Artists and creative endeavors in Singapore have recently enjoyed a boom in donations thanks to the nation’s 50th birthday and a push to boost the arts scene. However, with the new year and a sluggish economy, many artistic efforts, institutions and galleries are tightening their belts in anticipation of fewer donations.
As a part of Singapore’s 50th birthday, a number of arts festivals were held leading up to the grand opening of National Gallery Singapore. It was easy for corporate and individual donors to get swept up in the creative spirit, gifting different artistic projects tens of millions of dollars. To help encourage this sense of giving, those individuals who did donate money to galleries and the like received booming tax rebates. However, this year, the increased rebate rates aren’t guaranteed, and it’s extremely likely that corporate sponsors will fall off.
To try and keep that from happening, art collectives, facilities and other efforts are looking to connect with potential donors on a personalized level. For example, there are several permanent exhibition galleries in the newly opened National Gallery Singapore that bear the names of corporate sponsors, ensuring a shared legacy because of the donations provided to help the arts. An official from National Gallery Singapore says that the most essential thing institutes can do to gain donors is to understand what motivates the people and corporations they seek sponsorships from. One of the donors for National Gallery Singapore also wants to promote art from the Southeastern Asian region worldwide, so it was a simple and mutually beneficial process for the gallery to secure sponsorship.
Even if donations from big corporations could stall, art projects can still seek aid from smaller businesses and individuals. Doing this will help projects connect with individuals, making future visits and interactions with the projects more personal. One example is an arts entertainment group offering tiered membership opportunities for donors. At the highest level of donation, sponsors will receive dozens of tickets to upcoming show, as well as an invite to a brainstorming session and a dinner with one of the group’s stars. Lower membership tiers come with special cards and benefits to go along with them, such as admission to parties immediately following some of the groups’ shows.
The Singaporean government will continue to match, dollar for dollar, donations sponsors make to most arts projects and institutions, hopefully securing a future of giving for the arts scene.
One way that you can participate in Singapore’s art scene, besides making a donation of your own to your favorite event or institution, is to consider signing up for an art class today. By visiting SGArtClass.com, you can scroll through a list of different art class offerings, from set design to miniature art, and find a genre that you’re most interested in. Develop a whole new appreciation for the arts via one of our expert teachers and learn new skills today.
For more on the donor situation in Singapore’s art scene, go to http://news.asiaone.com/news/lifestyle/courting-art-donors.