Free entry
to national museums for S'poreans and PRs from May 18,
2013
Entry to national museums and heritage institutions here will be
free of charge for Singaporeans and permanent residents from May,
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) Lawrence
Wong announced in Parliament today.
Speaking at the first Community of Supply Debate for the
newly-formed MCCY, Mr Wong also told said that the Government will
be investing S$62 million to help Singapore’s museums build up
their collections over the next five years.
In the near term, Singaporeans will soon be able to enjoy three
more heritage trails set up by the National Heritage Board (NHB) in
Tampines, Tiong Bahru and Toa Payoh and set to open later this
year.
Noting that museums are “not just about objects and exhibitions;
they are really about our people”, Mr Wong said entry to
Singapore’s national museums and heritage institutions will be free
for citizens and PRS all year round from May 18, the launch of this
year’s Children’s Season.
“It would also be a fitting day to start free museum entry,
because 18 May also happens to be International Museum Day,” said
Mr Wong.
HERITAGE TRAILS
Stressing that cultural vitality is very much a part of
sustainable development, Mr Wong also said that the long-term plan
is to develop an island-wide network of community museums,
galleries and heritage trails.
“In the concept of sustainable development, experts often refer
to the three pillars of development — economic, social and
environment. But there’s also a need for a fourth pillar, and
that’s in the area of culture,” said Mr Wong.
The NHB has so far developed 10 heritage trails from the Civic
District and along the Singapore River to neighbourhoods like
Balestier, Queenstown and Yishun-Sembawang.
Noting that civic group My Community has come up with five
heritage trails in Queenstown all on their own, Mr Wong said that
the MCCY’s approach in developing its plans to preserve and promote
Singaporean culture is to partner the community.
“We want to encourage more ground-up heritage initiatives. We
will engage students, volunteers, and heritage interest groups, and
facilitate self-initiated heritage efforts,” he said.
To that end, the NHB will also extend its existing partnerships
to a heritage enthusiasts, bloggers and academics and non-profit
organisations such as the Singapore Heritage Society and the
Organisation for Senior Volunteers, RSVP.
SINGAPORE ARTS FESTIVAL
Mr Wong also announced that his ministry is revising the grant
schemes under the National Arts Council (NAC), raising funding to
Singapore artists and art groups by almost 140 per cent to around
S$94 million between FY2012 and FY2016.
The Acting Minister also said that the Singapore Arts Festival
will return next year under a new company taking over the running
of the annual showcase from the National Arts Council (NAC).
The NAC announced last June that the festival would take a break
this year.
Mr Wong said that the new company will be “given the autonomy to
determine the Festival’s artistic direction”.
“This will allow the arts community to expand its programming
capabilities, and over time, enable the Festival to develop a
stronger identity of its own,” he said.
To address the lack of mid-sized theatres, as raised by
Nominated Member of Parliament and actress Ms Janice Koh, Mr Wong
said his ministry and the NAC will continue to review the
availability of arts infrastructure as part of a boarder review of
the performing arts sector.
He also noted that Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall
will complete their refurbishment and re-open in the middle of next
year.
