Business Times - 18
Mar 2009
National Art Gallery to be run a la The
Esplanade
Mr Koh:
The chief executive of the National Heritage Board (NHB) has been
tapped to take on the role of CEO of the NAG which is slated to
open in 2013. He says that there is unlikely to be a conflict of
interest since both the gallery and NHB have shared visions and
goals
THE National Art Gallery (NAG), which is slated to open in 2013,
will be run as a company, similar to Singapore's most iconic
artistic building, The Esplanade.
The gallery will have full operational autonomy and its own
board, to allow it the necessary flexibility to be a nimble and
effective organisation. However, it will still be established under
The National Heritage Board (NHB).
Such an arrangement, explained Senior Minister of State for
Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew yesterday,
would ensure 'accountability for its performance, financial
discipline and responsible management'.
Mr Lui, who is also Senior Minister of State for Education, was
announcing the incorporation of the gallery. He also gave an update
on key NAG appointments.
'Over a period of a year, the search committee went over 170
resumes of local and international candidates, and eventually
interviewed a shortlist of six.'
The committee also recommended that a CEO set the direction and
focus for the gallery, and a director to provide curatorial
expertise. It then recommended that the posts be filled by NHB
chief executive Michael Koh and Singapore Art Museum director Kwok
Kian Chow respectively. The government has accepted its
recommendations.
On his wearing of two hats, Mr Koh said that there is unlikely
to be a conflict of interest since both the gallery and NHB have
shared visions and goals.
Also, the gallery will have its own board, which Mr Lui has
asked the search committee's head, Koh Seow Chuan, to chair.
Mr Lui said that the gallery would be a vibrant civic and
creative space accessible to everyone. 'In our plans, we intend to
create several spaces where visitors will enjoy free access.'
These include the Singapore Art Gallery, which will showcase
Singapore art and its rich heritage, and a Children's Museum, for
school children and families. There will also be a large rooftop
plaza with many public spaces, with restaurants, art installations
and public programmes.
With a vision for the gallery to be an endearing place for
Singaporeans as well as a successful visual arts venue, Mr Lui
hopes that NAG would emulate The Esplanade and be recognised as one
of the top art galleries and 'do the same or more for the visual
arts in Singapore'.