Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2^nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 837-9666

My Parliamentary Colleagues

Mr Keh Lam Lee

Chairman of Chong Pang CCC

Grassroots Leaders

Residents of Chong Pang Constituency

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my pleasure to be with you this evening, to officiate the opening of this newly upgraded amphitheatre and to enjoy the dance performance by the well known Beijing Dance Academy. I am happy to see that the Chong Pang Grassroots Organisations and local agencies have worked together to bring arts and culture closer to the residents of Chong Pang.

Arts is no longer a luxury that belongs to the elite. In this instance, the Sembawang Town Council has provided the infrastructure, like this newly upgraded amphitheatre, for performances to be staged in the neighbourhood.

The Sembawang-Hong Kah Community Development Council and Singapore Chingay Events and Network have given logistic and financial support to make this event possible. The Chong Pang Grassroots Organisations have actively promoted and coordinated this event with the various agencies. These joint efforts have brought arts into the neighbourhood, at your doorstep. To promote arts and culture, the Chong Pang CCC will be launching a series of arts and cultural performances for the enjoyment of residents in Chong Pang.

With the launch of such arts and cultural programme, residents can look forward to more performances, as well as enjoy other art forms being presented here.

The amphitheatre has been ideally located near the food centre in the neighbourhood. It has been upgraded at a cost of $131,000 for your benefit.

Families would be able to enjoy a performance together after dinner.

This would encourage family and community cohesiveness. The Chong Pang CCC also intends to work with schools to showcase their performances to a ready audience at this amphitheatre.

The Sembawang-Hong Kah CDC has also been playing an active role in promoting the arts and culture. Last year, the CDC brought in the Danish Gymnastics Performance. This year, with the help of SCENE, it has brought in the Beijing Dance Academy. The CDC will also set aside a certain amount of grant to help local arts and culture groups to stage performances.

I would like to commend the good effort put in by the various organisations in bringing arts and culture closer to the residents. Your joint efforts, which is also in line with the government’s plan, will help to bring arts into the heartland.

Thank you.