In December 2010, the Framework for Arts Spaces was anounced to better support the development needs of a growing and increasingly diverse arts sector, including new and emerging artists and arts groups. The arts spaces and facilities that are developed under this Framework will also serve as platforms where artists and arts groups can collaborate with each other, and interact with the wider public to bring the arts to the surrounding communities. This new framework piloted in 2011 at the Goodman Arts Centre, which was redeveloped to include over 30 new shared facilities for hire and 48 spaces for lease to artists and arts groups.

The Need for Change

The arts landscape has evolved tremendously in the last 25 years. From 2000 to 2009, 520 new arts companies and societies were formed. Feedback gathered showed that the existing Arts Housing Scheme (AHS), introduced in 1985, and properties were no longer adequate in meeting the needs of new and developing artists and arts groups, as well as the changing needs of established arts groups. In addition, new working arrangements of artists and arts groups and new types of spaces in creative clusters or community facilities have also emerged. These present interesting opportunities for NAC and the arts sector to partner commercial or community stakeholders in developing new infrastructure solutions that will enable the arts to have wider impact.

A review of the AHS began at the start of 2010 including extensive consultations with stakeholders from the people, public and private sectors over 12 months. Workshops and feedback sessions were also conducted with the artists to understand the inefficiencies of the existing Arts Housing Scheme and how it could be improved. These responses and ideas were critical to the development of the Framework for Arts Spaces.

Objectives and Outcomes of the Framework for Arts Spaces

• Enable more artists and arts groups to benefit from NAC’s infrastructure support.
• Greater responsiveness of the support and facilities catering to the different needs of artists and arts groups.
• Redevelopment of existing properties and provision of a Place Manager to take over administration and maintenance of common spaces.
• Opportunity for the public to enjoy and participate in the arts within their neighbourhoods, and a stronger connection between arts and the community.

Key Features under the Framework for Arts Spaces

The Council will move from a one-size-fits-all Arts Housing Scheme and introduce the following targeted schemes and support according to specific development goals to meet the growing and diverse needs of the arts community.

• Incubation Scheme
• Scheme for Developing Artists and Arts Groups
• Arts Centre Scheme
• Shared Office Scheme
• Co-location with Community or Commercial Spaces
• Partnership for Storage Solutions

Some of the schemes were implemented on a pilot basis at the Goodman Arts Centre, following which they will be introduced to existing AHS properties after they have been redeveloped and improved. For more information, please read :

Goodman Arts Centre & Aliwal Arts Centre

Besides the piloting of the Framework for Arts Spaces at the Goodman Arts Centre (GAC), NAC’s office was also relocated to GAC to enable a closer working relationship with its arts and community stakeholders.

The second project developed under the Framework for Arts Spaces is the Alliwal Arts Centre, located at 28 Aliwal Street where the former Chong Cheng and Chong Pun Schools were situated.

The 2 Arts Centres contain four types of spaces:

• Work spaces of different sizes and configurations that artists and arts groups could lease for their studio, administrative and practice needs.
• A Shared Office, a fully furnished office with workstations, storage cabinets and a common meeting room to support artists and arts groups with a need for administrative spaces.   
• Shared facilities such as galleries, a black box, music and dance studios, and seminar and meeting rooms available for hire by the tenants and other arts community users.
• Open green spaces and food and beverage establishments to encourage more people to encounter the arts in a community setting.

These facilities will support the professional and artistic development of our artists and arts groups, and bring about a closer collaboration between disciplines, a greater sharing of resources, and a deeper engagement of the community.

To learn more about our Arts Centres, please visit the website -  www.goodmanartscentre.sg.