Much Ado about something : examining arts policy-making in Singapore through the lens of the English-Language theatre industry

• Main Author: Chng, Clara
• Other Authors: Wu Wei (HSS)
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Political science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/69695
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This paper examines Singapore’s policy-making in the arts in relation to the English-language theatre community. Two policies pertaining to arts funding and regulation were selected as case studies. They are NAC’s Major Company and Seed Grant schemes, and IMDA’s Arts Consultative Panel respectively. Analysis of these case studies was supplemented by semi-structured interviews with local theatre practitioners. The findings revealed several industry concerns that served as sources of tension within the state-artist relationship. These include conflicting KPIs, the wide gulf between grant tiers, as well as an interventionist licensing process. This points to an overall need for a policy-making process is that more flexible, responsive and consultative for the continued development of Singapore theatre as an art form that is celebrated by both local and international audiences.