Private Sector Donations to Arts

Ms Janice Koh asked the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts (a) what has been the annual amount of private sector cash and in-kind sponsorship given to non-government arts organisations since 2001; (b) what is the breakdown of this sponsorship amount by art form; (c) how much has been raised annually through the give2arts portal since it started and how successful has it been; and (d) what steps is the Ministry taking to encourage and increase corporate and private cash and in-kind sponsorship to the arts.

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: The Government's view is that private sector contribution and support are important to the development of our arts and culture sector. Private contributions, whether from corporations, philanthropic foundations or individuals, help support diverse artistic causes and complement Government funding by enabling society to enjoy a wide range of arts offerings.

From 2006 to 2010, private giving to the arts, comprising both cash and in-kind contributions, has averaged more than $36 million annually, of which more than two-thirds go to non-government arts organisations/causes. Currently, the Government does not track the breakdown by art form, as donations could cut across art forms. In addition, the nature of different art forms would naturally attract varying levels of private funding. For instance, popular culture and entertainment would attract corporate sponsors due to their mass appeal, while smaller arts organisations with niche audiences may find it more challenging to raise similar levels of funding.

To encourage and increase private donations and sponsorships to arts and culture, MICA and its agencies adopt a three-pronged approach:

a) Through advocacy – by promoting the value that arts and culture bring to our lives;

b) Through stakeholder engagement – by developing a conducive and sustainable environment to encourage and recognise existing and potential arts and culture supporters; and

c) Through capability development – to help our arts groups develop their fund-raising capabilities.

Since 2011, the Government has been running campaigns to create public awareness about the value and importance of the arts. Currently in its second phase, NAC's Arts for Life campaign promotes the message that the arts can be enjoyed by everyone at every stage of our lives, from childhood to silver years. The campaign also leverages on social media, particularly Facebook, to showcase the impact of the arts using stories, testimonials and online dialogue.

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To raise awareness of the arts and culture charities in Singapore and to encourage public donations, MICA piloted the first ever dedicated donation drive – The Big Arts Give – in July 2011. This was supplemented by a corporate outreach and engagement campaign.

In addition, NAC manages the give2arts portal (give2arts.sg), a cultural philanthropy platform which was set up to provide an easy and convenient way for the public to donate to an arts and culture cause in Singapore, and encourage public ownership in the arts and culture. Since its launch in late February 2012, 87 arts and culture charities have registered as beneficiaries, with the portal primarily serving as a complement to their own fundraising and donation drives.

Besides featuring a donation platform, the portal also allows the public to search for volunteer opportunities with arts and culture groups. As of May 2012, the give2arts portal has raised over $159,000, and helped direct volunteers to events, such as the Singapore Arts Festival, Singapore Heritage Festival, as well as ad-hoc opportunities at various arts and culture organisations. NAC also recently launched the Arts Opportunity Fund in April 2012 through the donations from the give2arts portal, which aims to offer opportunities for underprivileged children and youths to realise their artistic aspirations and interests. Seven projects have been selected for funding following an open call in March 2012.

Apart from public engagement, MICA agencies also actively cultivate corporations to take on a more active role in cultural philanthropy. Some examples of successful facilitation by NAC include matchmaking partnerships between J P Morgan and Little Arts Academy; Noel Gifts and LASALLE College of the Arts; as well as engaging SMRT, Suntec, Mediacorp and other corporations who have lent their support in terms of joint-messaging and co-branding ads, as well as in-kind media sponsorship of advertisement spaces.

To recognise the efforts of individuals and corporations who have donated generously to the arts, MICA has established the annual Patron of the Arts awards. More than 240 organisations and individuals were honoured in 2011.

Fund-raising and sponsorship capabilities are also areas which NAC seeks to build up amongst our arts groups. For instance, NAC has worked with the Workforce Development Agency and Emily Hill Institute for Creative Enterprise to develop an arts management training programme, which includes a module on fundraising and sponsorship.

MICA recognises that there is potential to further increase the level of engagement and private giving to arts and culture from both the private and people sectors. Looking forward, MICA will continue to review its efforts and work closely with its agencies, to create a vibrant and sustainable cultural eco-system where private individuals and corporations work hand-in-hand with the arts community and the Government in developing our arts and culture landscape.