A new one-stop cultural philanthropy portal, www.give2arts.sg, has been set up to provide members of the public with a convenient and easy way to make donations and to volunteer their time to support the arts and culture in Singapore. The portal, initiated by the new Arts and Culture Development Office (ACDO), was launched today by Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information Communications and the Arts.
2 The portal, the first of its kind in Asia, allows donors to donate to either their preferred beneficiary or to a general Arts and Culture Development Fund (ACDF). The ACDF, a charity fund with an Institute of Public Character (IPC) status, aims to raise the professionalism of the arts and cultural sector as well as strengthen public engagement in arts and culture. Close to 80 arts and culture charitable groups have already signed up as beneficiaries and more are expected to join. Donations to the ACDF or to beneficiaries with IPC status will enjoy double tax deductions as well as auto-tax deductions.
3 “The arts and culture is an important fabric of our lives as it reflects our identity, shapes our future, and adds colour and meaning to our lives. This portal will make it easier for Singaporeans to contribute to and take greater ownership of arts and culture. All donations, big and small, will go a long way to help our arts and culture flourish”, said Mr Lee Suan Hiang, the Executive Director of ACDO.
4 The cultural philanthropy portal will allow interested individuals to play their part in contributing to a thriving arts and cultural scene in Singapore and to make Singapore an endearing home and a global city in the heart of Asia. In the next phase of the development of the portal, Singaporeans will be able to volunteer their time and skills as docents, guides or consultants at arts and cultural organisations, or simply to help out at the running of arts and cultural events. The portal will also be a central resource that will allow individuals to learn more about the arts and culture scene in Singapore.
5 The portal will be administered by the ACDO, a new office set up by the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts (MICA), to promote cultural philanthropy and to champion the arts and culture as a worthy cause in Singapore. The ACDO also aims to foster a professional and robust arts and cultural sector as part of our larger efforts to build a gracious community where all citizens take ownership of arts and culture in Singapore.
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Issued by: Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
23 February 2010
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Fact Sheet on Cultural Philanthropy Portal, give2arts.sg
give2arts.sg is a new portal set up by the Arts and Cultural Development Office (ACDO) of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA). The portal aims to promote cultural philanthropy by enabling online donations and volunteerism by individuals and organisations to arts and culture.
give2arts.sg aims to provides a central platform for donors to give to the arts and culture, and to retrieve information about the organisations, causes and growthof the arts and cultural sector. It also provides an additional platform for arts and culture organisations to seek donations, volunteers, and to market their events and programmes. Registration to become a beneficiary is free.
Donors can choose to donate to the general Arts and Culture Development Fund (ACDF) or a specific beneficiary of their choice from the following 15 categories:
- Arts Education
- Community Arts
- Dance
- Festivals
- Film and multimedia
- Languages
- Libraries
- Literary Arts
- Museums
- Multi-disciplinary
- Music
- Photography
- Theatre
- Traditional Arts
- Visual Arts
All donations will be via credit card or cheque payments. Beneficiaries that are registered with the portal may update their organisational profile, view contribution history, generate reports and share stories.
The portal also allows users to send e-cards, spread the word through social networking widgets, post stories, view arts announcements and happenings, as well as provide feedback.
About the Arts and Culture Development Fund (ACDF)
The ACDF, a charity fund with IPC status, is owned by MICA and administered by ACDO. Donors to ACDF will receive double tax deductions as well as auto-tax deduction.
The disbursement and allocation of the ACDF is overseen by an Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) appointed by the Trustees of the ACDF which is made up of members from the private sector and the philanthropic community.