Record number of arts patrons in 2024, but overall donation drops to $45.74m
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Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo (right) presenting the Distinguished Patron of the Arts award to Mr Roger Parellada on Aug 20.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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SINGAPORE – A record 515 individuals and organisations were recognised for their donations to the arts, totalling $45.74 million in 2024. The total is a drop from the $50.2 million donated in 2023
The numbers were revealed at the Patron of the Arts Awards (POAA), organised by the National Arts Council (NAC) and held at Pan Pacific Singapore on Aug 20. The annual award has been given out since 1983.
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo, who was the guest of honour, said in a speech that the arts scene has grown in the past two decades.
He noted: “In 2011, there were just around 7,700 performing arts activities. This has almost doubled to nearly 13,000 activities in 2024.”
He acknowledged the critical role that patrons and donors play in the arts ecosystem, adding that he was encouraged to see young patrons among those giving, which has been “complemented by strong corporate support for the arts”.
He reiterated the Government’s commitment to supporting the arts through initiatives like the $100 million top-up to the Cultural Matching Fund and the $300 million disbursed through the SG Culture Pass
“The arts shape our Singapore spirit, and our local arts groups are steadily growing and gaining traction and support. On our part, the Government remains firmly committed to investing in the arts.”
The pool of arts patrons in Singapore is growing steadily, as 2024 marks the fourth consecutive year the number of awardees has increased. The 2024 figure is almost twice the Covid-19 pandemic low of 264 awardees in 2020, and well above the average number of 339 awardees in the five years preceding the pandemic.
Total contributions have recovered from the pandemic slump – $32.1 million was donated to the arts in 2021 – although the 2024 figure is lower than the immediate years preceding the pandemic, which saw donations upwards of $50 million. The 2024 figure remains significantly lower than the record $136 million donated in 2015, a windfall year boosted by SG50.
Smaller donations made up the overwhelming majority of the total sum, as about four in five patrons were presented the Friend of the Arts award, given to individuals who donated between $10,000 and $49,999 and corporations that donated between $50,000 and $299,999. The Patron of the Arts award was presented to 73, while 22 Distinguished Patron of the Arts awards were recognised.
In 2024, cash donations accounted for $28.09 million of the total, down from $34.8 million in 2023. In-kind contributions amounted to $17.62 million – up from $15.1 million in 2023 – and included the lending of spaces for the arts. Loans of artefacts accounted for $30,000.
Asked by The Straits Times about the dip in the total donation figure, Mr Sam Lay, director of strategic partnerships and engagement at NAC, said that, while donations varied yearly, “overall, building on the momentum of post-pandemic recovery, we have seen total contributions strengthen from Covid-19 levels”.
He added that there has been an encouraging diversification in the patron base, with 175 first-time patrons recognised this POAA.
On how the NAC is growing the arts and philanthropy efforts, Mr Lay said: “The Government is committed to supporting our local arts and heritage sector, with public spending by MCCY (Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth) exceeding $5.8 billion since 2012. This complements the efforts of private sector partners in funding and strengthening our local arts and heritage sector.”
First-time donor Roger Parellada, 41, a Spanish citizen from Barcelona who moved to Singapore 15 years ago, donated cash of about $250,000 to arts education charity The Rice Company Limited, and in-kind – namely the intellectual property rights to children’s classical music programme Jimmy & The Magic Key and its future revenue – to the Esplanade.
Mr Parellada, a fund manager who grew up with an arts-loving father, said he donates to education causes in particular to ensure his dollar is multiplied down the line. He added: “It’s better to start and be involved in the arts from an early age. It’s an inspirational thing and also an aspirational thing.”
He received the Distinguished Patron of the Arts award, which recognises donations of above $100,000 for individuals and above $1.5 million for corporations.
UOL-PPHG, recognised for the fourth time with the Distinguished Patron of the Arts award, contributed both cash and in-kind donations to inclusive arts, including its ongoing partnership with Art:Dis – a non-profit aimed at artists with disabilities – since 2014, and the display of diverse artists at its malls and hotels.
In 2023, the UOL x Art:Dis Art Prize was launched, and its inaugural winner Fern Wong – a visual artist with Down syndrome – staged her first solo exhibition at Objectifs in 2024. UOL’s group chief executive Liam Wee Sin, 66, said the organisation’s approach is to engage in long-term and immersive partnerships.
On why UOL-PPHG chooses to donate to the arts and champion inclusivity, Mr Liam said: “The Singapore arts scene is growing, and it is important to keep that momentum going – to keep expanding our mind to different types of art and challenge our idea of what is considered art and who can be considered an artist.”
