SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has
affirmed the government's aim to involve more Singaporeans in
developing ideas and policies that affect them.
He hopes Singaporeans will respond in the same
spirit.
Mr Lee was speaking at the official opening of the
School of the Arts (SOTA) on Friday.
Mr Lee cited the example of an ongoing strategic review of the arts
sector.
The Arts and Culture Strategic Review involves the public, private
and people sectors, with the goal of mapping out Singapore's
cultural landscape by 2025.
The aim is to get four in five Singaporeans to attend at least one
arts and cultural event each year by 2025.
Mr Lee called on members of the arts community, including SOTA's
students, to contribute to the thought process.
He said: "The review and the committee will consult students
widely. We will conduct focus group sessions, we will launch an
online consultation portal.
"We would like to have your ideas of what you would like to do, how
you would like us to go about building this arts scene for the
future, strategically, patiently, starting now."
Congratulating SOTA on its official opening, Mr Lee said the school
is an example of how the country is opening up multiple paths to
different talents.
SOTA is Singapore's first national pre-tertiary arts school.
It offers a six-year curriculum that integrates arts and academia
for youths aged 13 to 18 years.
- CNA/ir