Arts, culture & sports

831 debates and bills about arts, culture & sports

15 Oct 2012

Measures to Ensure Businesses Benefit from F1 Night Race and Related Events

The Ministry of Trade and Industry highlighted that the F1 Singapore Grand Prix has generated significant economic benefits, including about $150 million in incremental tourism receipts per race, with roughly one-third of that amount going directly to retail and F&B sectors, which are largely SMEs.
To address short-term disruptions to businesses in the Marina Bay area during the race, government agencies have reduced the duration of road closures and are working with the race promoter to improve access, including via extended MRT operating hours and coordinated vehicle access for key personnel.
The government agencies and the race promoter are collaborating with local businesses to leverage the high visitor volume during the event and are open to further suggestions to help businesses, particularly SMEs, benefit more from the F1 race and related activities.

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15 Oct 2012

The Media Development Authority (MDA) promotes Singapore-produced films and television internationally through industry-level efforts like showcasing works at global festivals and facilitating distribution across multiple territories, with $5 million allocated annually for marketing support.
MDA supports co-productions via government treaties with countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, China, and Korea, having facilitated over 20 projects to help local companies secure international partnerships.
A revised copyright ownership framework for Public Service Broadcasting programmes ensures content creators retain rights, enhancing their ability to monetize works overseas through sales, licensing, and merchandising.
MDA assists over 150 local companies annually in participating in 40 regional and international events and organizes platforms like ScreenSingapore to boost exposure for Singaporean content.

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11 Sep 2012

The Ministry will integrate the Rail Corridor into Singapore’s broader green network, connecting it to park connectors and the Round Island Route to enhance recreational spaces.
Development along the corridor will balance future housing and industrial needs with the preservation of greenery and historical sites like the Bukit Timah station and Tanjong Pagar monument.
The corridor will be promoted as a heritage trail linking World War II sites, encouraging public exploration and appreciation of Singapore’s history.
Community involvement is encouraged through outreach activities under the Rail Corridor Partnership to shape its future use.

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10 Sep 2012

The Ministry, through the National Arts Council, has spent between $500,000 and $850,000 per edition since 2001 to fund six Singapore pavilions at the Venice Biennale, featuring a total of 14 local artists and seven curators.
The impact of Singapore's participation has varied, with initial editions being weaker but seeing some successes like Ming Wong's Special Mention in 2009, though only a handful of artists have leveraged the exposure for significant international opportunities.
The government acknowledges the importance of international profiling and plans to review participation to broaden and deepen its impact for better support of local talent in the visual arts.

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10 Sep 2012

Janice Koh asked the Ministry of Education to review the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) format to reduce competitive pressure and consider holistic, year-round measures of artistic achievement.
Heng Swee Keat highlighted SYF's evolution since 1966, including past competitive formats and the 2005 revision to a non-competitive July festival with benchmarking.
The Ministry is currently reviewing SYF to increase educational value, retain benchmarking, and moderate excessive competition.
Beyond SYF, MOE uses a holistic approach with the National Arts Council's National Arts Education Awards to foster arts culture and sustained student participation.
The review aims to balance competition with broader arts engagement, focusing on processes and student impact rather than just results.

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10 Sep 2012

Nicholas Fang inquired about measures to ensure National Sports Associations using the Foreign Sporting Talent Scheme have long-term plans for developing local talent and do not disadvantage local athletes in resource allocation.
Chan Chun Sing highlighted investments like the Singapore Sports School and the Singapore Sports Council's role in identifying and developing local talent, with NSAs required to show long-term plans for local athletes.
The government emphasized merit-based support for all national athletes, with over 95% being local-born, and funding decisions based on potential and achievements.
Additional measures include funding for youth coaches and weighting NSA evaluations on local talent development, ensuring fair treatment between local and foreign athletes.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to continue investing resources in developing local sports talent.

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10 Sep 2012

Gan Thiam Poh requested an annual and total breakdown of direct and indirect revenue generated by the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix from 2008 to date.
S Iswaran, representing the Minister for Trade and Industry, stated that over the last four years, the F1 race attracted more than 150,000 international visitors who spent over $560 million, averaging more than $140 million per race weekend.
The race has broadened Singapore’s tourism reach, particularly from non-traditional markets like Germany, and cumulatively attracted over 360 million television viewers worldwide, enhancing Singapore’s global image.
Local businesses benefit, with over 80% of race organisation work subcontracted to local SMEs and more than 9,000 corporate attendees annually, creating a premier networking platform.

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10 Sep 2012

The Minister explained that Singapore withdrew from the 2013 Venice Biennale after a review found that participation cost over $850,000 per edition, with only 20% of funds directly benefiting artists, while the National Arts Council seeks to reallocate resources to support more local artists and platforms.
The NAC plans to reinvest in strategic initiatives such as international residencies, local biennales, and support for artists selected for the Biennale’s curated section, aiming to maximize benefits for the wider visual arts community amid limited public funds.
Nominated Member Janice Koh questioned the decision’s impact on Singapore’s international profile and requested a reconsideration, but the Minister defended the pause as necessary for a long-term strategy, citing mixed feedback from the arts community and the need to re-enter the Biennale with greater impact in the future.

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