arts talents and there are the Cultural Medallion and Young Artists Awards to honour artists, there are similarities in the Sports School and the National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 I would like MICA to consider initiating some kind of official reward system for our artists when they win a prestigious international award. The quantum of the award is not important. However, the gesture will be very significant in terms of recognising the dedication, hard work and achievement of our artists. A simple awards ceremony will also create the opportunity and interest for the media to report on, hence raising greater awareness in the public. It will also serve as a motivation for aspiring artists to persevere in the artistic journey. Just like the Multi-Million Dollar Award programme, it only recognises medals in the Southeast Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympic Games, and maybe the Youth Olympic Games in the future. The National Arts Council should also identify selected established international awards for the various arts disciplines. We can start with a limited range, with an award each for dance, theatre, music, literary and visual arts. I am sure, with this enhancement, the artists will feel very much encouraged and this will give a lot more meaning to the 20 international award winners last year, beyond just a statistical entry to a key performance indicator for public agencies.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Exporting World-class Local Arts Talents and Productions
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Sir, over the last few years, we have made significant progress in our plans to turn Singapore into a creative hub. We have already established the infrastructure, but what is needed is how to expand our creative talent, both in terms of quantity and quality.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Although we have done many promotions from Beijing to London, the perception from industry is that our programmes have not created enough world-class talents and productions. Those who have made it in the global arena seem to have stumbled upon their own success and we should think of more programmes to groom more such talents within a good framework.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Promotions do not necessarily translate into sustainable creative arts business. There is a need for MICA to look at arts as serious business, not just about developing artistic talents, but putting in solid investments to get our fundamentals right.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 We should develop more of our local talents, and the bigger challenge is how to make the industry an attractive career alternative, to draw more people with the potential to excel.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 One way to make it more attractive is to invest in our creative products and equip them not only as world-class products, but ones that are commercially viable. Not only can we get immediate attention, but it can inspire younger local talents.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Would MICA or the MDA consider investing to redevelop our local productions, using world-class talents in scripting and production, making them commercially relevant in the global arts sector? For example, can we have people like leading British producer of musicals, Cameron Mackintosh to redevelop or rewrite local productions, for example, Forbidden City or Fried Rice Paradise, for global export?
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 I think this can be also applied to works by local Cultural Medallion winners or promising arts production houses whose works can be transformed with the help of world-class brand-name producers, designers, artists, etc.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Given the millions that we spend on promoting our arts overseas, can MICA tweak its internationalisation programme to invest in young artists and production talents to be mentored by world-class artists, production houses, producers, directors, etc? This will enable us to set our fundamentals right locally to create quality, commercially viable productions for the global arts stage.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Allow me to continue in Malay.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*.] A long time ago, Singapore was renowned as the centre for the Malay film industry. Many still remember the studios at Jalan Ampas and Cathay Keris – brand names that we can be proud of.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 But all these have faded and only memories remain. Instead, we, in turn, buy foreign programmes like those from Malaysia and Indonesia.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Our market size is too small for us to develop this industry in order to bring any substantial commercial benefits. Maybe our talent pool is also too small to compete with Malaysia and Indonesia.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 But one way to expand our Malay film industry is through higher cooperation, like the co-productions that involve two countries, where the final product can be marketed together.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 I think Singapore can resurrect its reputation as the centre of the film industry because basically we have good infrastructure in terms of facilities and foundation.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 I hope MICA will be able to play its role to facilitate this effort and give support, like incentives and so on.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 *Cols. 1577-1578.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Singapore in UNESCO
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Following Singapore joining the UNESCO in October 2007, MICA has been assigned to lead the sub-committee on culture and information. What will be MICA's strategies and also how will we showcase and highlight our culture, communications and information sectors to the world, bearing in mind countries in the regions and around the world are also developing their creative industries, and competition as well as acknowledgement at all levels will also certainly be high? How will we showcase Singapore in the context of the evolution of an exciting, vibrant and transformed global nation positioned at the crossroads of Asia and, most importantly, our multi-racial and multi-cultural characteristics?
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Arts Outreach
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 The arts community, MICA, the National Arts Council and specific arts groups are doing a lot in making Singapore a more vibrant global arts and culture city. In FY2006 alone, there were 158 free arts events to reach out to the populace and over 300 events in total. However, these only still attract those who are more interested and have an artistic flair.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 For the coming years, will the Ministry be planning more community outreach for the heartlander crowd? By this, I mean the lower-income, the average aunties and uncles who do not read the newspapers or do not speak English very well, so that they, too, can enhance their awareness of the arts and do not miss out on the finer things in life.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Will there be centralised programmes to promote active enhancement and engagement as well as ownership of arts and culture by the community at large? These arts and heritage events will certainly help to put our innovative developments to foster an inclusive society, especially with the influx of new citizens as well as foreign talents amongst us.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Cultural Heritage
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 (In Mandarin ): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A *.] Sir, the UNESCO World Cultural Diversity Declaration 2001 states: "Cultural diversity is one of the original sources of development. It is important to mankind, just as biological diversity is important to mother nature." UNESCO also pointed out that cultural heritage includes not only the materialistic historical sites or relics, but also covers the various communities and customs that are left behind by our ancestors, that include the various languages and dialects as well as the performing arts.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Singapore was founded in 1819, less than 200 years ago. We do not have awesome relics, such as the Pyramids or the Great Wall but we have something that is bestowed to us by our ancestors – the cultural heritage passed on to us by our forefathers. In fact, we have the various customs and traditions from the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian communities, as well as our native Peranakan culture.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Unfortunately, we do not cherish and preserve them. Many of these have diminished, such as our roadside dialect wayang, and the Malay Gamelan music. Since they are not supported by us, many of these have diminished.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 As far as language is concerned, many of our younger generation people could not speak their own dialect and the Eurasians are also beginning to lose their unique Kristan language. Many people have forgotten the real meaning of their traditional festivals. Many Chinese families go overseas during the Chinese New Year festival period instead of staying at home for reunion and new-year visitations to their relatives and friends. Many of our roadside crafts and delicacies have also diminished.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 During a recent Chinese New Year gathering, I had the pleasure to taste the "Gi-ah kueh " made by the 75-year-old mother of my friend. This is a traditional food from Ann Kway county of Hokkien province. I have not tasted this delicacy for more than 30 years in Singapore. This food brought back memories of my childhood days, and it reminded me of the urgency of preserving our cultural heritage.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 This morning, in the Lianhe Zaobao, a reader wrote that the Korean people felt extremely guilty when they were not able to preserve the Nan An Men, a national treasure which was lost in a recent fire. The author asked if such a thing were to happen in Singapore, would we have the same kind of feeling?
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 While developing ourselves into an international commercial metropolis, we must also do our best to preserve our cultural heritage. We have to preserve the very precious heritage and pass it on to our children and grandchildren. This is what I call, "Seek the root while the root is still here, but do not pass the lantern only after the light has been put out."
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 *Cols. 1579-1580.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Developing of Geylang Area as a Civic District
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Sir, the Geylang area offers a wide range of arts, culture and heritage, what with its numerous small galleries and studios, temples, religious associations, the Buddhist Library, and so on. It has a great potential to form another civic district in Singapore.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Currently, many of the facilities are rundown and they pose serious challenges of congestion as well as vice. Can the Ministry consider improving and enhancing these facilities and helping in their preservation? Next, increasing the public's awareness of these places through some form of publicity programmes which sustain. Thirdly, medium term tie-ups with the STB to add and highlight these places in some of their packages, especially those pertaining to culture and heritage tours.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 As Singapore becomes more vibrant with all the exciting and stimulating developments around, certainly, the richness of Geylang cannot and should not be left out, left undeveloped and left unharnessed.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Patrons of Art
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 12.30 pm
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 (In Mandarin ): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A *.] Sir, I remember, every year, when I visit my father-in-law's house, I would do one thing, ie, to browse his collection of old books. Every time, I would take one of these out-of-print books home. Over the years, I must have taken more than 30 of his old books and these books are not available at the shops anymore. They were printed in the 1950s.
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 In the 1950s and 60s, these books were priced at $1 to $2 each. At that time, $1 or $2 was a lot of money. I asked my father-in-law, “As a Chinese teacher, your salary then was just $100-$200. So, every month, you would spend about 1% of your salary on books. But you did not have the time to read them, you just kept them at home, and eventually got stolen by your son-in-law. Why did you persist in doing that? Is there any meaning in it?”
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 My father-in-law said something which I will remember for life. He said, "If I don't buy the books, who is going to support the authors?"
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Recently, some 40 years after my father-in-law’s supportive efforts for the authors, one of my former classmates wanted to publish a book on his collection of poems. He solicited for donations from all his classmates to meet the publication cost. He needed about $4,000-$5,000 to print the book. I asked him, "Why don't you just publish it and you can earn your money back when the books are sold?" He replied, "Nobody would buy the book. I have to pay for the printing cost. Once the book is published, I would give a copy to each of the students of my alma mater, and I would have accomplished my mission. Even if nobody buys it, I do not mind."
BUDGET - ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009 - Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008 Compared to my father-in-law 40 years ago, I feel that we are moving backwards in the support of our culture. If each of us can donate 1% of our income to set up a National Cultural Fund, and ask the Government to match us dollar for dollar, I think we would have a very big endowment fund to support our cultural activities in Singapore, particularly the traditional arts.