Arts, culture & sports — Topics

5 Feb 2024

Government Funding Support for Art Galleries Association Singapore

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth acknowledges the commercial visual arts sector's role in enriching Singapore's arts ecosystem, with intermediaries like the Art Galleries Association Singapore supporting artists and art appreciation.
The National Arts Council has provided AGAS with organisational development support, such as funding for a website upgrade and an exhibition during Singapore Art Week 2022.
NAC also offers marketing support by promoting AGAS events on its Catch.sg platform and social media channels.
The government's current support for AGAS is delivered through established NAC grant schemes rather than new dedicated funding plans.

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5 Feb 2024

Rationale for Restrictions on Screening Locations for Movies Rated NC16 and Above

Leong Mun Wai asked whether there are restrictions on screening locations for NC16 and above films, the rationale for such restrictions, and if they will be reviewed due to the rise of online streaming.
Josephine Teo explained that age-restricted films require venue controls, with NC16 and M18 films needing enclosed spaces and R21 films only allowed indoors in cinemas outside HDB heartlands to prevent underage exposure.
She stated IMDA’s requirements ensure appropriate audience access through age checks and online measures like parental locks and PINs, with no plans to review these restrictions despite online streaming trends.

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5 Feb 2024

Closure of Public Recreational Facilities in HDB Estates Due to Complaints

Alex Yam Ziming asked the Minister for National Development about the number of recreational facilities closed due to complaints in the past three years, community engagement to promote considerate use, and measures against disruptive users or unreasonable complainants.
The Ministry's response stated that Town Councils temporarily closed or restricted hours for 27 recreational facilities in HDB estates over the past three years due to resident feedback on issues like noise nuisance.
Town Councils address persistent disruptive behaviour by placing advisories, engaging grassroots leaders, and as last resorts, restricting facility hours or locking them at night, with support from police and other agencies if needed.
Community campaigns led by various organizations promote considerate use of shared spaces through posters, social media, and events to foster neighbourliness and harmony.
The Ministry emphasized the importance of mutual accommodation and a give-and-take spirit to build inclusive communities, highlighting the role of shared spaces in bringing residents together.

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5 Feb 2024

Number of Students Placed in Secondary Schools under DSA Scheme and Talent Areas Covered under Scheme

In the last five years, the number of students admitted to secondary schools via the DSA scheme rose from about 3,500 in 2019 to around 4,400 in 2023, making up about 9% to 11% of the Primary 6 cohort respectively.
Popular talent areas under DSA include Sports and Games (about one-third of applications) and STEM (about a quarter), with the remainder spread across Leadership, Performing Arts, Entrepreneurship, Languages, and Visual Arts.
The Ministry has no plans to increase the total DSA places, as around 20% of each cohort (approximately 8,000 places in 2023) are already allocated, and the talent categories are considered sufficiently diverse to accommodate various student strengths and interests.

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5 Feb 2024

Factors Supporting Move of Outram Secondary School to Sengkang and Measures to Retain School's Heritage

The Ministry of Education relocated Outram Secondary School to Sengkang to balance falling demand for secondary school places in its current mature area with rising demand in the North-East, while preserving the school’s identity.
MOE confirmed there will be sufficient secondary school places in the Outram area even after new housing developments, and stakeholder consultations were held before the public announcement.
The school’s history and heritage, including its status as one of Singapore’s oldest schools with its own swimming pool, will be documented and preserved through a heritage space in the new Sengkang building.

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5 Feb 2024

Reviewing F1 Contracts with Singapore Government and Strengthening Guidelines for Investment-oriented Agencies that Engage with Private Entities

Members of Parliament raised concerns about the structuring and audit of F1 contracts, potential non-compliance by officials, and the impact of corruption allegations on Singapore’s economic agencies and international reputation.
The Minister confirmed that the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) is reviewing the F1 contracts and that the Singapore Tourism Board will audit the 2022 race, while noting that any further details may be subject to ongoing legal proceedings.
Economic agencies are required to follow the Public Service Code of Conduct, and the government will maintain its commitment to the F1 Grand Prix while monitoring investor confidence and responding robustly if needed.

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10 Jan 2024

Impact of Higher Property Prices on Property Taxes Payable by Religious, Heritage and Cultural Organisations

Ms Mariam Jaafar questioned the Finance Minister about how rising property prices might affect property taxes for religious, heritage, and cultural groups.
Lawrence Wong clarified that registered charities, including those used for public worship or heritage, are exempt from property tax if the properties are solely for charitable purposes.
The recent rise in market rentals, which influences a property’s Annual Value, does not affect the property tax for these exempt organisations.

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9 Jan 2024

Group and Individual Booking of SportSG Sports Facilities and Steps to Prevent Profiteering and Monopolisation

Edwin Tong clarified that while National Sports Associations and public agencies receive priority for sports facility bookings, all other groups and individuals book through the online system, which is being enhanced for better access.
SportSG has introduced ActiveSG Sport Interest Groups as an alternative for individuals to participate in sports without separate bookings, accessible via the ActiveSG app from January 2024.
The government strongly opposes profiteering and has implemented enhanced measures, as detailed in a previous parliamentary reply, to prevent monopolisation of group bookings.

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9 Jan 2024

Loans of Artworks, Artefacts and Antiques from National Collection to Non-museum Entities for Display

The debate discussed the practice of loaning items from the National Collection to non-museum entities, with 283 such objects currently on loan to places like the Istana and various Ministries, representing less than 1% of the entire collection.
The National Heritage Board assesses loan requests based on factors like enhancing the profile of Singapore's culture, non-commercial use, appropriate and respectful display, security, environmental conditions, and the object's condition for the proposed display space and duration.
A mandatory requirement for all loans to non-museum entities is the display of a label text that includes the object's title, artist (if applicable), donor (if applicable), and a credit line acknowledging the managing museum.

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9 Jan 2024

Use of Protective Construction Hoardings as Medium for Display of Public Artworks

The Ministry determines eligibility for turning construction hoardings into public artworks based on whether the designs align with URA’s goal to soften construction impacts and enhance streetscapes, with developers having flexibility in choosing creative treatments.
Selection of artists is left to the discretion of developers, who may engage their preferred artists to create designs for hoardings, as the Ministry does not impose a fixed criteria for artist selection.
Criteria for the kinds of artwork displayed are guided by URA’s encouraging of themes such as historical, precinct, or greenery designs, with developers given flexibility to choose appropriate artworks.
The URA is refining a Design Guidelines and Good Practice Guide for Creative Hoarding to be made publicly available, but no specific plans are mentioned to expand artworks on more hoardings across public locations.

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9 Jan 2024

New Sports to be Added under Strategic Partnership CCA Programme in 2024 and 2025

Mariam Jaafar asked about new sports for the Strategic Partnership CCA Programme in 2024 and 2025, including football, and whether international schools could join.
Chan Chun Sing responded that the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth are exploring adding sports not commonly offered in schools, such as athletics and water polo.
He noted that the programme is still in its early stages, so international schools are not currently included.
The specific new sports will be announced when ready.
Football was not explicitly confirmed as being added, but the response focused on less common sports.

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9 Jan 2024

Regulatory Supervision over Singapore Palestine Film Festival

The Minister for Home Affairs stated that all films for the Singapore Palestine Film Festival have been classified by IMDA, in consultation with MHA, as not promoting violence and are permitted with age ratings, while public events or assemblies on the Israel-Hamas conflict are not allowed due to security concerns.
The government supports constructive dialogue through academic forums and fundraising for humanitarian relief, with over $7 million donated by Singaporeans to Gaza as of November 2023, provided donations are for civilian aid and not military or terror purposes.
The balance between public understanding and harmony is maintained by allowing classified film screenings and structured discussions, while prohibiting public assemblies on the conflict to prevent tensions and ensure racial and religious harmony.

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9 Jan 2024

Extent of Use of School Fields under Dual-Use Scheme

Ms Mariam Jaafar asked about the mean and median utilisation rates of school fields under the Dual-Use Scheme, which specific fields have the lowest rates, and the reasons for low utilisation.
Edwin Tong Chun Fai responded that free-to-play school fields under the scheme do not require booking and are accessible to the public at no cost, while all bookable school fields were nearly fully utilized in 2023.
The response indicates that free-to-play fields have spontaneous access, but utilisation metrics for them were not provided, whereas bookable fields showed high usage.
The debate highlights a distinction between free-to-play and bookable fields, with the latter achieving near-full capacity in 2023, suggesting differing utilisation patterns.
No specific low-utilisation school fields or detailed reasons for low rates were disclosed in the provided exchange.

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9 Jan 2024

Dialect Usage on Free-to-air Radio and Television Services

Yip Hon Weng asked why dialects are restricted on free-to-air radio and TV and suggested lifting these rules to help elderly people who may lack access to pay TV or the internet.
Josephine Teo explained that the government promotes Mandarin as an official language, so free-to-air services must offer Chinese content in Mandarin, but dialect content is still available on specific channels, radio segments, and other platforms like streaming services and live performances.
A 2023 study found most respondents prefer Mandarin, with few choosing dialect exclusively, and over half across all ages want the current level of dialect content maintained, so there are no plans to increase dialect use on free-to-air services, though the government will monitor demand and may lift restrictions if needed, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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9 Jan 2024

Full Utilisation of Grants by Recipients of Cultural Medallion Fund

Ms Usha Chandradas questioned the Ministry on the utilisation rates of the Cultural Medallion Fund among its 132 recipients, including how many fully used their entitlements, the percentage unutilised, those who never used the grant, time limits, and what happens to unused entitlements after death.
Edwin Tong responded that there are now 135 recipients, and the fund, introduced in 2001, provides up to $80,000 for arts projects focused on community outreach, artistic development, knowledge transfer, or profiling, with examples given of specific recipients' projects.
He noted that 71% of living recipients and 59% of deceased recipients had partially or fully used their funds, and the National Arts Council assists recipients with project proposals and fund utilisation.

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22 Nov 2023

Ensuring Awareness of Sports School's Updated Safety Policies and Protocols for Freelance Instructors

Ms See Jinli Jean raised concerns about whether instructors engaged by Government schools and agencies will be held to Singapore Sports School's updated safety policies, and what steps the Ministry will take to ensure awareness, guide responsibility division, assist with liability coverage costs, and ensure organiser accountability.
The Ministry of Education has existing safety policies for co-curricular activities, while Singapore Sports School (SSP) is tailoring its safety protocols to its student-athletes' specific needs and is working with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth on a review.
SSP aims to complete the safety policy review by year-end and will progressively implement improvements, communicating changes to internal and external stakeholders including coaches, staff, and vendors.

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22 Nov 2023

Enhancing ActiveSG App to Provide Real-time Updates on Closures of Swimming Pools

Ong Hua Han asked whether the Ministry plans to enhance the ActiveSG app to provide real-time updates on swimming pool closures due to bad weather and the timeline for this.
Edwin Tong Chun Fai stated that Sport Singapore already uses real-time data from the NEA’s Lightning Information Service to decide pool closures, which is available via the myENV app.
He noted that Sport Singapore will consider incorporating this information into future upgrades of the ActiveSG app for greater user convenience.

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22 Nov 2023

Restrictions on Use of $180 Million Annual Funding to SPH Media Trust

The Government earmarks the $180 million annual funding for SPH Media Trust to focus on Technology Development, Talent Development, and the Preservation of Vernacular Media, with close monitoring to ensure prudent use.
The acquisition of Tech In Asia was financed by SMT using its own resources, and while the Government does not intervene in such commercial decisions, it views the acquisition as aligned with the funding's intent to support SMT's transformation.
The Government notes that SMT and Tech In Asia will not disclose the financial terms of the acquisition due to market sensitivities and continues to monitor the media landscape to prevent anti-competitive practices and protect consumers.

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22 Nov 2023

Towards a Vibrant and Sustainable Creative Economy for the Arts

Ms Usha Chandradas highlighted the need for more direct support for creative workers and businesses, including a centralized networking portal and low-bono service providers, while urging equitable funding for arts institutions like NAFA.
She proposed tax policy reforms, such as exempting artworks from GST and introducing dynamic incentives, to position Singapore as a global art trading hub and boost local art consumption.
Chandradas emphasized the importance of sustaining independent art spaces and educating the public to value local art, warning that artists risk burnout without decent livelihoods.
Minister Low Yen Ling outlined government efforts, including the Arts Resource Hub, new arts infrastructure, strategic funding, and digital platforms like Catch.sg, to strengthen the arts sector and audience development.
Both speakers agreed on the arts' role in fostering social cohesion and identity, committing to a vibrant and sustainable creative economy through ongoing collaboration and support.

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7 Nov 2023

Targeted Social Programmes to Increase Participation Rates of Male Retirees

Miss Rachel Ong proposed creating a Silver Club with social activities for retiring seniors and suggested automatic registration with incentives to boost early engagement.
Ong Ye Kung highlighted that the Ministry of Health is expanding Active Ageing Centres to promote active lifestyles and social connections, collaborating with community partners.
The debate noted that male seniors are harder to engage, so activities like communal meals, walks, pool, and guitar jamming are used to attract them, with Silver Clubs being welcomed as a useful initiative.

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