Mr Tong added that the plan is for eligible offerings to be “pulled together” on a single website to make it easy for Singaporeans to browse and select programmes they wish to attend.
“For those who have never been to a cultural event, performance or exhibition, this now becomes an opportunity to be introduced to our rich offerings. And who knows? After the first taste, some will come back for more,” he said.
“And with enough Singaporeans getting a positive experience from what they see, we hope to build and over time maintain a keen interest in our local arts and heritage.”
Interested programme providers can sign up to participate in SG Culture Pass from Mar 10, said the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said in a factsheet.
The ministry said it will accept programme applications from registered organisations, collectives and self-employed individuals in the arts and heritage sector.
STARTING ARTS EDUCATION EARLY
Mr Tong also announced that the National Arts Council (NAC) has set the goal of implementing the Arts Education Programme (AEP) in all Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) supported pre-schools by 2027.
Started in 1993, the programme aims to provide all students with access to quality arts education experiences.
It was piloted for preschools in 2014, and currently has a curated selection of more than 190 programmes such as performances, excursions and workshops across six art forms, namely dance, music, theatre, literary arts, visual arts and digital media.
The target is to reach an estimated 1,000 preschools, and about 44,000 students by 2027, said MCCY.
“NAC aims to promote positive first experiences and engagement in and through the arts, increase access to the arts, including students from lower-income or disadvantaged backgrounds, and enhance students’ development, including communication and social-emotional competencies,” said the ministry.
In addition, NAC also targets to implement the Performing Arts-Based Learning (PABL) for all lower secondary cohorts in MOE schools by 2027.
Jointly developed and funded by Ministry of Education (MOE) and NAC, PABL was introduced as a core learning experience in MOE’s lower secondary music curriculum.
