Arts, culture & sports

• Usha Chandradas questioned the rationale for installing statues of colonial figures Sir Stamford Raffles and Dr Nathaniel Wallich at Fort Canning Park, citing global trends towards decolonisation.
• Desmond Lee explained that the artwork, titled “Scholars in Conversation,” was donated and unveiled at a historically significant site tied to Singapore’s first botanical garden established by Raffles and Wallich.
• The Minister highlighted the scientific contributions of Raffles and Wallich to botanical discovery and biodiversity records in 19th-century Singapore and the region.
• Lee distinguished between decolonisation as the historical process of achieving independence and more recent moves to erase colonial reminders, stating Singapore acknowledges its colonial past without glorifying it.
• The government accepts the artwork as recognition of botanical heritage and as an educational opportunity, emphasizing Singapore’s ability to reference its history confidently while forging its own future.

Usha Chandradas asked if the Ministry of Education has considered adding drama or theatre studies to the primary school arts education curriculum. Chan Chun Sing responded that the primary curriculum prioritizes foundational learning in literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional competencies, with a Drama module included in the Programme for Active Learning for Primary 1 and 2 students. Although drama is not part of the core curriculum beyond lower primary, it can be utilized by teachers as a pedagogical tool to enhance learning in various subjects. Some schools also offer Drama as a Co-Curricular Activity or enrichment program, and the Ministry will continue to evaluate the role of drama in supporting student development.

Usha Chandradas raised several questions regarding art and music teachers in the educational system, including the number of teachers who teach multiple subjects and the feasibility of them focusing primarily on their specialized arts subjects. Chan Chun Sing responded that there are approximately 1,900 art and music teachers employed by the Ministry of Education, with around 1,100 in primary schools. Most of these teachers primarily teach their main subject, and their resignation rate over the past five years has been consistent with the overall teaching workforce, at around 2% to 3% annually.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong inquired if the Singapore Tourism Board is consulting stakeholders about locating sites for trishaw tour operators to resume operations and when new licenses for those tours would be available. Gan Kim Yong indicated that this question has been addressed in a previous parliamentary response related to the revival of trishaw services aimed at preserving culture and heritage.

Melvin Yong inquired about the reasons for Singapore's decision not to bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the possibility of a joint-bid with a neighboring country to minimize hosting resources. Edwin Tong explained that the feasibility of hosting major sporting events is assessed based on sporting, social, and economic outcomes, balanced against the costs involved. After studying these factors, the decision was made not to pursue a bid, either individually or jointly.

• The Cultural Matching Fund provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants specifically for private cash donations to registered arts and heritage charities and Institutions of Public Character (IPCs), aiming to encourage philanthropic giving and create a sustainable arts scene.
• Grants are restricted to registered charities and IPCs due to their high standards of governance, transparency, and accountability, which ensure proper use of public funds and engender public trust.
• CMF grants only support expenses that directly contribute to programme delivery and impact, such as direct programme costs, and exclude staff bonuses, welfare benefits, legal fees, and similar expenses.
• The CMF is part of a broader suite of government schemes that provide holistic support for the arts and heritage sector, including various grants from the National Arts Council and National Heritage Board.

• Derrick Goh asked when Nee Soon Link residents can resume booking North View Primary School's indoor sports hall under the ActiveSG Dual-Use Scheme, noting the MOE Kindergarten building was completed in 2022.
• Chan Chun Sing responded that the indoor sports hall is expected to be available for public booking in the third quarter of 2024, after dedicated public access route works are completed.

• Usha Chandradas asked about the completion and reopening timelines for SAM's two redevelopment sites at the former St Joseph's Institution building and former Catholic High School building, and how SAM's current TPD space will be used after reopening.
• Edwin Tong responded that SAM has been operating successfully at TPD since 2022, with its space well-suited for contemporary art exhibitions and receiving positive visitor feedback.
• SAM plans to remain at TPD in the near future, and the Ministry is considering plans for the Old St Joseph's Institution building with more details to be shared later.

• Hany Soh asked whether the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) intends to support reviving trishaw services to preserve local culture and heritage, and how else this heritage could be preserved if not.
• The Minister responded that trishaw tours ceased last year due to the expired lease of Trishaw Park at Queen Street, with planned developments making the area unsuitable for operations.
• The STB had extended the lease four times between 2019 and 2023 to allow the operator to find a new site, but no suitable alternatives were found despite efforts with multiple government agencies.
• The STB is prepared to support the resumption of trishaw tours if any operator can find a suitable location.

• The Minister affirmed the government’s commitment to preserving the cultural identity of historic districts like Chinatown, Kampong Glam, and Little India through heritage conservation and use controls that exclude non-heritage businesses.
• The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) enforces detailed use controls to prevent fast-food restaurants, supermarkets, and new bars from dominating the core areas of these districts.
• The government collaborates with community partners, precinct associations, building owners, and local businesses to match heritage trades with landlords willing to support traditional uses.
• Ongoing efforts will continue to explore additional ways to celebrate and sustain the intangible culture and heritage of these historic districts.

• All 12 new schools built in the past 10 years were designed for dual-use sports facilities, with eight already on the Dual-Use Scheme and the remaining four to join by end-2024.
• The Dual-Use Scheme, administered by SportSG, primarily allows public access to school sports facilities during weekends.
• Schools may choose to open these facilities after school hours on weekdays based on their specific circumstances and needs.

• The National Arts Council is collaborating with healthcare partners to develop a framework promoting arts for health and well-being, which will include best practices, impact measurement tools, and case studies to help self-employed arts practitioners meet desired outcomes.
• The framework aims to create more opportunities for self-employed arts practitioners to use their talents to support well-being, though specific numbers of arts self-employed persons to be upskilled are not yet detailed.
• Training support for self-employed arts service providers under the framework will be formulated in collaboration with partners, with more details to be shared later.

• Lim Biow Chuan asked whether the Marina Bay Golf Course development plans have been finalised and, if not, whether the Singapore Land Authority could extend its lease until plans are set.
• The government announced in 2014 that the lease would not be renewed after July this year to allow redevelopment of the site.
• The site is designated for uses including the expanded Bay East Garden and Founders' Memorial, with construction expected to start soon after the land is returned.
• The Singapore Land Authority cannot grant any lease extension as the land is required for these planned developments.

• Usha Chandradas questioned whether the National Multimodal Large Language Model Programme (NMLP) would remunerate writers, authors, and publishers for contributing works, along with the programme's launch steps and community engagement efforts.
• Josephine Teo explained the NMLP is a nascent research programme launched in December 2023 to develop LLMs for Singapore and Southeast Asia's multilingual, multicultural context.
• No remuneration has been provided so far as the programme used open government data and contributed partner content; IMDA adopts a consultative approach and has engaged the National Arts Council and SingLit Station to survey the local writer community.

• Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked for an update on the utilisation rates of facilities under the Dual-Use Scheme and whether the programme could be expanded to include more school facilities.
• Minister Edwin Tong stated that bookable facilities under the scheme were almost fully utilised in 2023, while free-to-play facilities allow spontaneous public access without booking.
• The Ministry will continue working with the Ministry of Education to expand the Dual-Use Scheme and provide more convenient access to school sports facilities.

• Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim queried whether the Ministry would extend the SportCares programme to assist in the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents.
• Edwin Tong Chun Fai outlined that SportCares already partners with the Singapore Prison Service and supports rehabilitation at institutions like the Reformative Training Centre and the Singapore Boys' and Girls' Homes.
• He noted that the programme provides sports coaching and values education, with participants encouraged to continue in community programmes after release.
• The Ministry confirmed it will continue exploring ways to better enable children and young people in the criminal justice system to benefit from sports.

• The Ministry, through Sport Singapore’s Vision 2030 Sports Facilities Master Plan, aims to ensure most Singaporeans have access to sport facilities within a 10-minute walk by 2030, including comprehensive centres, school facilities, and free-to-play spaces.
• Sport Singapore has completed 10 Sport-in-Precinct facilities with 24 more in development, offering free-to-play options like courts and fitness equipment in HDB estates, and over 370 Dual Use Scheme facilities for weekend public access.
• Recent and upcoming openings include Chua Chu Kang and Delta Sport Centres, and new facilities at Kallang, Bedok, and Jurong East, with new centres planned for Clementi and Punggol.
• A sport centre in Farrer Park is being explored, featuring a multi-purpose field, swimming complex, halls, community spaces, and a park zone, designed with resident consultations.
• The overall goal is to innovate and provide accessible, affordable, and relevant sports facilities across the community to meet future needs.

• Hazel Poa asked whether SPH Media Trust has raised funding from non-government sources and, if so, how much.
• The Minister responded that government funding supports SMT's talent, technology, and vernacular capabilities.
• SMT may independently raise funding from other sources based on its business decisions and operating needs.
• Detailed financial information is available from ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority).

• Hazel Poa asked why the Censorship Review Committee has not been convened since 2009, whether it will be reconvened due to changes in Singapore's media and social landscape, and if so, when.
• The government explained there is no fixed schedule for convening content review committees, and decisions are based on prevailing media and social conditions, with examples like the 2022 Online Safety Bill and the Code of Practice for Online Safety developed through stakeholder consultations.
• The government emphasized using varied approaches, including public consultations and advisory committees, to remain flexible in responding to shifts in the media landscape and societal norms.

• Mr Leong Mun Wai asked about the projected cost of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, whether Singapore would consider hosting the 2030 edition if not hosting 2026, and if the feasibility study results would be public.
• Edwin Tong stated that the Commonwealth Games Federation invited Singapore to express interest in hosting the 2026 Games, but Singapore studied feasibility and decided not to bid.
• He added that future invitations to host Commonwealth Games would be considered based on circumstances at that time.