Singapore Insights: “Without Culture, There is no Future for Cities”

Participants from the Public, Private and People sectors attending an engaging afternoon of discourse on culture as a key aspect of sustainable urban living at the SIF’s Singapore Insights: ‘Without Culture, There is No Future for Cities’.

Ms Jennifer Lewis, Chairperson of the SIF’s Arts for Good Advisory Panel opening the session insights on the importance of culture for urban renewal and the creation of thriving cities.

Session moderator Ms Akshita Nanda (The Straits Times) and our panellists, Mr Cheng Hsing Yao, (GuocoLand Singapore), Dr Chong Keng Hua, (COLOURS: Collectively Ours), Ms Esther An, (CDL), Ms Chua Ai Liang, (NAC) and Dr Hoe Su Fern, (SMU).

(Right) Dr Hoe Su Fern, Assistant Professor and Assistant Programme Lead, Arts and Culture Management, Singapore Management University kick-starting the panel discussion by sharing her perspectives on Singapore’s approach on leveraging culture to help create a sustainable city.

Ms Koh Hui Ling, Associate Artistic Director, Drama Box sharing insights gained from various American arts-based creative practitioners they met through the SIF-supported study trip to Minneapolis and St Paul in the United States of America.

We are grateful to our panellists for contributing to an engaging and fruitful discussion. Pictured here with (far left) Ms Jennifer Lewis, Chairperson of the SIF’s Arts for Good Advisory Panel and Ms Jean Tan, Executive Director, SIF.

Ms Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited sharing how private organisations can encourage innovative use of land and space to promote community engagement.

(Left) Dr Chong Keng Hua, Founding Partner, COLOURS: Collectively Ours sharing examples of arts-based community projects involving the elderly and the positive impact reaped from such projects.

(Centre) Mr Cheng Hsing Yao, Group Managing Director, GuocoLand Singapore speaking on his project at the Marina Bay, where public spaces were specifically created for community use.

Mr Eugene Goh, Programme Manager, Ground-Up Initiative, posing a question during the Q & A session on the future plans of Dr Chong Keng Hua’s, Founding Partner, COLOURS: Collectively Ours, project in which he worked with the public to create a community art space at a void deck.

(Left) Ms Regina De Rozario, Founder, Perception3, a local arts collective, with (right) Dr Hoe Su Fern, Assistant Professor and Assistant Program Lead, Arts and Culture Management, Singapore Management University leading the breakout session on “Walking in the City” - where participants explored the use of heritage trails around the Bras Basah neighbourhood.

Audience from various sectors and backgrounds reflecting on how existing heritage trails can be used to meaningfully engage the community at the “Walking in the City” breakout session led by Dr Hoe Su Fern, Assistant Professor and Assistant Programme Lead, Arts and Culture Management, Singapore Management University.

A participant mapping out community spaces in her own neighbourhood at the “Walking in the City” breakout session. This session aims to encourage participants to reflect on the significance of these spaces and to encourage ownership.

Ms Ko Siew Huey, Co-Founder and Director, ArtsWok Collaborative giving an overview at the breakout session, “Both Sides, Now” - a multi-disciplinary immersive arts experience focusing on end-of-life issues.

The audience in a feedback circle reflecting and providing contributions to the “Both Sides, Now” breakout session, a community based programme by ArtsWok Collaborative and Drama Box.

(Left) Ms Jennifer Yin, Director, Volunteer Engagement, National Heritage Board giving her perspective with facilitation by (centre) Ms Han Xuemei, Resident Artist, Drama Box.

Ms Koh Hui Ling, Associate Artistic Director, Drama Box sharing insights gained from various American arts-based creative practitioners they met through the SIF-supported study trip to Minneapolis and St Paul in the United States of America.

(Left) Dr Hoe Su Fern, Assistant Professor and Assistant Programme Lead, Arts and Culture Management, Singapore Management University and (right) Ms Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited in rapt discussion about how culture can be harnessed to enhance Singapore’s vibrancy.

(Left) Ms Melinda Page, Cultural Affairs Coordinator, Embassy of United States of America sharing takeaways from the panel discussion with (right) Mr Han-Song Hiltmann, Director, Head of Arts, Goethe-Institut Singapore.

(Left) Mr Paul Harris Wilt, Associate Director of Career Services, Yale-NUS College with (right) Ms Alessandra Dias, Principal, Art Buddy sharing insights from the panel discussion.