Debated in Parliament on 4 Feb 2013.
Ms Janice Koh asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) if he will give an update on the implementation of the Framework for Arts Spaces plan; (b) whether additional rental subsidies are available to help arts groups that are being co-located within commercial developments; (c) whether options to develop low-cost shared storage facilities for arts groups have been found; and (d) what plans are in place to co-locate more artists and arts groups within community spaces, regional cultural centres and schools.
The National Arts Council (NAC) completed the review of the current Arts Housing Scheme (AHS) in late 2010. Since then, it has implemented the new Framework for Arts Spaces.
Through this Framework, NAC aims to create a stronger link between infrastructure support and the different needs of the artists and arts groups. The objectives are to build their capacity and sustain their growth. These spaces will be platforms where artists and arts groups can collaborate with one another, and interact with the wider public to bring the arts to the community.
The Goodman Arts Centre was rolled out in 2011 as a pilot project under this Framework. Home to more than 40 artists and arts groups, the Centre has since its opening, launched more than 200 programmes. The next arts housing development under the Framework for Arts Spaces is the Aliwal Arts Centre, which will be launched in March 2013.
With the Arts Housing Scheme and the Framework for Arts Spaces, NAC currently houses more than 170 tenants. The NAC will continue to look into how best to meet the needs of the arts sector. This will include redeveloping existing properties and identifying new spaces to fill gaps in existing infrastructure. It will also promote shared facilities and short-term project studios that will benefit a larger pool of professional and amateur artists/arts groups.
NAC has been working with Government agencies and commercial developers to facilitate co-location of artists and arts groups in commercial developments under the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)'s Community/Sports Facilities Scheme (CSFS). The aim is for these arts groups to engage with and bring greater vibrancy to their community. Under the CSFS, the arts groups need not pay any rental. Instead, artists and arts groups are only required to pay a monthly service charge to the landlord.
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NAC has facilitated two such projects under this scheme. The first project involves Very Special Arts taking up a space at Changi City Point Mall in 2011 while the second project involves Singapore Dance Theatre moving into Bugis+ mall from early 2013. There has been interest from other commercial developers and arts groups, and NAC will continue to facilitate these arrangements.
NAC is currently discussing with partners like the People’s Association (PA) on co-locating artists and arts groups in community spaces. NAC has also been working with PA to identify suitable community facilities for upgrading, integrating arts facilities and better programming into our civic and community centres. To date, NAC has supported two Community Clubs (CCs), Siglap South and Kallang, in both programming and facility enhancements.
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