140 Hill Street, 6th Storey, MICA Building Singapore 179369 T: 65 6270 7988 F: 65 6837 9480 E: mica@mica.gov.sg www.mica.gov.sg
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Issue 12 • Jan - Mar 2010
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FELLINI! A Complete Retrospective 16 April 2010 to 9 May 2010 The National Museum of Singapore, in partnership with the Italian Cultural Institute of Singapore, is proud to present a season of film screenings dedicated to the legendary filmmaker, Federico Fellini. Perhaps the most famous filmmaker to emerge after the war, the name Federico Fellini, has become synonymous with fantasy and exuberant creativity. He is among the most acclaimed filmmakers in the history of the medium. Fellini is also one of the very few filmmakers that managed to reconcile original artistic genius with profits at the box office, with films such as, La Strada, La Dolce Vita, Nights of Cabiria and 8 ½.
FX Harsono: Testimonies 4 March 2010 to 9 May 2010 Behind the Scenes: Branding Singapore at APEC 2009 Singapore
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One Good Return Deserves Another
Snapshots – Events Roundup
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The arts and culture scene here will help to play an important role in achieving our vision to be an endearing home and global city. To this end, individual and private support for arts and culture in Singapore is essential. In this issue, you will read more about the cultural philanthropy portal www.give2arts.sg which will allow interested individuals and organisations to play a part, be it big or small, in helping our arts and culture scene flourish. We certainly hope you enjoy reading this story, as well as the other stories about the work of MICA and its agencies.
Editorial Board
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EVENTS ROUNDUP
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Dear Readers
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Behind The Scenes Branding Singapore at APEC
In Singapore, the names Aljunied, Alkaff and Alsagoff are part of our landscape in building and street names. These names, and many others, belong to Arab migrants from Hadhramaut who came to Singapore from the nineteenth century onwards. This migration of people and cultural adaptations are parts of the story of the Arabs in Southeast Asia.
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FX Harsono: Testimonies at the Singapore Art Museum presents a survey of artwork by one of Indonesia’s foremost contemporary artists. FX Harsono played a pivotal role in the development of contemporary art in Indonesia, and continues to be actively involved in the art scene up till today. This exhibition traces the shifts in the artist’s strategies of representation: from the ground-breaking conceptual works that re-defined art making during the Gerakan Seni Rupa Baru Movement (New Art Movement) of the 1970s; to the politically-charged installations of the 1990s; to the artist’s recent investigations into issues of self, identity and personal histories. Included in this survey are seminal works drawn from the Singapore Art Museum’s permanent collection, as well as from other art institutions and private collections, such as Paling Top (1975) and Voice Without A Voice (1994).
Rihlah – Arabs in Southeast Asia 11 April 2010 to 10 October 2010
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Giving to Arts & Culture
The retrospective features the entire oeuvre of Federico Fellini, the filmmaker. There are 21 feature length films, three omnibus films which Fellini contributed a segment, a rare screening of Roberto Rossellini’s The Miracle which Fellini co-wrote and acted in, documentaries about his life and work, and a roundtable discussion with Fellini experts and film critics.
LIFE
Giving to Arts & Culture
The Noise Singapore Prize
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Noise Singapore 2010
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Celebrating Good Neighbours
Presenting photographs and artefacts ranging from personal documents to musical instruments and items on public display for the first time, the Rihlah (Arabic word for Journey) exhibition will introduce visitors to Hadhramaut, and the history and culture of the Arabs in Southeast Asia. Come and experience the heritage and cultural exchanges of the Arabs in Southeast Asia. Organised by the National Library Singapore, this exhibition is on at Level 10 of the National Library Building from 10am – 9pm daily except public holidays.
Julia Hang Gavin Chelvan Contributors Lee Yang Yi Siegrid Saldana Stephanie Sun Gary Kaw Photo Credits Singapore Kindness Movement Housing Development Board National Arts Council
William Farquhar – An Exhibition 31 March 2010 to 31 August 2010 Although it is widely acknowledged that Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles founded Singapore, it was the Scotsman William Farquhar who built and nurtured the early settlement. Not many know about the contributions of our First Resident and Commandant, William Farquhar. Find out how Farquhar succeeded in building the young settlement into a thriving port in the 58 months he spent on the island. This exhibition presents for the first time, rare pictures and artefacts generously loaned by Farquhar’s descendants specially for this exhibition. Together with the collections from the National Library of Singapore and various agencies, this exhibition chronicles the life and career of this early Singapore pioneer and provides an insight into the often-untold contributions of William Farquhar in the development of early Singapore. This exhibition is on at Level 7 of the National Library Building from 10am – 9pm daily except public holidays.
Julia Hang (Mrs) Chairperson, Resonance Editorial Board resonance:08:09
To address this problem, the local supermarket chain teamed up with SKM to launch the “Please Return Supermarket Trolley” initiative in February. Rather than imposing penalties on inconsiderate users, the initiative focused on educating users on the right thing to do. For example, media stories highlighted that abandoned trolleys in public places such as car parks and void decks posed a safety hazard to drivers and pedestrians, while posters at 80 supermarket outlets, community centres and town council offices reminded shoppers to return the trolleys. SKM’s mascot, Singa was also roped in to give a hand in the campaign, giving out flyers to
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The Thought Behind Tray Return
Bright, colourful and quirky cartoon-styled stickers and tentcards were prominently placed on tables and tray return points in the restaurants, urging patrons to clean up, throw away used food and beverage containers and return the trays. SKM General Manager, Teh Thien Yew explained the significance of such seemingly simple gestures: “We share the same space with others, and we need to show consideration to the people we share it with. I believe it would be wonderful if we can be the one taking the first step to be considerate rather than wait for someone to show it to us.”
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With a similar focus on consideration, SKM partnered with popular fast food chains KFC, Long John Silver’s, McDonald’s, MOS Burger, Subway and Superdog to launch the “Clear Up Before You Go” activity in January. Once again, the initiative centred on public education, by reminding fastfood patrons to take responsibility for clearing up their own mess after they have finished their meals.
TV personalities Edmund Chen and Irene Ang share tips on how to be good neighbours with GNA winners.
Rewarding Good Neighbours This tea reception came three months after the inaugural GNA ceremony was held. Jointly organised by the Housing Development Board and the People’s Association, and supported by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM), the GNA sought to reaffirm and show appreciation for the actions of ordinary Singaporeans who do just that little more to make life more pleasant for their neighbours. The nation-wide search for Singapore’s best neighbours started in May last year. Residents were encouraged to nominate neighbours who were friendly, active in community events, helpful and kind. In November last year, five national winners were picked from a pool of over 80 constituency winners.
Mdm Chin’s story highlights how important it is to be a kind neighbour, as Singapore’s population grows with the integration of new citizens arriving upon our shores. And SKM understands the need to reinforce the importance of being good neighbours.
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SKM General Manager, Mr Teh Thien Yew said: “It’s easy to befriend your neighbours. Take for example Edmund Chen who says that when he cooks and runs out of chilli sauce, he can always borrow some from his neighbours!”
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“If we start to think like him and accept that all of us who live in the same block, whether Singaporeans or non-Singaporeans, can be friends who are helpful and look out for each other, we have taken the first step to bring about a warmer and more personal neighbourhood.” GNA 2010 will return this year, with new plans to impact more residents. And if Irene’s and Edmund’s advice were anything to go by, being kind to neighbours is beneficial not just for them, but for you too.
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According to NTUC Fairprice, an average of 200 supermarket trolleys go “missing” each month, a result of inconsiderate shoppers who do not return them after use. These shoppers bring the trolleys home or abandon them elsewhere, depriving others of using the trolleys.
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Mdm Chin Lai Fong, a Hong Kong migrant turned Permanent Resident, was one of the constituency winners. She took care of a sick neighbour, Ms Rita Soong, patiently ferrying her to the hospital and visiting her everyday. On those trips, Mdm Chin would also prepare herbal soup for Ms Soong.
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Seeking Missing Trolleys
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Global Citizens, Local Friends
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When we become more aware of the needs of those around us, and more socially conscious about how our actions can impact others, this is a step forward in building a more gracious society. The Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) launched two new initiatives recently, where the emphasis was on showing consideration for others.
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Also present was another popular celebrity Edmund Chen who shared that he lives in public housing and gets to know his neighbours well by sharing his passion for cooking.
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It is about putting yourself in the shoes of the next user and allowing him or her to use the items with more ease. This is particularly pertinent for shared items and public spaces.
Local actress Irene Ang revealed this to some 90 attendees of the Good Neighbour Awards (GNA) 2009 tea reception held in late February 2010. The popular comedian who was a guest at the event said that living in urban Singapore can often be stressful, but all our lives can be made better if we demonstrated kindness to those living closest to us - our neighbours.
LIFE
Returning items to where they belong is basic courtesy.
shoppers as they enter the supermarket, and thanking them when they returned the trolleys after use.
Want to stay young and beautiful? Be kind to your neighbours!
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DESERVES ANOTHER
GOOD NEIGHBOURS socie
ONE GOOD RETURN
CELEBRATING
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(From left) NTUC FairPrice’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer Seah Kian Peng, Singa, and SKM General Manager Teh Thien Yew encouraging the public to return their trolleys during the launch of “Please Return Supermarket Trolley” campaign on 10 February 2010.
GNA winner Mr Meqsud Alam offers his time to help teach his neighbour’s children, and also organises welcome dinners for new residents to his block.(Photo courtesy of HDB)
resonance:00:01
•
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Challenges:
Through Street & Venue Dressing (banners, planter boxes, etc) along Orchard Road, at the Istana, in Suntec City and around the airport, Singapore was presented as the welcoming host of APEC Singapore 2009 in a vibrant yet dignified manner.
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•
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E LLIIFFE
The APEC Singapore 2009 collaterals were designed with the guiding principle of functionality, while maintaining a premium look and feel. The variety of collaterals included conference-related materials (e.g. handbooks, notebook holder sets, pens, bags, thumbdrives, etc.) as well as other practical needs (e.g. umbrellas and lapel pins).
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The early Christmas Light-up along Orchard Road presented competing elements to the APEC Singapore 2009 street dressing requirements. The challenge was to integrate both elements aesthetically and seamlessly, while maintaining a consistent look and feel across all branding channels.
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Key Considerations:
y cietty ssoocie
NOISE SINGAPORE 2010
Indoor and Outdoor Branding
The resultant brand image was a success as consistency across branding channels was achieved, and evidently displayed across the different media platforms. Furthermore, the collaterals were wellutilised with compliments from the delegates on their usability and design.
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e e v v i i gg Leaders’, Ministers’ and Spouses’ Gifts
Hand-made art pieces of bronze, metal and ceramics were created and presented to the APEC leaders, ministers and their spouses that showcased Singapore’s arts, culture and our creative talents. Key Considerations: •
Gifts of an artistic nature were chosen as they portrayed the softer side of Singapore, and complemented the economic event.
•
The gifts also had to be symbolic, impactful and unique. This was a golden opportunity for Singapore to profile our home-grown artistic talents. A total of 6 renowned Singaporean artists, including Chong
Fah Cheong and Chieu Shuey Fook, were selected to produce one-of-a-kind art pieces.
Challenge: •
It was a challenge to showcase a diverse range of artistic talents, while keeping to a modest budget. It was decided that the best solution was to work with renowned artists to produce a range of handmade art pieces of different materials. Leaders received metal-based sculptural gifts (above), while Ministers and their spouses received ceramic art pieces, all revolved around the APEC Singapore 2009 theme of “Sustaining Growth, Connecting the Region.”
Overall Learning Point The execution of any event, especially one of a massive scale, requires much flexibility to adapt and re-align plans to the evolving and changing needs of the situation. While the entire process can be tough, unnerving and challenging, the sense of achievement and the compliments received at the successful implementation of the event makes it all worthwhile. resonance:02:03 resonance:06:07
BEHIND THE SCENES:
BRANDING SINGAPORE AT
socie
We’ve all heard about Mr Wykidd Song’s Peranakan-themed Leaders’ Attire, seen the 21 APEC economy leaders smile and wave for cameras at the Esplanade, and basked in the buzz that surrounded the Suntec City area from 9 to 15 November 2009. That was merely the tip of the iceberg.
aspects of APEC, and had under its charge the production of the Leaders’ Attire, gifts for Leaders, Ministers and Spouses, collaterals for all delegates and Street & Venue Dressing. Read on for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes take on some of the key considerations, challenges faced and lessons learnt, through the eyes of the division tasked with marketing and
submissions, the National Arts Council’s (NAC) Noise Singapore Festival Showcase returned once again to unveil the diverse artistic talent young Singaporeans have in the creative fields of Art & Design, Music and Photography from February to March 2010.
A $5,000 arts grant to help further the artistic pursuits of the winning youths, the Noise Singapore Prize was awarded to the top-rated works from each of the open categories as selected by Noise judges and the Noise Singapore team. This year, five talented youths were selected to receive this accolade. The winners were announced on 25 February at Raffles City Shopping Centre during the launch of the Festival Showcase, with their winning works also on display during the exhibition.
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The attire had to be designed by a Singaporean designer based in Singapore, and who had relevant experience in designing an outfit of national importance. Mr Wykidd Song’s experience in designing the ASEAN outfit in 2007 and relevant credentials made him the ideal choice.
Challenges: •
Attire for the male leaders was available in red, green and blue – the colours for APEC Singapore 2009. The right shades had to be selected so that the colours would look good when placed together, and also show up presentable even on a black and white print.
Since its inception six years ago, Noise Singapore has quickly grown to become Singapore’s foremost youth arts festival with increased participation year after year. For Noise Singapore 2010, it also marked the introduction of several exciting new features.
Noise Talks
build
While the Noise Singapore Prize serves to help develop creative youths, this conference hopes to inspire youths to be creative. It presents a golden opportunity for youths to tap into the minds of thought leaders in the creative industries. The impressive roster of speakers included breakout musician Zee Avi and award-winning design professionals Kelley Cheng (Editor-in-Chief of Singapore Architect/ Creative Director of The Press Room), and Rob Campbell (Managing Partner/ Creative Strategist of M&C Saatchi (Asia)/ Sunshine).
e
•
The attire had to be comfortable and breathable so that the Leaders could wear it all evening. It also had to be of a high quality to project a sense of prestige while at the same time encapsulating Singapore’s identity and culture, to complement the overall vision of APEC Singapore 2009.
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•
showcase their workmanship. Osage Pte Ltd was involved in the fabrication and embroidery processes, while Kingsmen Shop tailored the attire and Soo Kee Jewellery produced the cufflinks and brooches that completed the attire.
ople
Key Considerations:
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Photo of APEC Economy Leaders at APEC Singapore 2009 Singapore Evening (touched up)
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Noise Singapore 2010 was the most successful edition of the festival to date, with over 1,000 youths submitting some 9,000 works of art & design, music, and photography to www.noisesingapore.com. Each work was then individually appraised and rated by an illustrious panel of judges. 1,600 of the top entries were selected to be part of this year’s Festival Showcase: a stunning exhibition of visual works from 26 February to 10 March 2010 with the concept of “creative studio spaces”, and a series of highly-charged concerts at the Esplanade from 5 to 7 March.
e
Leaders’ Attire
LIFE
branding APEC Singapore 2009.
The Noise Singapore Prize
life
Singapore 2009 was born. The Resilience and Marketing Division (RMD) at MICA was involved in the marketing and branding
Following a highly successful open call for
ty
A whole web of processes was spun and a slew of decisions reached before the well-oiled machine we saw as APEC
Noise Singapore and the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games
Noise Singapore is proud to be a festival partner of the upcoming inaugural Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games in August this year. Specially for this historic event, Noise Singapore created • While the APEC leaders were given a choice of their a Singapore 2010-themed category entitled attire’s colour, care needed to be taken and expectations The designer worked with various Singapore “Celebration” for youths to submit their artworks, managed, to ensure there was a good mix of colours so manufacturers and tailors to produce the attire, which designs, songs and photos that they feel best that the eventual group picture would look colourful. also presented them with an excellent platform to represent the grandeur and spirit of the Games. Besides winning great prizes such as a Macbook Pro, the top-rated entries in the themed category were featured in the Noise Singapore Festival Overall Learning Point Showcase, and will be exhibited during the Games The execution of any event, especially one of a massive scale, requires much flexibility to adapt and re-align plans to the evolving and changing needs of the situation. While the entire can be tough, at theprocess Noise Singapore 2010unnerving Youth Olympic Games and challenging, the sense of achievement and the compliments received at the successful implementation of the event makes it all worthwhile. showcase and city events in August. resonance:02:03
GIVING
TO ARTS &CULTURE B
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The welcome page of the new cultural philanthropy portal – www.give2arts.sg
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Acting Minister Mr Lui Tuck Yew (third from left) striking the key note to launch the portal. Joining him at the xylophone are from left, Mr Lee Suan Hiang (ACDO Executive Director), Mr Chan Yeng Kit (Permanent Secretary of MICA), Ms Marsha Ho (SOTA student), Mr Guy Harvey-Samuel (CEO, HSBC) and Mr Sam Tan (Parliamentary Secretary for MICA) looking on.
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“The arts and culture is an important fabric of our lives as it reflects our identity, shapes our future, and adds colour and meaning to our lives. This portal will make it easier for Singaporeans to contribute to and take greater ownership of arts and culture. All donations, big and small, will go a long way to help our arts and culture flourish”, said Mr Lee Suan Hiang, the Executive Director of ACDO.
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The portal allows donors to pledge credit card donations to either their preferred beneficiary or to a general Arts and Culture Development Fund (ACDF) at anytime or from anywhere in the world. The ACDF, an ACDO-administered charity fund with an Institute of Public Character (IPC) status, aims to raise the professionalism of the arts and cultural sector as well as strengthen public engagement in arts and culture. About 80 arts and culture charitable groups have already signed up as beneficiaries and more are expected to join. Donations to the ACDF or to beneficiaries with IPC status will enjoy automatic 2.5 times tax deduction.
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The first of its kind in Asia, the portal encourages greater engagement and participation from the public in the arts and culture as Singapore grows towards becoming a distinctive global city for the arts. It will also provide the platform for individuals to learn more about the arts and culture scene in Singapore and subsequently, to volunteer their time and skills to arts and culture related programmes and activities.
ar
life
Fret no more with www.give2arts.sg! A new one-stop cultural philanthropy portal, www.give2arts.sg makes it easy for members of the public to give to arts and culture in Singapore. The portal, initiated by the Arts and Culture Development Office (ACDO), was launched on 23 February 2010 at the Asian Civilisations Museum by Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.
socie
een wanting to support our local arts and culture, but not quite sure what to do and how to do it?
In the next phase of the portal’s development, Singaporeans will be able to volunteer as docents, guides or consultants at arts and cultural organisations, or simply to help out at the running of arts and cultural events. The portal will also be a central resource that will allow individuals to learn more about the arts and culture scene in Singapore. The portal is administered by the ACDO, a new office set up by the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts (MICA), to promote cultural philanthropy and to champion the arts and culture as a worthy cause in Singapore. The ACDO also aims to foster a professional and robust arts and cultural sector as part of our larger efforts to build a gracious community where all citizens take ownership of arts and culture in Singapore. Signifying a bold step in this direction, the portal is one of the many ways in which the ACDO reaches out to its target audience. So visit www.give2arts.sg today and make a difference! No amount is too small as every dollar donated will go a long way in keeping our arts and cultural scene thriving for you and for future generations of Singaporeans.
Acting Minister Mr Lui Tuck Yew trying out the portal and making a donation.
resonance:04:05
GIVING
TO ARTS &CULTURE B
evolving
nurtur
e love
The welcome page of the new cultural philanthropy portal – www.give2arts.sg
e
pe
build
tur
ople
e v i g
growth
Acting Minister Mr Lui Tuck Yew (third from left) striking the key note to launch the portal. Joining him at the xylophone are from left, Mr Lee Suan Hiang (ACDO Executive Director), Mr Chan Yeng Kit (Permanent Secretary of MICA), Ms Marsha Ho (SOTA student), Mr Guy Harvey-Samuel (CEO, HSBC) and Mr Sam Tan (Parliamentary Secretary for MICA) looking on.
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“The arts and culture is an important fabric of our lives as it reflects our identity, shapes our future, and adds colour and meaning to our lives. This portal will make it easier for Singaporeans to contribute to and take greater ownership of arts and culture. All donations, big and small, will go a long way to help our arts and culture flourish”, said Mr Lee Suan Hiang, the Executive Director of ACDO.
ts
LIFE
The portal allows donors to pledge credit card donations to either their preferred beneficiary or to a general Arts and Culture Development Fund (ACDF) at anytime or from anywhere in the world. The ACDF, an ACDO-administered charity fund with an Institute of Public Character (IPC) status, aims to raise the professionalism of the arts and cultural sector as well as strengthen public engagement in arts and culture. About 80 arts and culture charitable groups have already signed up as beneficiaries and more are expected to join. Donations to the ACDF or to beneficiaries with IPC status will enjoy automatic 2.5 times tax deduction.
ty
The first of its kind in Asia, the portal encourages greater engagement and participation from the public in the arts and culture as Singapore grows towards becoming a distinctive global city for the arts. It will also provide the platform for individuals to learn more about the arts and culture scene in Singapore and subsequently, to volunteer their time and skills to arts and culture related programmes and activities.
ar
life
Fret no more with www.give2arts.sg! A new one-stop cultural philanthropy portal, www.give2arts.sg makes it easy for members of the public to give to arts and culture in Singapore. The portal, initiated by the Arts and Culture Development Office (ACDO), was launched on 23 February 2010 at the Asian Civilisations Museum by Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.
socie
een wanting to support our local arts and culture, but not quite sure what to do and how to do it?
In the next phase of the portal’s development, Singaporeans will be able to volunteer as docents, guides or consultants at arts and cultural organisations, or simply to help out at the running of arts and cultural events. The portal will also be a central resource that will allow individuals to learn more about the arts and culture scene in Singapore. The portal is administered by the ACDO, a new office set up by the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts (MICA), to promote cultural philanthropy and to champion the arts and culture as a worthy cause in Singapore. The ACDO also aims to foster a professional and robust arts and cultural sector as part of our larger efforts to build a gracious community where all citizens take ownership of arts and culture in Singapore. Signifying a bold step in this direction, the portal is one of the many ways in which the ACDO reaches out to its target audience. So visit www.give2arts.sg today and make a difference! No amount is too small as every dollar donated will go a long way in keeping our arts and cultural scene thriving for you and for future generations of Singaporeans.
Acting Minister Mr Lui Tuck Yew trying out the portal and making a donation.
resonance:04:05
BEHIND THE SCENES:
BRANDING SINGAPORE AT
socie
We’ve all heard about Mr Wykidd Song’s Peranakan-themed Leaders’ Attire, seen the 21 APEC economy leaders smile and wave for cameras at the Esplanade, and basked in the buzz that surrounded the Suntec City area from 9 to 15 November 2009. That was merely the tip of the iceberg.
aspects of APEC, and had under its charge the production of the Leaders’ Attire, gifts for Leaders, Ministers and Spouses, collaterals for all delegates and Street & Venue Dressing. Read on for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes take on some of the key considerations, challenges faced and lessons learnt, through the eyes of the division tasked with marketing and
submissions, the National Arts Council’s (NAC) Noise Singapore Festival Showcase returned once again to unveil the diverse artistic talent young Singaporeans have in the creative fields of Art & Design, Music and Photography from February to March 2010.
A $5,000 arts grant to help further the artistic pursuits of the winning youths, the Noise Singapore Prize was awarded to the top-rated works from each of the open categories as selected by Noise judges and the Noise Singapore team. This year, five talented youths were selected to receive this accolade. The winners were announced on 25 February at Raffles City Shopping Centre during the launch of the Festival Showcase, with their winning works also on display during the exhibition.
ar
ts
nurtur
love
•
The attire had to be designed by a Singaporean designer based in Singapore, and who had relevant experience in designing an outfit of national importance. Mr Wykidd Song’s experience in designing the ASEAN outfit in 2007 and relevant credentials made him the ideal choice.
Challenges: •
Attire for the male leaders was available in red, green and blue – the colours for APEC Singapore 2009. The right shades had to be selected so that the colours would look good when placed together, and also show up presentable even on a black and white print.
Since its inception six years ago, Noise Singapore has quickly grown to become Singapore’s foremost youth arts festival with increased participation year after year. For Noise Singapore 2010, it also marked the introduction of several exciting new features.
Noise Talks
build
While the Noise Singapore Prize serves to help develop creative youths, this conference hopes to inspire youths to be creative. It presents a golden opportunity for youths to tap into the minds of thought leaders in the creative industries. The impressive roster of speakers included breakout musician Zee Avi and award-winning design professionals Kelley Cheng (Editor-in-Chief of Singapore Architect/ Creative Director of The Press Room), and Rob Campbell (Managing Partner/ Creative Strategist of M&C Saatchi (Asia)/ Sunshine).
e
•
The attire had to be comfortable and breathable so that the Leaders could wear it all evening. It also had to be of a high quality to project a sense of prestige while at the same time encapsulating Singapore’s identity and culture, to complement the overall vision of APEC Singapore 2009.
growth
tur
•
showcase their workmanship. Osage Pte Ltd was involved in the fabrication and embroidery processes, while Kingsmen Shop tailored the attire and Soo Kee Jewellery produced the cufflinks and brooches that completed the attire.
ople
Key Considerations:
pe
Photo of APEC Economy Leaders at APEC Singapore 2009 Singapore Evening (touched up)
e v i g
evolving
cul
Noise Singapore 2010 was the most successful edition of the festival to date, with over 1,000 youths submitting some 9,000 works of art & design, music, and photography to www.noisesingapore.com. Each work was then individually appraised and rated by an illustrious panel of judges. 1,600 of the top entries were selected to be part of this year’s Festival Showcase: a stunning exhibition of visual works from 26 February to 10 March 2010 with the concept of “creative studio spaces”, and a series of highly-charged concerts at the Esplanade from 5 to 7 March.
e
Leaders’ Attire
LIFE
branding APEC Singapore 2009.
The Noise Singapore Prize
life
Singapore 2009 was born. The Resilience and Marketing Division (RMD) at MICA was involved in the marketing and branding
Following a highly successful open call for
ty
A whole web of processes was spun and a slew of decisions reached before the well-oiled machine we saw as APEC
Noise Singapore and the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games
Noise Singapore is proud to be a festival partner of the upcoming inaugural Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games in August this year. Specially for this historic event, Noise Singapore created • While the APEC leaders were given a choice of their a Singapore 2010-themed category entitled attire’s colour, care needed to be taken and expectations The designer worked with various Singapore “Celebration” for youths to submit their artworks, managed, to ensure there was a good mix of colours so manufacturers and tailors to produce the attire, which designs, songs and photos that they feel best that the eventual group picture would look colourful. also presented them with an excellent platform to represent the grandeur and spirit of the Games. Besides winning great prizes such as a Macbook Pro, the top-rated entries in the themed category were featured in the Noise Singapore Festival Overall Learning Point Showcase, and will be exhibited during the Games The execution of any event, especially one of a massive scale, requires much flexibility to adapt and re-align plans to the evolving and changing needs of the situation. While the entire can be tough, at theprocess Noise Singapore 2010unnerving Youth Olympic Games and challenging, the sense of achievement and the compliments received at the successful implementation of the event makes it all worthwhile. showcase and city events in August. resonance:02:03
•
•
Challenges:
Through Street & Venue Dressing (banners, planter boxes, etc) along Orchard Road, at the Istana, in Suntec City and around the airport, Singapore was presented as the welcoming host of APEC Singapore 2009 in a vibrant yet dignified manner.
aarr ttss
•
eevovlovlinvingg
lolvoe ve
E LLIIFFE
The APEC Singapore 2009 collaterals were designed with the guiding principle of functionality, while maintaining a premium look and feel. The variety of collaterals included conference-related materials (e.g. handbooks, notebook holder sets, pens, bags, thumbdrives, etc.) as well as other practical needs (e.g. umbrellas and lapel pins).
nnururtturur ee
The early Christmas Light-up along Orchard Road presented competing elements to the APEC Singapore 2009 street dressing requirements. The challenge was to integrate both elements aesthetically and seamlessly, while maintaining a consistent look and feel across all branding channels.
lliife fe
Key Considerations:
y cietty ssoocie
NOISE SINGAPORE 2010
Indoor and Outdoor Branding
The resultant brand image was a success as consistency across branding channels was achieved, and evidently displayed across the different media platforms. Furthermore, the collaterals were wellutilised with compliments from the delegates on their usability and design.
ggrrowotwthh
bbuuilildd
e turre cuulltu c
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e e v v i i gg Leaders’, Ministers’ and Spouses’ Gifts
Hand-made art pieces of bronze, metal and ceramics were created and presented to the APEC leaders, ministers and their spouses that showcased Singapore’s arts, culture and our creative talents. Key Considerations: •
Gifts of an artistic nature were chosen as they portrayed the softer side of Singapore, and complemented the economic event.
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The gifts also had to be symbolic, impactful and unique. This was a golden opportunity for Singapore to profile our home-grown artistic talents. A total of 6 renowned Singaporean artists, including Chong
Fah Cheong and Chieu Shuey Fook, were selected to produce one-of-a-kind art pieces.
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It was a challenge to showcase a diverse range of artistic talents, while keeping to a modest budget. It was decided that the best solution was to work with renowned artists to produce a range of handmade art pieces of different materials. Leaders received metal-based sculptural gifts (above), while Ministers and their spouses received ceramic art pieces, all revolved around the APEC Singapore 2009 theme of “Sustaining Growth, Connecting the Region.”
Overall Learning Point The execution of any event, especially one of a massive scale, requires much flexibility to adapt and re-align plans to the evolving and changing needs of the situation. While the entire process can be tough, unnerving and challenging, the sense of achievement and the compliments received at the successful implementation of the event makes it all worthwhile. resonance:02:03 resonance:06:07
To address this problem, the local supermarket chain teamed up with SKM to launch the “Please Return Supermarket Trolley” initiative in February. Rather than imposing penalties on inconsiderate users, the initiative focused on educating users on the right thing to do. For example, media stories highlighted that abandoned trolleys in public places such as car parks and void decks posed a safety hazard to drivers and pedestrians, while posters at 80 supermarket outlets, community centres and town council offices reminded shoppers to return the trolleys. SKM’s mascot, Singa was also roped in to give a hand in the campaign, giving out flyers to
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The Thought Behind Tray Return
Bright, colourful and quirky cartoon-styled stickers and tentcards were prominently placed on tables and tray return points in the restaurants, urging patrons to clean up, throw away used food and beverage containers and return the trays. SKM General Manager, Teh Thien Yew explained the significance of such seemingly simple gestures: “We share the same space with others, and we need to show consideration to the people we share it with. I believe it would be wonderful if we can be the one taking the first step to be considerate rather than wait for someone to show it to us.”
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With a similar focus on consideration, SKM partnered with popular fast food chains KFC, Long John Silver’s, McDonald’s, MOS Burger, Subway and Superdog to launch the “Clear Up Before You Go” activity in January. Once again, the initiative centred on public education, by reminding fastfood patrons to take responsibility for clearing up their own mess after they have finished their meals.
TV personalities Edmund Chen and Irene Ang share tips on how to be good neighbours with GNA winners.
Rewarding Good Neighbours This tea reception came three months after the inaugural GNA ceremony was held. Jointly organised by the Housing Development Board and the People’s Association, and supported by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM), the GNA sought to reaffirm and show appreciation for the actions of ordinary Singaporeans who do just that little more to make life more pleasant for their neighbours. The nation-wide search for Singapore’s best neighbours started in May last year. Residents were encouraged to nominate neighbours who were friendly, active in community events, helpful and kind. In November last year, five national winners were picked from a pool of over 80 constituency winners.
Mdm Chin’s story highlights how important it is to be a kind neighbour, as Singapore’s population grows with the integration of new citizens arriving upon our shores. And SKM understands the need to reinforce the importance of being good neighbours.
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SKM General Manager, Mr Teh Thien Yew said: “It’s easy to befriend your neighbours. Take for example Edmund Chen who says that when he cooks and runs out of chilli sauce, he can always borrow some from his neighbours!”
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“If we start to think like him and accept that all of us who live in the same block, whether Singaporeans or non-Singaporeans, can be friends who are helpful and look out for each other, we have taken the first step to bring about a warmer and more personal neighbourhood.” GNA 2010 will return this year, with new plans to impact more residents. And if Irene’s and Edmund’s advice were anything to go by, being kind to neighbours is beneficial not just for them, but for you too.
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According to NTUC Fairprice, an average of 200 supermarket trolleys go “missing” each month, a result of inconsiderate shoppers who do not return them after use. These shoppers bring the trolleys home or abandon them elsewhere, depriving others of using the trolleys.
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Mdm Chin Lai Fong, a Hong Kong migrant turned Permanent Resident, was one of the constituency winners. She took care of a sick neighbour, Ms Rita Soong, patiently ferrying her to the hospital and visiting her everyday. On those trips, Mdm Chin would also prepare herbal soup for Ms Soong.
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When we become more aware of the needs of those around us, and more socially conscious about how our actions can impact others, this is a step forward in building a more gracious society. The Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) launched two new initiatives recently, where the emphasis was on showing consideration for others.
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Also present was another popular celebrity Edmund Chen who shared that he lives in public housing and gets to know his neighbours well by sharing his passion for cooking.
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It is about putting yourself in the shoes of the next user and allowing him or her to use the items with more ease. This is particularly pertinent for shared items and public spaces.
Local actress Irene Ang revealed this to some 90 attendees of the Good Neighbour Awards (GNA) 2009 tea reception held in late February 2010. The popular comedian who was a guest at the event said that living in urban Singapore can often be stressful, but all our lives can be made better if we demonstrated kindness to those living closest to us - our neighbours.
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Returning items to where they belong is basic courtesy.
shoppers as they enter the supermarket, and thanking them when they returned the trolleys after use.
Want to stay young and beautiful? Be kind to your neighbours!
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(From left) NTUC FairPrice’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer Seah Kian Peng, Singa, and SKM General Manager Teh Thien Yew encouraging the public to return their trolleys during the launch of “Please Return Supermarket Trolley” campaign on 10 February 2010.
GNA winner Mr Meqsud Alam offers his time to help teach his neighbour’s children, and also organises welcome dinners for new residents to his block.(Photo courtesy of HDB)
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FELLINI! A Complete Retrospective 16 April 2010 to 9 May 2010 The National Museum of Singapore, in partnership with the Italian Cultural Institute of Singapore, is proud to present a season of film screenings dedicated to the legendary filmmaker, Federico Fellini. Perhaps the most famous filmmaker to emerge after the war, the name Federico Fellini, has become synonymous with fantasy and exuberant creativity. He is among the most acclaimed filmmakers in the history of the medium. Fellini is also one of the very few filmmakers that managed to reconcile original artistic genius with profits at the box office, with films such as, La Strada, La Dolce Vita, Nights of Cabiria and 8 ½.
FX Harsono: Testimonies 4 March 2010 to 9 May 2010 Behind the Scenes: Branding Singapore at APEC 2009 Singapore
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Snapshots – Events Roundup
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The arts and culture scene here will help to play an important role in achieving our vision to be an endearing home and global city. To this end, individual and private support for arts and culture in Singapore is essential. In this issue, you will read more about the cultural philanthropy portal www.give2arts.sg which will allow interested individuals and organisations to play a part, be it big or small, in helping our arts and culture scene flourish. We certainly hope you enjoy reading this story, as well as the other stories about the work of MICA and its agencies.
Editorial Board
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EVENTS ROUNDUP
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Dear Readers
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Behind The Scenes Branding Singapore at APEC
In Singapore, the names Aljunied, Alkaff and Alsagoff are part of our landscape in building and street names. These names, and many others, belong to Arab migrants from Hadhramaut who came to Singapore from the nineteenth century onwards. This migration of people and cultural adaptations are parts of the story of the Arabs in Southeast Asia.
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FX Harsono: Testimonies at the Singapore Art Museum presents a survey of artwork by one of Indonesia’s foremost contemporary artists. FX Harsono played a pivotal role in the development of contemporary art in Indonesia, and continues to be actively involved in the art scene up till today. This exhibition traces the shifts in the artist’s strategies of representation: from the ground-breaking conceptual works that re-defined art making during the Gerakan Seni Rupa Baru Movement (New Art Movement) of the 1970s; to the politically-charged installations of the 1990s; to the artist’s recent investigations into issues of self, identity and personal histories. Included in this survey are seminal works drawn from the Singapore Art Museum’s permanent collection, as well as from other art institutions and private collections, such as Paling Top (1975) and Voice Without A Voice (1994).
Rihlah – Arabs in Southeast Asia 11 April 2010 to 10 October 2010
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Giving to Arts & Culture
The retrospective features the entire oeuvre of Federico Fellini, the filmmaker. There are 21 feature length films, three omnibus films which Fellini contributed a segment, a rare screening of Roberto Rossellini’s The Miracle which Fellini co-wrote and acted in, documentaries about his life and work, and a roundtable discussion with Fellini experts and film critics.
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Giving to Arts & Culture
The Noise Singapore Prize
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Celebrating Good Neighbours
Presenting photographs and artefacts ranging from personal documents to musical instruments and items on public display for the first time, the Rihlah (Arabic word for Journey) exhibition will introduce visitors to Hadhramaut, and the history and culture of the Arabs in Southeast Asia. Come and experience the heritage and cultural exchanges of the Arabs in Southeast Asia. Organised by the National Library Singapore, this exhibition is on at Level 10 of the National Library Building from 10am – 9pm daily except public holidays.
Julia Hang Gavin Chelvan Contributors Lee Yang Yi Siegrid Saldana Stephanie Sun Gary Kaw Photo Credits Singapore Kindness Movement Housing Development Board National Arts Council
William Farquhar – An Exhibition 31 March 2010 to 31 August 2010 Although it is widely acknowledged that Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles founded Singapore, it was the Scotsman William Farquhar who built and nurtured the early settlement. Not many know about the contributions of our First Resident and Commandant, William Farquhar. Find out how Farquhar succeeded in building the young settlement into a thriving port in the 58 months he spent on the island. This exhibition presents for the first time, rare pictures and artefacts generously loaned by Farquhar’s descendants specially for this exhibition. Together with the collections from the National Library of Singapore and various agencies, this exhibition chronicles the life and career of this early Singapore pioneer and provides an insight into the often-untold contributions of William Farquhar in the development of early Singapore. This exhibition is on at Level 7 of the National Library Building from 10am – 9pm daily except public holidays.
Julia Hang (Mrs) Chairperson, Resonance Editorial Board resonance:08:09
140 Hill Street, 6th Storey, MICA Building Singapore 179369 T: 65 6270 7988 F: 65 6837 9480 E: mica@mica.gov.sg www.mica.gov.sg
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Issue 12 • Jan - Mar 2010
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