Enjoy Arts and Culture Digitally, Experience #SGCultureAnywhere
Singapore, 27 April 2020 - The role of arts and culture is now more important than ever as it continues to connect the various communities in Singapore and the world with each other, even as we are physically apart.
Through the #SGCultureAnywhere campaign, we bring together the best of Singapore’s arts and culture digital offerings on one integrated platform to be enjoyed and experienced, anytime and anywhere.
Connecting through Singapore’s arts and culture
2 As we stay home to stay safe, patrons and lovers of our local arts and culture have not been able to enjoy their usual access to live artistic experiences. With the closure of schools and pre-school centres, our young audiences are also unable to tap onto the usual array of cultural activities and programmes.
3 In response to the current situation, the National Arts Council (NAC) is launching on behalf of the whole culture sector #SGCultureAnywhere at A-List.Sg,a one-stop integrated platform that profiles the best of Singapore’s digital arts and culture offerings including livestream performances and recordings, virtual tours of exhibitions, art workshops, and fun arts activities for families. The #SGCultureAnywhere campaign aims to reach out to home-grown audiences and those around the world, while supporting our Singaporean artists and arts organisations.
4 Our cultural institutions have been working closely to profile existing signature works. NAC, National Gallery Singapore, The Esplanade, National Museum Singapore as well as NAC’s Major Companies and Seed Grant Companies, such as The Necessary Stage and Siong Leng Musical Association, have been making past performances digitally accessible on The A List platform; while National Companies Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Singapore Chinese Orchestra continue to make art while being apart with their online series and digital concerts.
Sustaining the arts ecosystem through creative and innovative digital projects
5 Over the next few months, a large number of digital projects across all art forms will be supported through the Digitalisation Fund to provide immediate work opportunities for artists and arts organisations. These projects will sustain the arts community as artists utilise digital technology innovatively in their art-making and outreach efforts. One of the first projects that will launch is an online video series titled From the Living Room. The project is produced by Andy Chia (Artistic Director of SAtheCollective), Adrian Chiang (Conductor, President of Band Directors’ Association) and Zhuo Zihao (Dancer, Associate Artist at T.H.E Dance Company), and will comprise 30 episodes of performances by Singaporean artists filmed in their homes and released daily on NAC’s Facebook page for audiences to enjoy. NAC will also be partnering Zaobao.sg, Viddsee and Sing Lit Station to name a few as part of the #SGCultureAnywhere campaign.
For example, #StayHomeStayLit2020 presented by Sing Lit Station will showcase the best of Singaporean literature through original and existing works by Singaporean writers and artist-designers, and increase access to the genre for fans and new audiences alike. More details will be released on The A List platform in due time.
6 Rosa Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of NAC observes, “Arts and culture can be experienced anywhere and anytime. With digitalisation, the best of Singapore’s works will be brought to our audiences here and the world through the #SGCultureAnywhere campaign. Through the Digitalisation Fund, artists and arts organisations will have opportunities to leverage technology and digital mediums to make their works more accessible to audiences in these extraordinary times. This is a time for everyone to band together, with cultural institutions, artists and Singaporeans all playing an important role in ensuring sustainability of the scene. A stronger digital presence also offers significantly enhanced opportunities to share the best of our arts and culture with international audiences. In the coming months, NAC will work with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to promote #SGCultureAnywhere in international markets. With the resilient spirit of our arts and culture community, we can together weather the storm and emerge stronger in the recovery phase.”
7 As part of the Digitalisation Fund, applications for the Digital Presentation Grant for the Arts (DPG) have opened on 14 April, to enable our artists and arts organisations to present their work in digital form or via digital mediums. One of the first DPG projects to be supported is JASS@Home by Jazz Association (Singapore) (JASS). The digital project will be held in celebration of UNESCO International Jazz Day 2020, featuring a series of online concerts and virtual jam sessions helmed by JASS Executive Director and Music Director and Singapore’s “King of Swing” Jeremy Monteiro. Monteiro was honoured with the Cultural Medallion in 2002, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to enrich Singapore’s arts scene.
8 Jeremy Monteiro shares, “Since the onset of COVID-19, JASS started taking our regular programmes online to continue engaging with our supporters and audiences. It is great that with the support of NAC’s Digital Presentation Grant for the Arts, we can build the experience exponentially and celebrate jazz together on International Jazz Day with our local jazz community and friends from around the world even while apart. Music is important for us especially in these times, as a way of nourishing our souls and uplifting everyone’s spirits.”
Supporting the arts and culture community through giving
9 Singapore’s artists and arts organisations with their resilient spirit will continue to find creative ways to bring #SGCultureAnywhere and everywhere. At the same time, audiences have an integral role to play as part of the movement, coming together to enjoy shared arts and culture experiences virtually. Even while staying home, Singaporeans can still get creative and participate in the online activities that will be made available as part of #SGCultureAnywhere. Beyond that, Singaporeans are also key in ensuring the sustainability of our arts and culture sector during these challenging times. NAC launched the COVID-19 Rally for Singapore's Arts to encourage corporations and members of the public to donate to arts organisations directly. Each contribution to the arts is important in fortifying our arts and culture scene especially during these times, and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
10 Please refer to ANNEX A for more details on the programmes available as part of #SGCultureAnywhere.