Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts

___________________________________________________________

Good afternoon

Mr Liu Thai Ker

Chairman of the National Arts Council

Mr David Lim

Chairman of the Young Musicians’ Society

Ladies and Gentlemen.

In Singapore, we place a high emphasis on academic achievement and good grades. But we all know that good grades are not a sufficient gauge of the real worth and abilities of a person. There are other facets that must be developed in order for students to grow into well-rounded citizens. Community service, sports and the arts are some of these aspects.

The arts help our students to develop their sensibilities and appreciate the aesthetic. The arts contribute to the building of the "heartware" of Singapore - learning to express our aspirations, joys and sorrows, and sharing them with others, understanding the human world and its concerns, and appreciating the finer things in life. In the coming years, the arts will help us to define and articulate our national and self identity.

Since its formation in Oct 1991, the National Arts Council has played a very important role in achieving the aim of reaching out to the people through the arts. Its numerous programmes, for example, the Festival of Arts, the Arts Education Programme, and the Arts Housing and Grant Schemes have helped to catalyse the development of the arts in Singapore.

Through the NAC’s Arts Education Programme (AEP), the number of arts activities made available to students has been on the increase over the years. In 1996, 40% of the student population or 180,000 students participated in the Arts Education Programme. 60% of the schools in Singapore or 215 schools took part in the programmes organised.

Currently, the Ministry of Education has about 1,000 students in the art and music elective as well as the theatre studies programmes. An average of about 250 students sit for these subjects in the GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels annually. Our school performance groups, choirs and symphonic bands reach high standards; and many are travelling overseas to participate in international arts festivals and competitions.

Several of our Polytechnics, La Salle and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts have trained and nurtured students in the creative arts as well as in the technical and production processes of visual, sound and the performing arts and multimedia.

Every year, there are numerous students sitting for the ABRSM (Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music) music examination and the RAD (Royal Academy of Dancing) ballet examination.

All these are good indicators of the level of arts participation by our young. They show an increasing appreciation of and participation in the arts by the young in Singapore. This augurs well for the future arts scene in Singapore. I hope that the interest and enthusiasm built up in our students while they are in school and our higher educational institutions will be sustained as they grow up into working and adult life. We must continue to cultivate this interest, and to provide opportunities for those with the talent and passion to excel in the arts.

Hence, it is heartening to know that the Young Musicians’ Society has taken up the challenge of promoting music among young people in Singapore and providing a platform for our budding and talented singers and musicians to perform. The Society has certainly opened up an avenue for school leavers to pursue their love for music.

With the Waterloo Arts Belt taking shape, arts organisations located here now have a home. They are able to organise more programmes and courses. I would urge them to forge stronger links with students when planning their regular activities so that these young people will continue to take an active part in the arts scene long after they leave school.

The completion of the YMS Arts Centre is another fine example of the collaboration between the government, the arts community and the private sector. To build a gracious nation, we need more such partnerships. May I take this opportunity to thank the main sponsors, Singapore Press Holdings and Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation, and all others who have contributed and shared this vision of arts promotion and education.

It is now my pleasure to declare the YMS Arts Centre officially open.