Outcome of National Arts Council's Major Company Scheme and Key Performance Indicators

Ms Usha Chandradas asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether the National Arts Council’s Major Company Scheme has achieved its intended outcomes since its implementation; and (b) what are the key performance indicators for the Ministry’s evaluation of the scheme’s success.

Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: The Major Company (MC) Scheme was introduced in 2000 with the objective of developing a sustainable pool of professional arts organisations that are hallmarks of excellence, and in support of the development of Singapore’s cultural landscape and artistic practices.

Since its inception, the number of registered arts companies under the MC Scheme has grown steadily, from 17 in 2000 to 50 in 2024. These are companies that practise different art forms, such as dance, music, and theatre, from the different ethnic groups in Singapore. Most of these companies are also Institutions of Public Character (IPC). This reflects the rising standards of arts companies in Singapore over the years, both artistically and in corporate management. In evaluating the outcomes of the scheme, the National Arts Council (NAC) measures indicators such as audience attendance and satisfaction, and companies’ financial sustainability and governance.

Our Major Companies are key players within Singapore’s arts scene. They have contributed to the vibrancy of the arts ecosystem in driving artistic excellence and expanding access to and engagement with the arts across different segments of society. Collectively, they hire around 480 employees as of FY2023, and also generate projects for Self-Employed Persons.

Following engagements with and feedback from the arts community, NAC has refreshed the MC Scheme in 2024 to better contribute to the strategic priorities in Our SG Arts Plan (2023-2027), i.e., to build a connected society, create a distinctive city, and drive the creative economy. More support will be provided to companies that use the arts to contribute to Community Building, and/or contribute to Capability Development and Collaboration to grow the arts sector in Singapore. The details of the refreshed MC Scheme are available at https://www.nac.gov.sg/support/funding-and-schemes/major-company-scheme/overview.