Hoe Yeen Nie/Jeremy Koh, Channel NewsAsia 4 Feb 10;
SINGAPORE: The Economic Strategies Committee has sketched out broad ideas to make Singapore a global city. But it said Singapore will have to do it its own way.
That means, what is allowed overseas - like gay parades - may not necessarily be allowed here.
Lui Tuck Yew, Co-Chair, Global City Sub-Comm, and Acting Information, Communications & the Arts Minister, said: "We will have to chart our own way. It is not for us to copy the type of openness that is seen in New York, London or Paris, some of which may not be applicable in our own local context.
"But we will do so in a manner which, I think, Singaporeans as a whole agree on, at a pace that is comfortable, calibrated and gradual."
Separately, the new National Art Gallery will be the latest addition to Singapore's growing arts and cultural district. The area, located in the civic district, includes several museums, theatres and historical sites.
And it is through developments like this that could make Singapore a city of culture. Singapore may rank high among global companies as a place to do business. But it fares less well as a city to live and play in.
Other plans include weekend markets and new retail options at Bugis and Bras Basah to make the area more vibrant.
The committee also aims to bring in more top-class educational institutions by 2020. - CNA/vm
Global city, but in our own way
Singaporeans will decide both path and pace of getting there, says Lui Tuck Yew
Lin Yan Qin, Today Online 5 Feb 10;
SINGAPORE - If Singapore aspires to be a vibrant cultural capital, on par with cities such as London or New York, is it prepared to embrace the relatively more "permissive" culture of these societies?
Posed this question yesterday in a meeting with reporters, Acting Minister for Communication, Information and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew said the Republic was not seeking to adopt the culture of such cities and that Singapore society will evolve on its own to become more open and diverse.
"Singapore, I believe, has an advantage ... It's an open yet safe and secure society that we have here," said Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui, who co-chaired the Economic Strategies Committee's sub-committee focussing on making Singapore a global city.
"We'll have to chart our own path and, most of all, it'll be determined and decided by how and what Singaporeans are prepared to do ... It's also going to be a process that is evolutionary, proceeding at a pace that is calibrated, that is gradual and Singaporeans are comfortable with."
The sub-committee identified culture as a key area in global city standards where Singapore is lagging.
It said the Government needed to incentivise the growth of "cultural philanthropy and sponsorship" and to develop the "cultural tourism sector", for instance, by doing more to promote Singapore as a "gateway to experiencing the cultures of Asia".
The sub-committee also called for more lifestyle offerings here, not just international heavyweights such as Formula One racing but also local "ground-up" events.
"We have local original events that I think we can grow a lot of ... even things like New Year's Eve countdown, where we wanted to create a tradition for Singaporeans but more and more, the event is picking up, and we're getting more visitors who know about this event," said Urban Redevelopment Authority chief executive officer Cheong Koon Hean, one of the sub-committee members.
When the Gardens by the Bay development in the Marina area is completed, it could become part of the route for marathons held here, which draw as many people as other renowned races such as the Boston Marathon, she added.
Policies such as the tax regime should also be reviewed, according to the report yesterday, to make Singapore more attractive as a hub for the trading of art and collectibles. And there should be more affordable spaces for business clusters such as Gillman Village, with an agency like JTC Corporation managing the infrastructure of emerging arts and creative sectors.
Looking ahead, however, it is important the Government does not "script it to the nth degree", stressed RAdm Lui. "What we can do is provide some stimulus, hopefully it acts as a catalyst, but leave enough room for the organic development to take place."
Vibrant 'software' key to building a global city
Singapore can be cultural hub of Asia with lively arts scene, talent and innovation
Tessa Wong, Straits Times 5 Feb 10;
SINGAPORE'S public infrastructure, education system, health care, and technology - the city's 'hardware' - have helped make it one of the most liveable places in the world.
But to make it a leading global city like Paris, London or New York, it needs the accompanying 'software' - a vibrant arts and cultural scene, top talent and thriving innovation.
To achieve this, the Economic Strategies Committee's sub-committee for making Singapore a leading global city has unleashed a panoply of suggestions.
To develop the cultural scene, it has suggested giving arts and creative businesses a leg-up by providing them with more affordable spaces in existing clusters like Gillman Village. Agencies like the Jurong Town Council could develop infrastructure for future clusters.
An annual calendar packed with more top-notch international events, especially in the sports and culinary areas, would also add vibrancy, it added.
There could be more incentives to encourage sponsorship of the arts and to promote Singapore to tourists as a gateway to Asia's varied cultures.
The civic district, already brimming with museums and theatres, could also be marketed as a premier cultural destination, and more major events could be held in its public spaces.
The idea is to make Singapore the cultural hub of Asia.
'In many ways, we will be the culinary and culture kitchen of Asia, because we have a long heritage steeped in Asia and the West,' said Mr Benson Phua, chief executive officer of the National Arts Council and the Esplanade.
In the area of attracting talent, one aim could be to attract top South-east Asian artists to come to Singapore and make their most creative works here, said Mr Lui Tuck Yew, co-chair of the sub-committee.
But homegrown talent should also be groomed and helped in gaining international exposure, he added.
Singapore could welcome at least five more world-class schools or programmes by 2020, to develop talents in areas like the arts, sports, fashion and design.
While Mr Lui was unable to disclose names, it is understood they would be of the same calibre as New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, which set up a campus here in 2007.
'What we want is to provide more opportunities, establish a certain reputation for Singapore, and tie up with the right partners overseas,' added Mr Lui, who is also the Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.
Finally, Singapore could also do with a more sophisticated branding and marketing campaign to woo people here, the committee suggested.
But it also stressed that a light touch should be exercised with these proposals.
Said Mr Lui: 'What we can do is provide some stimulus, to leave enough room for that organic development to take place.
'What we don't want to do is script it to the nth degree so that there is no room for that outpouring of new ideas accumulating and developing.'
For example, the Government should only take on a facilitative role when developing key districts.
'The private businesses should lead the development, while the Government supports,' said Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, chief executive of the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
But even as Singapore evolves into a culture capital on a par with London, New York and Paris, it should not emulate those cities' more permissive societies, said Mr Lui.
He stressed that the city should remain an 'open yet safe and secure society'.
'We have to chart our own path. Most of all, it will be determined by Singaporeans and what they are prepared to do... proceeding at a pace that's calibrated, gradual, and what Singaporeans are comfortable with.'
