Forum: Work towards genuine multicultural co-creation of arts
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Multiculturalism is more than a feature of Singapore society – it is in our cultural DNA. Every day, different languages, faiths, traditions and art forms coexist in our neighbourhoods, schools and stages.
I am therefore heartened by the $20 million President’s Challenge Multicultural Arts Fund. Beyond supporting projects, it offers an opportunity for Singapore to move from multicultural coexistence to multicultural co-creation.
True multicultural art should go beyond simply placing Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western traditions together. Meaningful creation requires research, fieldwork, dialogue and sustained collaboration. We could establish a multicultural arts research fund, strengthen multicultural education in schools, and create a platform or institute where artists, scholars and arts institutions can research, experiment and create together.
Our national arts companies can also champion Singapore multicultural works as part of their regular repertoire, letting outstanding creations grow into future classics.
Ultimately, we could bring our performing arts, visual arts, literature, film, exhibitions and forums overseas through a Singapore Season, presenting Singapore’s cultural imagination to the world.
Funding can sow the seeds, education can nurture them, research can deepen the roots, and artists can bring them to life.
Multiculturalism is not simply something Singapore possesses. It is who we are.
Terence Ho Wee San