Artists concerned about centre revamp
Not clear yet if Malay Heritage Centre makeover will mean artists have to move
By Jamie Ee Wen Wei
Plans, still being worked out, to give the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) a revamp have upset the two artists-in-residence.
The two - master potter Iskandar Jalil and batik master Sarkasi Said - feel they are left in limbo, unsure of their future involvement with the centre.
They are also concerned about how this will affect the promotion of Malay heritage.
Both aged 70, the two have been artists-in-residence at the centre for four to five years now. The MHC is located in Sultan's Gate in the Kampong Glam area.
Established in 2005, its aim is to increase appreciation and awareness of Malay culture among the community's youth. Since last year, it has been managed by the National Heritage Board (NHB).
The two men conduct demonstration workshops at the MHC in exchange for use of working space.
Early this year, the two artists were told that their tenancy would expire this month. This was later extended to June 30 until plans for the centre are firmed up.
This is small comfort to the artists; they have to decide if they should move their equipment and artwork.
When The Sunday Times met Mr Sarkasi at the centre yesterday, some of his equipment was already packed into boxes and bags.
He said there was a lack of communication. 'Everything is not laid out on the table...we don't know if this means we are totally out of the centre or what.'
He will move his things to his four-room flat in Bishan if there is no more extension. Mr Iskandar, a Cultural Medallion winner, who was also at the centre yesterday, declined to comment.
When contacted, the NHB confirmed that plans were afoot to enhance the MHC, including upgrading the exhibits, providing more public spaces and 'contemporising the programmes and activities'.
Its spokesman would not say if the artists would have to leave permanently, but added: 'At this stage, we are not certain of the final plans as we are in the midst of evaluating various possibilities.'
She said tenants would be told of the confirmed plans as soon as these were firmed up.
When contacted, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed, who is the chairman of the Malay Heritage Foundation, stressed that the enhancement was still a 'work in progress'.
He said it was not just the artists' workspace, 'but the centre grounds, museum and facilities which have to be relooked'.
He added that a cordial relationship existed with the artists. He said they would be informed of the plans once these were finalised within the next three months.
The centre is a 167-year-old palace, formerly the seat of the Malay royalty here when the British administered the colony.
In 2005, the Singapore Government restored the two-storey building and made it a museum.
Last year, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts gave $29 million in development funds to three museums. One is the MHC. The other two are Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall off Balestier Road, and the soon-to-be-built Indian Heritage Centre in Little India.
The NHB was also tasked to help run the museums. It has set up a Heritage Institutions Division to look at the three centres' operations, curation, programming, marketing and promotion.
Mr Sarkasi told The Sunday Times that the marketing and promotion of the centre and Malay heritage had been dismal in the past few years.
He felt that more could have been done to reach out to the Malay community.
'Today is a Saturday. Where is the Malay community?' he asked.
On the planned revamp of the MHC, he said: 'I'm not excited until I see what their plan is.'
jamieee@sph.com.sg
Mr Sarkasi will move his things to his Bishan flat if there is no extension on his tenancy. -- ST PHOTO: RAJ NADARAJAN
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