2.Singapore has Good reasons in promoting and supporting the Arts

My second letter to my MP:

05 Jun 07

RE: HARDWARES and SOFTWARES needed for a Center for the Arts. - An Appeal Letter...

Cuenca, Ecuador

Dear SM Goh,

I thank you and Minister Lee for your kind assistance. I believe you have received the cc copy of the reply to me from NAC with a negative answer (enclosed).

The bureaucracy is indeed the bureaucracy, as I fully understand, with a micro vision, they are just doing a routine job. I anticipated this, and that is why I wrote to you, as the apex of the decision-making body of the country, the government with a macro vision on the subject: HARDWARES and SOFTWARES needed for a Center for the Arts. - An Appeal Letter... (It is also my privilege, and an excuse to write to you, as a constituent of Marine Parade GRC.)

In that email, I briefly touched on my observations, as a citizen and an artist, on the three main projects the government has implemented in the last ten years or so (and is about to implement a third project - the National Art Gallery. I hope it will materialise this time, as it was aborted some years back in favor of setting up the Law Academy.)

In the early 60's, when Singapore just got its independence, there was an urgent need for housing, hence the HDB was born. Through the years, HBD was so successful, that now - with excess flats waiting to be taken up - it has almost made itself irrelevant, and hence all the revamping - with private flats, private architects designing flats, private enterprise building flats......

In 1996, Telok Kurau Studio (TKS) was born in view of the need for artists. With only 30 rooms for 30 artists, there is now a queue for the space (it was not filled quickly in the first year or two because artists were initially apprehensive of the scheme.) Containers were added to the space later! Does Singapore needs 30 odd artists and, if so, can it support them? Can afew more be supported? With TKS, Singapore has acquired a 'good' name as supporter of the arts and local artists, just like the Esplanade. However, as you have discovered from your many trips to the Middle East, the Esplanade is not enough. So the next question is, with TKS housing 30 odd artists, is that enough? and what other policy can there be to help in the development of the artists - i.e. the software?

This is what I can suggest ...........

1) The bureaucracy can be revamped to be in tune with the 'new' vision (personally/privately, I knew it was 'new' - after the Middle East phenomenon - but the bureaucracy is perhaps still towing the line of 'the Renaissance City' - 10-15years ago!) and the need for more initiatives to support and assist, and grow the artists. The world is very different from 10 years ago, so is the arts.

2) In Kentucky Lowertown, home of the Artist Relocation Program, the oldest neighborhood in the Paducah, is the catalyst for a great deal of excitement, economic growth, and community pride. Lowertown, located just four blocks from the Ohio River and Downtown, is home to the Artist-Relocation-Program which gives out interest free loan to artists. This international culture in Paducah, a unique incentive program that brought the artists, more than 70 in all.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WNT/Story?id=2748161&page=1

And, on a personal level,

1) I would like to maintain a base in Singapore! I was born in Johore, Malaysia. My family moved to Singapore in the mid 60s. I have served my 2 years National Service - NSF and the cycle of 13 years NS with sweat and blood - however little it may be, due to some minor injuries.

2) I have grown up, since my early childhood - 6 years old - in Singapore. My roots are in this country and my connections to Singapore are very strong. Despite all the opportunities I have had to work overseas, I consider it my home and my homeland. Apart from my studies in the UK and my numerous travels, I have been for the most part in Singapore all these years/all my life. This period, from 2004 to the present, is my longest 'posting' outside the country ever, other than a few short trips back home to deal with family matters. It is not easy. It is not easy to support myself as an artist either, but i am willing to labour on - single handedly. I appeal to you to help me to lighten this load, if not to avoid unnecessary problems.

3) Though I am presently spending most of my time outside the country, i do plan - when things are stablised and firmed - to spend at least half of my time back home - like most senior executives do, half a month/ one month in Singapore, half a month/ one month out stationed. After all, my family, kinship and friends are in Singapore!

4) I have just signed a contract in Shanghai for a studio space in a 'Creative Park'. Perhaps it is timely that the NAC has terminated my tenancy and for me to ship out from Singapore to Shanghai? However, if I do this, I would have nothing to come back to. I sincerely would not like to do this, as I consider myself Singaporean first and foremost! However, circumstances being as they are, I may have no choice.

Thank you.

Tan Kwank Liang
( An acknowledgment of receipt of this email would be much appreciated.)