Breadtalk, Bollywood Veggies and Old Chang Kee are among the corporate entities honoured for their contributions to the arts at the Patron Of The Arts Award ceremony on Tuesday. -- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HE
BREADTALK, Bollywood Veggies and Old Chang Kee all have one thing in common and it is not food related.
All three donated to the arts last year and were honoured for their contributions on Tuesday at the Patron Of The Arts Award ceremony. They received their awards at the Esplanade Theatre from guest-of-honour Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.
The National Arts Council, which gives out the awards annually, said that arts sponsorship hit a new high last year, reaching a total of $37.4 million from 291 sponsors, up from $33.5 million from 265 contributors in 2006.
In recent years, arts groups have been turning to non-traditional donors to the arts, and the list of recipients reflects this.
Instead of banks or financial institutions, savvy arts groups have looked to food companies such as curry puff chain Old Chang Kee, retail organisations and hotels to fund their productions.
This might be critical to their survival in the current economic downturn.
Dr Lee said the Government and NAC would continue their long-term programme to support the arts.
He added: 'These are challenging times for arts groups and they will have to be even more creative in forming partnerships with corporations and individuals.'
Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.
