Open more city spaces for arts, culture

The Australian city of Sydney is considering plans to turn its central business district, hard hit by two years of pandemic, into a "24-hour global playground". An urban policy think-tank report on the possible options will ring a bell with Singaporeans - car-free streets, late-night openings for culture and heritage institutions, allowing performances and food and beverage operations at outdoor spaces.

Car-Free Sundays, the Light To Night and Night Festivals were all popular outreach events in Singapore's civic district before the pandemic. The Light To Night festival returned last month as Singapore charted a cautious path back to live activities. The slow and steady approach to reopening rightly prioritises safety. But two years of pandemic restrictions have crippled the performing arts sector and slashed attendances at culture and heritage institutions.

The recently announced streamlining of safe management measures is welcome and performing arts companies are looking ahead to the return of full seating capacities next month. Easing the rules for outdoor arts and culture activities can offer a buffer in case rules need to be tightened again, and can bring life back to the civic district.

This is where Singapore can take a leaf from Sydney's book to open up city spaces. Singapore's civic district boasts lovely green spaces which have been utilised successfully as festival venues. The waterfront along the Esplanade has been recently refreshed and its Outdoor Theatre is already attracting long queues on the weekends. For audiences still wary of venturing into crowded indoor spaces, outdoor venues for arts and culture can be an attractive alternative. Such spaces can offer a breath of fresh air, literally and metaphorically, as the pandemic moves into the endemic phase.