Debated in Parliament on 15 Nov 2012.
Ms Janice Koh asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether the jump in ticketed attendance for performing arts events from 1.38 million attendances in 2010 to 2.14 million attendances in 2011 is due to imported shows staged at the integrated resorts; (b) whether these shows have impacted ticket sales and box-office revenue of locally-produced performing arts events and, if so, in what way; (c) whether the presence of these shows all year round has posed any significant challenges to local performing arts groups with regard to sponsorship, marketing and advertising opportunities; (d) if so, how is the Ministry helping to ensure the continued viability of local groups.
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Based on current available data, the ticketed attendance for musical theatre alone more than doubled from 180,000 in 2010 to 570,000 last year. This suggests that blockbuster musicals brought in by the Integrated Resorts (IRs), played a significant role in increasing total ticketed attendance from 1.38 million in 2010 to 2.14 million last year.
The quality of performances staged at the IRs has added greater diversity and vibrancy to our arts scene. As Singaporeans become increasingly well-travelled, there is a growing demand for international shows, in addition to local productions. The offering of popular shows at the IRs, including long-running musicals, also helps to attract new audiences who may otherwise not attend an arts event.
However, we are unable to conclude that shows brought in by the IRs have reduced the ticket sales of locally produced performing arts events, as ticketing agencies do not provide ticket sales of individual performing arts events due to confidentiality purposes.
Nonetheless, it is understandable that our local arts groups have concerns about the impact of shows presented at the IRs, as they now face stiffer competition both for the audience’s and sponsors’ dollar and time.
As such, the National Arts Council (NAC) will continue providing direct support to local artists and arts groups, in the form of grants for organisation development, project assistance, capability development and rental assistance. Such direct support from NAC doubled from $18.3 million in 2009 to $36.5 million in 2012.
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Under the New Grants Framework to be rolled out in FY13, NAC will also be introducing a new Market and Audience Development programme. Together with increased investments in arts education and the promotion of cultural philanthropy, such measures will help grow a larger base of support for the arts, which will benefit local arts and arts groups.
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