Art Thought Leadership Forum 2023: Becoming a Global Arts Capital, (Re)Imagining the Future
Overview
The National Arts Council (NAC) launched an Art Thought Leadership Forum, a closed-door platform with the objective to strengthen and develop cross-sectoral networks for the advancement of arts in Singapore and the region. This platform aims to identify trends and challenges in the visual arts sector and create opportunities for it, as well as shape policies or solutions for the advancement of Singapore's creative economy.The inaugural forum explored the broad theme "Becoming a Global Art Capital, (Re)Imagining the Future" with the aim to uncover opportunities and address challegnes when developing a sustainable strategy to amplify a city's rich cultural content and was attended by leaders from public agencies and businesses.
It consisted of two panel discussions to uncover opportunities and address challenges in developing a sustainable strategy for amplifying the city's cultural and artistic content.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, 11 January 2023Time: 9am – 2pm
Venue: Palm Ballroom, Level 3, Raffles Hotel Singapore
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Event Programme
08:30amRegistration and Breakfast Buffet
09:10am
Welcome Address by Ning Chong – Founder & Director, Family Office For Arts (FOFA)
09:15am
Opening Remarks by Guest-of-Honour, Ms Low Yen Ling
Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) & Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)
09:30am
Panel 1 — Being an Arts Capital: Key Global Trends Shaping the Visual Arts in the Next Decade
The global visual arts landscape has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Today, we know that technological disruptions like the phenomena of Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) not only continue apace but are in fact commonplace. The only guarantee about the future is that Change is inevitable. What are some of the key future global trends and how might these forces shape the visual arts in the next 10 years.
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Panel Speakers:
Lito Camacho, Chairman of the University of Arts Singapore (UAS) and Board Member of STPI – Creative Workshop and Gallery
Elaine W. Ng, Editor and Publisher of Art Asia Pacific
Aaron Seeto, Director of Musuem of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (Musuem MACAN)
Dr. Zoé Whitley, Director of Chisenhale Gallery London
Shareen Khattar (Moderator), Director of Global Art Capital Pte. Ltd. and Board Member of the National Gallery Singapore
11:00am
Panel 2 — Creative Cities: What's Art Got to Do With It? Why Public and Private Sector Partnerships Matter
In this panel, we consider some of the successes of creative capital cities in the region, such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Seoul. What roles can public and private sector play in sustaining the visual and cultural arts ecosystem? How do we develop a framework for engaged, aligned, and motivated players to work collaboratively, to provide cultural, social, and economic outcomes? Is this trajectory of growth sustainable?
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Speakers:
Keith Tan, CEO of the Singapore Tourism Board
Fumio Nanjo, Senior Advisor of Mori Art Museum and Curator / Art Critic
DooEun Choi, Art Director of Artlab, Hyundai Motor Company
Francis Belin, President of Christie’s Asia Pacific
Sam Kok Weng (Moderator), Markets Leader and Financial Services Leader of PwC Singapore and Board member of STPI – Creative Workshop & Gallery
12:00pm
Closing Remarks by Mrs. Rosa Daniel
CEO, National Arts Council & Dean, Culture Academy, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY)
12:05pm
Networking Lunch
Summary of Forum Discussion
Panel 1 — Being an Arts Capital: Key Global Trends Shaping the Visual Arts in the Next Decade
Mr. Aaron Seeto discussed the success of the MACAN museum in Jakarta, which opened in 2017. The museum serves primarily young audiences, reflecting Indonesia's demographics. He highlighted that the museum takes a holistic approach to engage with people of different communication preferences and sees technology as just a part of today's world. The mission of the museum is to support a bigger vision of civic engagement through art education, creativity, and intellectual development.
Dr. Zoe Whitley emphasised the importance of thinking about culture expansively and not limiting it to Western forms of art. She also highlighted the significance of acknowledging that culture encompasses a variety of activities and experiences and not limiting cultural engagement to a narrow definition prescribed by a particular region or time period. She discussed the impact of societal issues and provided an example of their organisation's work on youth mental health. This programme, named “A Manifesto for 2.8 Million Minds” received support from the Greater London Authority and Mayor Sadiq Khan's office. and was eventually implemented across London. She emphasised the role of artists and the art sector in society and how they can prioritise support for creating an inclusive and creative city. She believes that institutions should play a leading role in supporting and promoting diverse voices in the art world.
Ms. Elaine Ng shared her experience as a part of the "priesthood" of the art world and how she believes that the world of art collecting is changing due to the rise of millennial collectors. She discussed the shift in the aspirations of art students, many of whom want to create their own platforms to sell their work and that of their peers, rather than show in galleries. This shift has accelerated due to the pandemic and the rise of social media platforms such as Instagram. She believes there are two parallel realities in the art world, with room for both traditional artists who show in galleries and sell their work through the commercial art world and artists who reach audiences directly through social media,
Mr. Lito Camacho, on the other hand, believes that private patronage should not shape and influence the key trends in the visual arts, and that art should be created for its own sake. As Chairman of the University of the Arts, he emphasised the importance of embracing the diversity of art and encouraging it through art institutions. He also stressed that universities should offer programs that cater to both traditional and new forms of art.
In their closing remarks, the panellists emphasised the importance of embracing the diversity of art and encouraging it through art institutions. They also discussed the changing landscape of art collecting, with an emphasis on the need for artists to create art for its own sake and not just to sell. The panel discussion was a valuable experience that shed light on the role of art in society and the challenges and opportunities facing the art world.
Panel 2 — Creative Cities: What's Art Got to Do With It? Why Public and Private Sector Partnerships Matter
The second panel discussion was moderated by Mr. Sam Kok Weng, a partner at PwC. The panel discussed the topic of "Creative Cities: What's Art Got to Do with It? Why Public and Private Sector Partnerships Matter". The panelists included Mr. Keith Tan, CEO of the Singapore Tourism Board, Mr. Fumio Nanjo, Senior Advisor of Mori Art Museum, Art Critic and Curator, Ms. DooEun Choi, Art Director of Artlab at Hyundai Motor Company, and Mr. Francis Belin, President of Christie's Asia Pacific.
Mr. Keith Tan from the Singapore Tourism Board spoke about the role of arts and culture in branding and positioning Singapore as a global city. He believes art is crucial and that Singapore is on its way to becoming a global arts capital. However, he believes the definition of art should be broadened to include various forms of engagement, such as fashion, digital technology, and interactive experiences. He called for more events and experiences that allow people to experience art differently and for wider partnerships between the private sector, media sector, and people sector.
Ms. DooEun Choi discussed her role as an art director for Hyundai Motor Company and their mission to connect cities globally and make Seoul more sustainable culturally. She emphasised the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and shared the company's initiatives to support artists and curators, such as the VH Award and Hyundai Blue Prize. Hyundai believes art serves as a foundation for cultural understanding, essential for businesses to understand human society. Ms. Choi discussed Hyundai's approach to creating a sustainable art ecosystem. As a private sector. they have the ability to make long-term commitments, which they believe will result in deeper engagement with the communities they work with. They aim to establish long-term commitments with partners instead of singular sponsorships to build trust and flexibility. Their focus is on diversity and inclusiveness, which they believe will lead to a better future. They are working with partners like Tate with whom they have established the Hyundai Tate Research Centre called "Transnational" to bring diverse voices to the world of art history.
Mr. Fumio Nanjo discussed the background of the Mori Museum in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo. He shared how the founder, Mr. Mori considered building a theatre or concert hall but found that the attendance is limited mainly to evening attendance. In contrast, a museum has a constant stream of visitors during the day. Mr. Mori chose to locate the museum on the building's 54th floor, the most valuable spot, as a symbol of his commitment to bringing culture to the site, even though it would not generate any profit. He also shared his experience as the Artistic Director of the Singapore Biennale (2006 & 2008), spreading art throughout the city and his hopes for continued artistic and creative growth in Singapore.
Mr. Francis Belin talked about the role of art collectors in shaping the art ecosystem. He emphasised the role of auction houses, like Christie's, in providing education, training, and investment to collectors. He also noted Asia's driving force in the art world, with many Asian collectors acquiring art in recent years. He also discussed how technology is transforming the art auction business and the company's response to this change by consolidating transactions in Hong Kong while investing in exhibitions featuring blue-chip artists that are professional designed and curated with a focus on impactful, non-selling shows in various cities.
In the closing remarks of the panel discussion, Mr. Tan shared his perspective that Singapore's conservatism is not much different from other countries such as Japan or Korea, and that the government should strive for a balance between being conservative and supportive of the arts. He reiterated his desire for a broader definition of art and more digital experiences that would attract a wider audience.
Ms. Choi emphasised the need for unique experiences in the context of reimagining the future of creative cities. She stressed the importance of offering distinctive experiences that reflect the individuality of each city.
Mr. Nanjo, who organised the first Singapore Biennale in 2006, noted that Singapore has become more open over the years, and suggested that the city should provide a safe? space for artists and creators to experiment and have new ideas without too much censorship? Much control. He also suggested that Singapore institutions can start exporting home-grown IP such as Singapore-curated exhibitions and programs to overseas institutions, in particular content that showcase the creativity of Singapore, with a focus on international, global or Southeast Asian artists.
Mr. Belin focused on the software aspect of art, rather than the hardware. He pointed to the progress that Singapore has made in this regard, citing the National Gallery Singapore as an example. He emphasised that having the right software in place is key to success and
acknowledged that while some may adhere to Immanuel Kant's philosophy that art serves no purpose, it can still bring economic benefits.
Mr. Keith Tan from the Singapore Tourism Board spoke about the role of arts and culture in branding and positioning Singapore as a global city. He believes art is crucial and that Singapore is on its way to becoming a global arts capital. However, he believes the definition of art should be broadened to include various forms of engagement, such as fashion, digital technology, and interactive experiences. He called for more events and experiences that allow people to experience art differently and for wider partnerships between the private sector, media sector, and people sector.
Ms. DooEun Choi discussed her role as an art director for Hyundai Motor Company and their mission to connect cities globally and make Seoul more sustainable culturally. She emphasised the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and shared the company's initiatives to support artists and curators, such as the VH Award and Hyundai Blue Prize. Hyundai believes art serves as a foundation for cultural understanding, essential for businesses to understand human society. Ms. Choi discussed Hyundai's approach to creating a sustainable art ecosystem. As a private sector. they have the ability to make long-term commitments, which they believe will result in deeper engagement with the communities they work with. They aim to establish long-term commitments with partners instead of singular sponsorships to build trust and flexibility. Their focus is on diversity and inclusiveness, which they believe will lead to a better future. They are working with partners like Tate with whom they have established the Hyundai Tate Research Centre called "Transnational" to bring diverse voices to the world of art history.
Mr. Fumio Nanjo discussed the background of the Mori Museum in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo. He shared how the founder, Mr. Mori considered building a theatre or concert hall but found that the attendance is limited mainly to evening attendance. In contrast, a museum has a constant stream of visitors during the day. Mr. Mori chose to locate the museum on the building's 54th floor, the most valuable spot, as a symbol of his commitment to bringing culture to the site, even though it would not generate any profit. He also shared his experience as the Artistic Director of the Singapore Biennale (2006 & 2008), spreading art throughout the city and his hopes for continued artistic and creative growth in Singapore.
Mr. Francis Belin talked about the role of art collectors in shaping the art ecosystem. He emphasised the role of auction houses, like Christie's, in providing education, training, and investment to collectors. He also noted Asia's driving force in the art world, with many Asian collectors acquiring art in recent years. He also discussed how technology is transforming the art auction business and the company's response to this change by consolidating transactions in Hong Kong while investing in exhibitions featuring blue-chip artists that are professional designed and curated with a focus on impactful, non-selling shows in various cities.
In the closing remarks of the panel discussion, Mr. Tan shared his perspective that Singapore's conservatism is not much different from other countries such as Japan or Korea, and that the government should strive for a balance between being conservative and supportive of the arts. He reiterated his desire for a broader definition of art and more digital experiences that would attract a wider audience.
Ms. Choi emphasised the need for unique experiences in the context of reimagining the future of creative cities. She stressed the importance of offering distinctive experiences that reflect the individuality of each city.
Mr. Nanjo, who organised the first Singapore Biennale in 2006, noted that Singapore has become more open over the years, and suggested that the city should provide a safe? space for artists and creators to experiment and have new ideas without too much censorship? Much control. He also suggested that Singapore institutions can start exporting home-grown IP such as Singapore-curated exhibitions and programs to overseas institutions, in particular content that showcase the creativity of Singapore, with a focus on international, global or Southeast Asian artists.
Mr. Belin focused on the software aspect of art, rather than the hardware. He pointed to the progress that Singapore has made in this regard, citing the National Gallery Singapore as an example. He emphasised that having the right software in place is key to success and
acknowledged that while some may adhere to Immanuel Kant's philosophy that art serves no purpose, it can still bring economic benefits.
The inagural Art Thought Leadership Forum is presented by the National Arts Council (NAC) Singapore, co-organised by the Family Office For Art (FOFA), and part of Singapore Art Week (SAW) 2023.
