Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

submittedVersion

Publication Date

8-2020

Abstract

The arts and artists need space to thrive. However, as much of the land in Singapore is state-owned, the finiteness of space – literally and figuratively – remains a key challenge. Yet there is a rich variety of arts infrastructure in Singapore today, from exhibition spaces to performing arts venues and state-subsidised artist studios. This infrastructure comes at a cost - these arts spaces are positioned as policy interventions capable of achieving a broad confluence of cultural, urban, economic and social outcomes for Singapore.

This article aims to provide an understanding of how arts spaces in Singapore has been framed and legitimised as a strategic means to pursue multiple policy goals. In particular, this article will focus on the Arts Housing Policy, which was formally introduced in 1985 as an artist assistance scheme that provides subsidised work spaces to artists and arts groups. Over the years, the policy has evolved into an urban cultural policy expected to achieve urban rejuvenation goals.

Through tracing the governmental structures and organisational processes behind the evolution of the Arts Housing Policy from an artist assistance scheme into an urban cultural policy, this article will demonstrate how and why arts housing spaces have become encumbered by the institutional layering of potentially incommensurate policy agendas, assumptions and aspirations. This article contends that an analysis of the bureaucratic structures and processes behind policy development will enable a more nuanced understanding of the impractical tensions and incongruities between the arts, artists and urban cultural policy goals in Singapore.

Keywords

Urban cultural policy, Cultural planning, Arts spaces, Policy transfer, Policy mobility, Arts governance, Singapore

Discipline

Asian Studies | Infrastructure | Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration | Theatre and Performance Studies

Research Areas

Humanities

Publication

City, Culture and Society

Volume

21

First Page

1

Last Page

7

ISSN

1877-9166

Publisher

Elsevier

Embargo Period

4-29-2021

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccs.2020.100339

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