SINGAPORE - Orchard Road youth hangout *Scape will undergo a makeover in a bid to stay relevant to young Singaporeans, said Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling in Parliament on Thursday.
Its 1,700 sq m outdoor space called Youth Plaza will be reconfigured to include a bandstand for music performances and more seating areas for teenagers to hang out. An indoor gallery where events and forum discussions used to be held will be converted into a 100-seat hall for film screenings, recitals and talks.
A "first-stop centre" for youngsters to get up to speed with all youth-related events and programmes in Singapore is also in the works.
Beyond infrastructure changes, the mix of tenants will be tweaked to include more popular brands and offerings such as blog shops and cafes.
New programmes for the year is expected to revolve around music, dance and media - areas which see strong interest from the youth. For example, the venue will host the inaugural National Youth Film Awards in July.
These changes are aimed at making the teenage haunt a more appealing place where the young can pursue their passions and develop their talents.
Ms Low said: "The physical spaces at *Scape will be refreshed. There will be more spaces and better equipment for our young Singaporeans to hone and display their talent."
*Scape, run by a non-profit organisation of the same name and located next to the Cineleisure shopping mall, was conceived by the youth 11 years ago and opened in 2010.
