ST : Vibrant 'software' key to building a global city

Feb 5, 2010

Vibrant 'software' key to building a global city

S'pore can be cultural hub of Asia with lively arts scene, talent and innovation

By Tessa Wong

SINGAPORE'S public infrastructure, education system, health care, and technology - the city's 'hardware' - have helped make it one of the most liveable places in the world.

But to make it a leading global city like Paris, London or New York, it needs the accompanying 'software' - a vibrant arts and cultural scene, top talent and thriving innovation.

To achieve this, the Economic Strategies Committee's sub-committee for making Singapore a leading global city has unleashed a panoply of suggestions.

To develop the cultural scene, it has suggested giving arts and creative businesses a leg-up by providing them with more affordable spaces in existing clusters like Gillman Village. Agencies like the Jurong Town Council could develop infrastructure for future clusters.

An annual calendar packed with more top-notch international events, especially in the sports and culinary areas, would also add vibrancy, it added.

There could be more incentives to encourage sponsorship of the arts and to promote Singapore to tourists as a gateway to Asia's varied cultures.

The civic district, already brimming with museums and theatres, could also be marketed as a premier cultural destination, and more major events could be held in its public spaces.

The idea is to make Singapore the cultural hub of Asia.

'In many ways, we will be the culinary and culture kitchen of Asia, because we have a long heritage steeped in Asia and the West,' said Mr Benson Phua, chief executive officer of the National Arts Council and the Esplanade.

In the area of attracting talent, one aim could be to attract top South-east Asian artists to come to Singapore and make their most creative works here, said Mr Lui Tuck Yew, co-chair of the sub-committee.

But homegrown talent should also be groomed and helped in gaining international exposure, he added.

Singapore could welcome at least five more world-class schools or programmes by 2020, to develop talents in areas like the arts, sports, fashion and design.

While Mr Lui was unable to disclose names, it is understood they would be of the same calibre as New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, which set up a campus here in 2007.

'What we want is to provide more opportunities, establish a certain reputation for Singapore, and tie up with the right partners overseas,' added Mr Lui, who is also the Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.

Finally, Singapore could also do with a more sophisticated branding and marketing campaign to woo people here, the committee suggested.

But it also stressed that a light touch should be exercised with these proposals.

Said Mr Lui: 'What we can do is provide some stimulus, to leave enough room for that organic development to take place.

'What we don't want to do is script it to the nth degree so that there is no room for that outpouring of new ideas accumulating and developing.'

For example, the Government should only take on a facilitative role when developing key districts.

'The private businesses should lead the development, while the Government supports,' said Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, chief executive of the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

But even as Singapore evolves into a culture capital on a par with London, New York and Paris, it should not emulate those cities' more permissive societies, said Mr Lui.

He stressed that the city should remain an 'open yet safe and secure society'.

'We have to chart our own path. Most of all, it will be determined by Singaporeans and what they are prepared to do... proceeding at a pace that's calibrated, gradual, and what Singaporeans are comfortable with.'