cultural philanthropy

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cultural philanthropy supporting arts and
culture in Singapore
Arts and culture has a profound impact on our
society it has the power to influence an
individuals identity and aspirations, foster
closer relationships within a community and make
Singapore an even more exciting and vibrant place
to live in. Arts and culture is part of who we
are it is shaped by our historical context, the
values we believe in, the issues which concern us
and the ideas which we create. Arts and culture
is our shared reserve it is a product of the
creativity of our community and should be
nurtured by the various segments of our
community people, private sector organisations
and the government. We seek your partnership
with local artists and cultural organisations to
help our cultural landscape continue to flourish.
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our vision a global city for the arts
In 2000, the Renaissance City Plan (RCP) was
published, articulating a vision of Singapore as
a world-class city supported by a vibrant
cultural scene, along with the strategies needed
to achieve it. Since then, this arts and culture
masterplan has been refined to suit the needs of
the changing arts and culture landscape. Each
phase of the RCP has had a different focus to
suit the changing cultural landscape - RCP I
(2000-2004) Build up an audience for the arts and
increase the artistic talent pool. Government
investment of 10M per annum during this period.
- RCP II (2005-2007) Enhance creative
capabilities and support local artists and arts
companies venturing out to international
platforms. Government investment of 12M per
annum for 2005-2006, and 15.5M for 2007. RCP
III (2008-2015) Build local content, develop
sustainable ecosystem, and encourage greater
community engagement. Government investment of
23.25M for this new phase of development The
Renaissance City Plan III (RCP III) public report
will be released in the later part of 2008. To
account for the growth of the arts and cultural
sector in the last 5-10 years, MICA will also be
releasing an inaugural Singapore Cultural
Statistics document in September 08.
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cultural philanthropy MICAs cultural agencies
MICA has a number of cultural agencies which
promote arts and heritage in Singapore. These are
but a few agencies which you may wish to consider
supporting there are also many other local arts
and culture organisations which would welcome
your support.
National Heritage Board (NHB) Promotes
appreciation of heritage. Oversees public museums
and heritage centres chairs the Museum Roundtable
National Arts Council (NAC) Promotes appreciation
and development of the arts in Singapore.
National Library Board (NLB) Promotes a learning
culture through making knowledge accessible
Preservation of Monuments Board (PMB) Preserves
buildings or monuments of architectural,
historical or artistic interest
The Esplanade Co. Ltd (TECL) Showcases both
visual and performing arts at a world-class venue
School of the Arts (SOTA) Provides a specialised
integrated arts and academic curriculum to
artistically talented students
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cultural philanthropy current landscape
Even though cultural philanthropy has been around
for decades, more private individuals and
organisations are recognising and acknowledging
the important value which culture can bring to
our community. A few notable recent examples are
listed below Asia Pacific Breweries (APB)
Foundation Creativity Development In 2008, APB
Foundation launched the APB Foundation Inspire
Programme which adopted 5 Arts Groups/Companies
for 3 years with a grant of 450,000 to support
plans by selected artists and organisations to
develop their works. The Foundation has also
partnered with the Singapore Art Museum to
sponsor the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize
Series at a cost of 2.25M, which aims at
recognising outstanding contemporary
artworks Keppel Nights In 2008, Keppel
Corporation launched Keppel Nights, Singapore's
first sustainable subsidised ticket purchasing
scheme to benefit and cultivate ticketed
audiences for the arts and entertainment. Ngee
Ann Kongsi Scholarships and Bursaries In 2008,
Ngee Ann Kongsi donated 12M over 6 years to the
School of the Arts (SOTA) for its scholarships
and bursaries scheme.
At the same time, other non-monetary forms of
giving, like loans and donations of artefacts, as
well as co-branding, have also emerged - Public
museums attracted 118M worth of donations and
loans of artefacts and artworks in the period
2004-06 alone. - Corporate co-branding efforts
for the arts included the DBS Arts Centre (in
collaboration with The Singapore Repertory
Theatre) and Credit-Suisse and Singapore Art
Museums partnership to showcase Southeast Asian
artists.
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cultural philanthropy why give?

• Culture is the soul of our nation
• Beyond the sound infrastructure and economic
  achievements which we have worked hard to attain,
  culture represents the human dimension of
  Singapore. Our arts and heritage embody the
  spirit, ideas and imagination of our people and
  should thus be celebrated and preserved.
• e.g. NACs Singapore Art Show and NHBs
  HeritageFest invite the public to celebrate
  Singapores visual artists and history
  respectively
• - Culture enhances the creative capacity of our
  people
• Cultural activities help develop critical
  thinking and creativity through providing
  alternative methods of self-expression and ways
  of seeing the world. These skills are crucial in
  the knowledge economy which thrives on innovation
  and ability to adapt to change.
• e.g. SOTAs integrated arts and academic
  curriculum encourages students to learn
  traditional subjects with innovative creative
  tools
• Culture builds communities and bridges
  differences
• Cultural events provide platforms for different
  social segments of Singapore to interact and
  engage with each other. Through the lens of art
  and culture, we have the opportunity to
  appreciate the influence of our rich multi-racial
  heritage.
• e.g. NHBs community trails deepen the
  understanding about the history of a community,
  and are developed with the inputs of residents

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cultural philanthropy why give?

• Culture enhances the quality of life for all
• Expanding our cultural offerings can help make
  Singapore a more exciting and sophisticated place
  for you to live, work and play in. Arts and
  culture are an integral part of the landscape of
  any vibrant city.
• e.g. The Esplanade provides free programming
  throughout the week and NAC organises free events
  in the parks and in the heartlands
• Culture provides a positive brand association
• With a push towards lifestyle marketing,
  partnering cultural organisations to co-sponsor
  events can enhance visibility and positive brand
  association with the arts for your organisation.
  Such sponsorship enables your organisation to
  reach out to a prime audience who attribute the
  excitement of the cultural events with the brand.
  In return, your support can help develop the
  capabilities of our cultural organisations, to
  continue to bring you quality performances and
  exhibitions.
• e.g. M1 Fringe Festival was produced in
  collaboration with local theatre group, The
  Necessary Stage
• Culture is a way of leaving your mark on
  Singapores history
• We all have a different experience and
  understanding of living in Singapore. Culture
  provides the medium with which you can share your
  individual expressions or reactions to Singapore
  with future generations to come.
• e.g. NLBs annual roadshow encourages the
  participation of the public to donate or digitise
  old photographs and materials relating to
  Singapore
• We invite Singaporean residents, corporations and
  foundations to partner us in initiating an
  exciting new phase of growth for the cultural
  sector

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cultural philanthropy how to give?

• Your funding support enriches the cultural life
  of our society.
• For further information about how to give to
  specific agencies, feel free to contact the
  various representatives below
• ARTS
• Includes the performing, literary, visual arts
  and arts education
• National Arts Council (NAC) Ms Rowene Law,
  rowene_law_at_nac.gov.sg, 68379578
• -Esplanade Mr Lim Ewe Leong, partner_at_esplanade.co
  m, 68288321
• -School of the Arts (SOTA) Ms Lim Puay Keng,
  puaykeng.lim_at_sota.edu.sg, 63425806
• HERITAGE
• Includes our museums and conservation centre
• National Heritage Board (NHB) Mr Shaun Phua,
  shaun_phua_at_nhb.gov.sg, 63323624
• Heritage Conservation Centre Ms Wee Ann Jee,
  wee_ann_jee_at_nhb.gov.sg, 62672618
• Asian Civilisations Museum Mr Anthony Gan,
  anthony_gan_at_nhb.gov.sg, 63362975
• National Museum Ms Dorothy Ng,
  dorothy_ng_at_nhb.gov.sg, 63323251
• Singapore Art Museum Ms Tan Suenne Megan,
  suenne_megan_tan_at_nhb.gov.sg, 63323215
• LIBRARIES
• National Library Board (NLB) Mr Tony Leow,
  tony_leow_at_nlb.gov.sg, 63321787

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cultural philanthropy giving in kind

• Other valuable ways of giving to the arts
• Volunteer your skills
• Share your professional services and advice (e.g.
  legal advice, financial services, etc.)
• Volunteer your resources
• Donate a space for an artist or organisation to
  exhibit/perform at
• Sponsor equipment like lighting, mikes, etc. for
  a performance
• Share your instruments to arts groups
• Volunteer your time
• Help out in ad hoc and long-term projects
• Through NVPC, or contact the cultural
  organisations directly
• Start a private museum e.g. MINT Museum of Toys
• If you would like to share your collection with
  the public, you can start up a private museum
• Supported by Heritage Industry Incentive
  Programme (Hi2P)
• Share or donate collectible artefacts or pieces
  of your art collection to a museum

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cultural philanthropy partnering your efforts

• There are several schemes in place to partner you
  in your efforts in helping the local arts and
  culture scene flourish
• Double-tax deduction
• Donations in cash towards cultural organisations
  registered as charities are entitled to a
  double-tax deduction. For further details about
  this scheme, click here.
• Approved Museum Scheme (AMS)
• Museums which promote the appreciation of
  Singapores history, art and culture can sign up
  to be an Approved Museum, which allows its donors
  to qualify for double-tax deductions of
  artworks/artefacts. For further details about
  this scheme, click here.
• Public Art Tax Incentive Scheme (PATIS)
• Private organisations and individuals who donate,
  commission, display and maintain public art are
  entitled to claim double tax deduction under this
  scheme. For further details about this scheme,
  click here.
• National Heritage Fund- Central Fund
• Non-profit organisations which promote heritage
  can receive help in fund-raising efforts through
  double tax deduction being offered to donors to
  members of this fund. For further details about
  this scheme, click here.
• Gross Floor Area (GFA) incentives
• New developments which provide and integrate
  public art in Central Singapore will be entitled
  to GFA incentives from the Urban Redevelopment
  Authority. For further details about this scheme,
  click here.

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cultural philanthropy partnering your efforts

• Naming Rights
• Significant donations to public museums may
  warrant naming rights on a case-by-case basis.
  For further details about this scheme, click
  here.
• Arts Adoption Programme
• Corporations are encouraged to give direct
  medium-term support to arts organisations through
  this scheme. NAC will facilitate in linking
  suitable arts organisations based on
  corporations needs. For further details about
  this scheme, click here.
• Recognition Awards
• The annual Patron and Arts and Patron of Heritage
  awards recognise those who have given generously
  to the arts and heritage respectively, over the
  past year. For further details about these
  awards, click here and here

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cultural philanthropy links
Some other useful sites ARTS NAC Esplanade SOTA D
irectory of Arts Organisations and Venues in
Singapore HERITAGE PMB NHB Museum
Roundtable LIBRARIES NLB VOLUNTEERING NVPC Arts
Outreach Kind Exchange Not directly
associated with government