The statutory board said it has progressively rolled out policies over the past year to enhance support for buskers.
It added 17 new busking spaces, including dedicated MRT station locations for street performers with disabilities, as part of NAC’s partnership with SMRT and ART:DIS Singapore.
Additionally, the council extended the validity of the busking Letter of Endorsement for experienced buskers on the scheme from one to two years, which they can also renew without having to get through another audition.
Currently, there are over 350 endorsed busking acts, with youths making up more than half of them.
“When I first started, it was more of the seniors applying for a busking permit. But now, it’s very different… There are a lot of youths very interested, even kids under the age of 16 with their parents supporting them doing street performance,” Goh said.
“I see this growth as a very positive thing, because when there’s younger people, it adds more creativity and ideas.”
He added that while Singapore’s busking scene is still fairly young, performers today are getting increasingly creative and the future looks vibrant.
“We are still in the nascent stage of how buskers can infuse technology with their shows. At the moment a lot of people are still experimenting with it. It will take time,” he said.
Next Wednesday (Dec 31), the association is closing the year with a celebratory showcase from 5pm to 11pm at 111 Somerset featuring both seasoned and new buskers.
