Many art and theater organizations across Singapore are working to digitize their archives and make them available for the public. There are a number of reasons why people should be thrilled about this new development, including the fact that they will get to see the artistic process behind a number of artworks ranging from theater to past exhibitions to personal effects from artists.
One theater establishment is digitizing its archives out of necessity: Much of the floorspace of its offices is taken up by paper copies of scripts and other physical relics that are in desperate need of preservation. In order to conserve the unique history of scripts of popular shows that contain handwritten notes in the margins by directors and actors, the establishment is working hard to scan and digitally store all of the materials. Not only will this free up much-needed space in the office, it will also act as a portal for other artists, writers, and the general public to take a peek into the past and relive the unique stories of the productions.
Other goals for a digitization of archives is to spark new conversations about past works of art. This means engaging the artistic community and beyond to delve into what is made available and come back with new insights and understandings that can be applied to art both today and in the future.
Such archives will help the public understand artistic process and backgrounds, including where the artist was coming from, where they were living at the time, with whom they were corresponding, and much more. Such rich documentation will ideally help inspire not only other artists but regular viewers of art.
Many cultural organizations in Singapore are getting in on the digitization bandwagon. Scores, music compositions, and audio files will be available through one group, while another offers careful documentation of photos of art exhibits that have previously been displayed and then taken down to make room for more. Though temporary art exhibits can be ephemeral, meaning that the art collection only exists once in that time and space and only for the people who were able to see it displayed, offering this kind of historical record can enable people who didn’t get a chance to see the exhibit to enjoy it and learn from it.
Have you been inspired by viewing digital archives from any one of a number of art organizations yet? If so, consider enrolling in an art class to explore all the knowledge and inspiration you can glean from this online resource. By visiting SGArtClass.com, you can easily browse a range of classes and connect with expert teachers trained in working with you to develop curriculum to suit your interests. Take a class on digital art, creating artistic videos, or any number of modern art practices in order to ride the wave of the future of art.
For more information on the archives, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/from-letters-to-video-interviews-archives-offer-insights-into-artists.