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SINGAPORE: It is likely the first in-depth study to be conducted on the dollars and cents of arts housing and facilities here.
With artists now waiting years to get into the National Arts Council's (NAC) arts housing scheme (which subsidises up to 90 per cent of rentals), the need for a review is clear, members of the arts community have told MediaCorp.
The space crunch was highlighted in 2008 when artist Tan Kwank Liang threatened to burn his artworks because his tenancy in the Telok Kurau Studios was not renewed by the NAC. He changed his mind eventually and moved out.
What arts practitioners are less positive about, however, are terms like "value-for-money", "economy" and "efficiency" found in a recent government tender for study proposals titled "Study on Maximising Value From Arts Facilities and Arts Housing".
The tender was posted by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) on Gebiz last month and closes on Jan 5.
It states the study should "determine if economy and value-for-money is achieved", and benchmark the NAC's scheme against relevant international and local efficiency standards.
Also coming under close scrutiny: Whether arts housing's objectives are being met and whether the cost recovery models of the NAC's arts facilities – the Drama Centre and Victoria Theatre – are optimal.
Arts groups will react to the study with concern, believes Nominated Member of Parliament Audrey Wong. While a review is needed to further improve the NAC scheme, "it can't be reviewed on a purely economic basis".
Artist Hong Sek Chern questioned how "economy" and "value-for-money" could be determined.
"Maybe only very commercial artists can be considered worthwhile for support and that defeats the purpose of arts support, because good and forward-looking art may not be appreciated in its time, and has less commercial value," said Ms Hong, who rents a space in the Telok Kurau Studios under the NAC scheme with her husband, fellow artist Anthony Chua.
Benefits in terms of artistic content
The same applies to arts centres like The Substation. Paying about 10 per cent the market rate in rentals, it has served as an incubator for artistic talent for almost two decades and lent support to now-established artists like Ho Tzu Nyen and Cyril Wong in their earlier days.
"That's some of our contribution to the nation – but I'm not sure how this can be quantified in 'value-for-money' terms," said Ms Wong, who is also artistic co-director of The Substation.
"Perhaps 'maximising value' should be more broadly interpreted as 'maximising benefits', which includes benefits in terms of artistic content as well," she added.
A MICA spokesperson said that the study is "part of our financial management practice".
The arts housing scheme began 24 years ago and its 42 properties currently house 66 arts groups and 30 artists, said Ms Yvonne Tham, the NAC's deputy chief executive of planning and policy.
Most leases are renewed yearly and arts groups have to submit quarterly reports with a log of activities, the attendance and tickets sold, as well as sponsorships received. Artists submit half-yearly reports on planned and executed activities in their studio spaces.
Channelling resources better
The NAC receives many applications from new and emerging artists and arts groups yearly and "the current scheme and capacity of our facilities are not able to fully meet these needs". The council is reviewing its scheme to channel resources more effectively, said Ms Tham.
Ms Melissa Lim, company manager of theatre group The Necessary Stage, said: "A study on the efficacy of the current scheme is long overdue … there're a lot of artists and groups who are more active that require spaces."
But the issue of benchmarking against international and local standards raises the question: Against who? Singapore is the only country with an arts housing scheme in Southeast Asia and comparisons with developed arts centres in the West would be lopsided due to the broader audience base and market there, said Ms Hong.
Whatever the study's findings, Ms Wong hopes that MICA will be open about the recommendations made. Artists can then contribute ideas to improve the scheme, she said.
- TODAY/so
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