Debated in Parliament on 4 Feb 2013.
Ms Janice Koh asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth in light of the arrest of a street artist for vandalism and the revoking of the M18 licence for the film "Sex.Violence.FamilyValues" (a) whether Singapore has the conditions necessary to developing a creative and innovative society and a creative culture; and (b) what are some of the gaps and challenges that we face.
As a nation, I believe we all want to support the development of the arts and culture, and promote a more creative and innovative society. At the same time, artistic expression must respect the rule of law and show consideration for others who share the common space in our multi-racial and multi-religious society. For its part, the Government has to bear the responsibility of balancing the interests of different segments of society, who may hold different and sometimes opposing views on issues.
Within this context, the space for artistic expression is not static; it will continue to evolve. Indeed over the years, Singapore has come a long way in the development of a creative culture. Our artists now have more opportunities to develop their craft, and showcase their creative talents. Singaporeans, in turn, enjoy an abundance of options when it comes to arts and cultural offerings. As our society matures and becomes more diverse, I am confident that the space for artistic expression will continue to grow. For this to happen, it is important to have continued dialogue and engagement between the diverse segments of our community, so that there is mutual understanding, tolerance and respect
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for different views and perspectives.
This is also why we see the need for arts and culture to be part of the daily lives of Singaporeans. This was a gap identified in the recent Arts and Culture Strategic Review (ACSR), which is why MCCY is strengthening our community arts programme, to enable the experience of arts and culture by one and all in the community. A deeper appreciation of the intrinsic value of creativity and the arts will further pave the way for Singapore to become a more creative society.
Another key strategy in developing a more creative and innovative people is to invest more in arts education and a curriculum which encourages creative expression within the context of a holistic education. This will build not only future creative talent, but just as importantly, a discerning audience that is appreciative and supportive of the artistic expression. This will require strong programmes to ensure that our students learn about the value of the arts and acquire the skills and dispositions to express themselves creatively, while maintaining a sense of responsibility and an understanding of our social context. Our efforts in promoting artistic and creative education will lay the foundation for a creative society in the years to come.
PAPERCUTS