Debated in Parliament on 10 Jan 2022.
Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what is the median income of a visual and performing artiste in 2019, 2020 and 2021; (b) what is the outlook for the arts scene in 2022; and (c) what are the efforts undertaken to further develop the local arts industry.
According to the latest data from MOM, the median monthly income of workers in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector was between $3,800 and $4,100 from 2018 to 20201. Data for 2021 will be released by MOM once available.
Our arts community has shown resilience, creativity and innovation in their response to the challenges brought about by COVID-19, presenting their works and engaging audiences in novel and interesting ways. Through the $75 million Arts and Culture Resilience Package (ACRP), MCCY and the National Arts Council (NAC) have worked with our arts practitioners and organisations to safeguard livelihoods, retain capabilities and develop new ones. Many Singaporeans were able to continue to enjoy and experience arts events despite the pandemic.
The outlook for the arts scene in 2022 is a cautiously optimistic one. We hope to see the arts sector lock in the gains made over the last two years. These include reaching new digital audiences, creating new arts experiences and business solutions and building capabilities to accelerate the adoption of technology, especially with the growth of audience demand online. Based on NAC’s COVID-19 Arts Consumption Survey (2020-2021), about eight in 10 digital arts consumers responded that they would continue online consumption after the pandemic. MCCY and NAC will continue to work closely with arts practitioners and organisations to transform the way they work and to resume a wider variety of arts activities – both digital and in-person – as we grow more resilient against COVID-19. We look forward to renewed vibrancy in our arts, with enhanced offerings for all Singaporeans as we move into 2022.
MCCY and NAC will continue to develop the arts sector in partnership with the community, as well as the public and private sectors. Key areas of focus include:
(a) Growing audience development and engagement efforts through signature arts events and touchpoints in the neighbourhoods. NAC Arts and Culture Nodes, together with community partners, will bring year-round arts experiences to Singaporeans across the island.
(b) Developing diverse capabilities of arts workers, including the self-employed, with an emphasis on digital competency.
(c) Creating spaces for experimentation, innovation and incubation of works that connect with audiences. For example, NAC is partnering the Singapore Land Authority to set up pilot arts sandboxes in Kampong Java.
(d) Boosting long-term sustainability of the arts sector and strengthening private giving to the arts, such as through the Sustain the Arts (stART) Fund launched by NAC in January 2021 and the Cultural Matching Fund.
NAC has been consulting broadly for the next iteration of Our SG Arts Plan and will be hosting public engagement sessions over the next few months. These engagement sessions will gather views and test ideas for the future development of the arts in Singapore.
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