Ep 2: “No Need For Shiny Floors” feat. Tisa Ho-Ng
About
Did you know that the planning for the construction of the Esplanade began as far back as the 1980s?
Host Serene Chen discovers more about its origins in a chat with Tisa Ho-Ng, the former Assistant Director of the Cultural Services Division, Ministry of Culture, and former Secretary of the Steering Committee for the arts centre that would become the Esplanade.
They also discuss Tisa’s role in the development of state support initiatives for the arts and artists as a result of the state’s 1985 Cultural Plan, including the Arts Housing Scheme that provided state-subsidised rentals for rehearsal and work spaces for many arts companies over the years.
Tisa also shares anecdotes and memories about working with various artists and arts companies through the years, and how trust, risk-taking, and honesty are core ingredients to a thriving relationship between the arts manager and artists.
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[00:01:47] Cultural Plan 1985: In January 1985, the government released Vision 1999, which was a national policy that recognised that cultural activities and facilities would be critical to achieving the overall aim of transforming SIngapore into a city of excellence by 1999. As a response, the then-Ministry of Community Development released an internal blueprint called the Cultural Plan 1985, which outlined a long-term plan for state support for the arts, with the aim of providing more facilities and training for artists and arts administrators, and nurturing young talent to build a core of artistic creators. The plan included grant schemes, schemes to provide residencies and workspaces for arts companies, and capability development programmes. For more, see Hoe (2020).
[00:01:51] Arts Housing Scheme: an artist assistance scheme initiated by the former Ministry of Community Development in 1985. In recognition of scarcity and cost of land in Singapore, the objective of the scheme was to secure space and provide subsidised rental spaces to arts groups. For more, see Hoe (2020).
[00:01:59] Singapore Arts Centre: the working title of the arts centre which eventually opened in 2002 as Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. The idea that Singapore should have a performing arts centre was first conceived in 1975.
[00:02:04] Ministry of Culture: statutory board later subsumed under the Cultural Division of Ministry of Community Development from 1984 - 1990, after which it was subsumed under the Ministry of Information and Arts
[00:02:31] ACT 3 International: Act 3 International is a Theatre company founded in 1984; rebranded as ACT 3 International in 1994, when its mission became more directed towards offering programmes for children and nurturing a love of the arts in young people.
[00:02:35] T:>Works: T:>Works is an independent, non-profit Singaporean theatre company established first as TheatreWorks in 1985, and later re-established as T:>Works in 2020. It is currently led by Artistic Director, Dr. Ong Keng Sen. It supports Singapore artists, and articulates the Singapore arts through its various productions and developmental programmes.
[00:02:39] Teater Ekamatra: Teater Ekamatra is a non-profit local ethnic minority theatre company established in 1988, helmed by award-winning director and performer Mohd Fared Jainal. It was founded by playwright, dramatist and director Lut Ali and his wife Rubie Lazim in 1988 to develop contemporary experimental Malay theatre.
[00:03:03] Singapore International Festival of Arts: The Singapore International Festival of Arts started as the Singapore Festival of Arts in 1977. In 2012, it took a one year hiatus and underwent an independent review. It returned in 2014, renamed as the Singapore International Festival of Arts.
[00:03:09] Singapore Symphony Orchestra: The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is Singapore’s flagship orchestra founded in 1979. It is part of the Singapore Symphony Group, and is currently under the Music Directorship of renowned Austrian conductor Hans Graf.
[00:03:33] Esplanade Theatres on The Bay: The Esplanade is Singapore’s national performing arts centre. As a not-for-profit arts centre, it strives to make the arts accessible for everyone.
[00:03:53] The Necessary Stage: The Necessary Stage (TNS) is a non-profit theatre company established in 1987. It is helmed by Cultural Medallion recipients Artistic Director and Founder Alvin Tan and Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma.
[00:03:56] The Substation: The Substation is Singapore's first independent contemporary arts centre. Founded in 1990 by Kuo Pao Kun, it is known for its pioneering and experimental arts programming.
[00:04:05] Hong Kong Arts Festival: The Hong Kong Arts Festival is a major International arts festival based in Hong Kong launched in 1973
[00:05:06] National Arts Council: The National Arts Council is a statutory board established on 15 October 1991 to oversee the development of arts in Singapore. It is under the purview of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
[00:06:48] Telok Ayer Performing Arts Centre (TAPAC): Opened in 1985, the Telok Ayer Performing Arts Centre was the first performing arts centre established under the Arts Housing Scheme. It was formerly Telok Ayer Primary School.
[00:09:38] The Empty Space by Peter Brook: The Empty Space is a book published in 1968 by director and cofounder of the Royal Shakespeare Company Peter Brook, examining the developments in theatre and its different modes.
[00:10:45] City University of London: City, University of London is a leading global university, focusing on business and the professions.
[00:15:59] Report by the Advisory Council on Arts and Culture (ACCA): the first publicly-available cultural policy in Singapore
[00:16:25] Major Company Grant (under NAC): a three-year grant under the National Arts Council, with the objective of supporting the professional and artistic development of registered arts organisations.
[00:19:16] LASALLE College of the Arts: Tertiary contemporary arts and design institution founded in 1984 by Brother Joseph McNally
[00:19:28] Telok Kurau Studios: Telok Kurau Studios is an arts housing project of the National Arts Council. It currently houses about 30 individual artists and 2 societies, namely the Singapore Colour Photographic Society and Singapore Watercolour Society.
[00:19:32] 126 Cairnhill Arts Centre: Heritage building designated as an arts centre under the Arts Housing Scheme in 1993. Former tenants include The Necessary Stage; current tenants include Act 3 International, ArtsFission and The Finger Players.
[00:19:38] Teater Kami: Malay theatre company founded in 1989
[00:19:41] ArtsFission: The Arts Fission is a Contemporary dance company founded in 1994 under the artistic direction of Cultural Medallion Recipient Angela Liong.
[00:20:09] Singapore Dance Theatre: Singapore’s national dance company which was founded in 1988 and renamed Singapore Ballet in December 2021
[00:20:11] Fort Canning Arts Centre: Former arts centre located at Fort Canning Park
[00:20:51] Semi-Residential Status in Theatre Scheme: a residency scheme providing artists and arts groups up to 12 days of annual rent-free use of one of the designated theatres for rehearsal and stage performances, as well as priority booking of theatres a year in advance, and exemption from entertainment tax.
[00:23:52] The Necessary Stage and the Augusto Boal workshops: The founders of TNS, director Alvin Tan and playwright Haresh Sharma, had attended workshops on forum theatre in New York City in April 1993 before returning to Singapore. Upon their return, an interview with them published in the national newspaper The Straits Times insinuated that the workshops were “Marxist” and questioned if their theatre practice was intended for political ends.
[00:26:02] Marine Parade Community Centre: Community building where, under the Arts Housing Scheme, the theatre company The Necessary Stage was housed from 2000 - 2020. The space included an office area and a black box theatre.
[00:30:40] The Asian Civilisations Museum: Singapore’s national museum of Asian antiquities and decorative art. It focuses on the many historical connections between cultures and civilisations in Asia, and between Asia and the world.
[00:34:29] The first arts administration course in Singapore: ran from 14th to 30th, August in 1985, it was conducted by Harman Greenblatt and Irene Conley from the department of arts entertainment and media management of Columbia College, Chicago, Illinois.
[00:36:55] Drama Centre: Performing arts venue that used to be located at Fort Canning Park, presently situated within the National Library
[00:44:54] Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall: Singapore’s oldest performing arts venue; first built as a Town Hall in 1862, it was redesigned and renamed Victoria Theatre in 1909.
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[00:04:45] Ong Teng Cheong: Singapore’s fifth president whose term was from 1993 – 1999. Fondly remembered as the People’s President, he is also known for championing the arts within state governance and policy-making in Singapore.
[00:05:47] Lee Wai Kok: Mr Lee Wai Kok was the Director of People's Association from May 1970 to 1977 and later on the Chief Executive Director of PA from Sep 1977 to Jul 1978.
[00:06:24] Juliana Lim: Ms Juliana Lim was arts manager at People’s Association from 1978 - 1981; from 1981 to 1993 she was a manager at the Cultural Services Division of the Ministry of Culture, later renamed the Ministry of Community Development, again renamed to the Ministry of Information and the Arts. She was part of the steering committee of the Singapore Arts Centre together with Ruby Lai and Tisa Ho-Ng, and was the General Manager of the Singapore Arts Centre Company Limited which was set up in late 1992 to plan for the arts centre that would come to be known as Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay.
[00:07:50] Jessieca Leo: Singapore Arts Festival Fringe coordinator for 6 years from 1983 to 1988
[00:08:33] Neo Kim Seng: Neo Kim Seng is a cross-disciplinary practitioner and has been involved in independent and large-scale projects in Singapore and overseas.
[00:12:32] Lu Sinclair: General Manager of SSO from 1986 to 1991
[00:12:47] Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Dr Yeo Ning Hong was a Member of Parliament and Minister of National Development, Communications and Information, and Defence.
[00:13:07] Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Lee Hsien Loong has been Singapore’s Prime Minister since 2004 and the Secretary-General of the People’s Action Party (PAP)
[00:24:22] Professor Tommy Koh: Singaporean lawyer and diplomat; Ambassador-At-Large for the Singapore Government
[00:23:51] Haresh Sharma and Alvin Tan: co-founders of local non-profit theatre company The Necessary Stage
[00:25:54] Loke Loo Pin: former dentist known for acting on stage and television
[00:26:19] Dr Jennifer Lee: former board member of The Necessary Stage; former CEO of KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
[00:26:21] Dr Kanwaljit Soin: former board member of The Necessary Stage; former surgeon
[00:28:20] Kuo Pao Kun: Playwright, theatre director and arts activist who co-founded Practice Performing Arts School (today known as The Theatre Practice).
[00:38:43] Ruby Lai: arts manager and part of the steering committee of the Singapore Arts Centre together with Juliana Lim and Tisa Ho-Ng
[00:38:50] Richard York of the Barbican: former arts administrator and deputy chief executive of the Barbican Centre in London
[00:38:58] Richard Brett: former theatre consultant and founder of Techplan, now known as Theatreplan, a theatre design and technical theatre consultancy
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[00:48:33] Lao Jiu: a play that is considered a Singapore classic written by Kuo Pao Kun in 1990, about a boy’s dilemma between his dreams and responsibilities.
[00:48:37] Lanterns Never Go Out: play by The Necessary Stage and written by Haresh Sharma in 1989, about a teenage girl who struggles managing new roles and expectations and existing ideals.
[00:48:41] Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre: New York-based modern dance company founded by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African-American modern dancers. It is currently led by Artistic Director Robert Battle.
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[00:46:44] atas: literally translates to “up” in Malay; as adjective to describe something or someone as luxurious, sophisticated, or “upper class”
About our Speakers
Serene Chen is a bilingual actress, host, voice artist and lecturer. She spent the first 3 years of her professional career as an Producer-Presenter in Singapore’s first arts radio station, Passion 99.5FM.
Tisa Ho-Ng is an arts administrator, advocate, author and women’s cause campaigner. She was instrumental to the development of state support for the arts during the 1980s, including the development of the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. She is also well-known for her service at the Singapore Arts Festival. She is currently Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival.