Singapore Government Press Release
SPEECH BY MR LEE YOCK SUAN, MINISTER FOR INFORMATION AND THE ARTS, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF PRO AUDIO & LIGHT ASIA (PALA) 2001 AND TOTAL EVENTS ASIA 2001 AT THE SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE ON 12 JULY AT 10.00 AM
Ladies & gentlemen
I am happy to be here this morning for the opening of Pro Audio and Light Asia (PALA) 2001 and Total Events Asia 2001. May I also welcome all foreign visitors to Singapore and all participants to these trade exhibitions which cater to the performing arts and entertainment industry.
Singapore is developing as a knowledge-based economy, one that seeks new ideas and technologies to add value to human activities. We have invested heavily in human capital, physical resources and research to enhance our capacity for knowledge-based activities. As a vibrant, cosmopolitan city, we have also been actively promoting the arts to try and achieve that creative buzz which helps to attract and retain talent and make Singapore a more interesting place to be in.
There are at least three areas in which the arts can contribute to the future development of Singapore and the region.
Firstly the arts represents man’s ways of expressing himself. This is achieved in various fields such as performance arts, film, visual arts, literature and new emerging art forms such as digital art and multi-media art. Within each field, experimentation is constantly being carried out. New works and genres are being developed, each showing mankind’s limitless capacity to find new ways of expression. Every new work is itself a measure of human ingenuity and creativity. Each starts a chain effect of stimulating appreciation and interpretation by audiences, critics and other artistes, thereby pushing further the boundaries of artistic understanding and sophistication. By promoting the arts, we develop the artistic potential of our people, which in turn expands their imaginative capacity, creativity and innovative spirit. These are vital qualities in the new economy.
Secondly, the development of a vibrant arts environment helps us to retain local talent and to attract artistes and other creative foreigners. Major cities like New York, London and Paris have high artistic vibrancy and a large pool of talent from many sources. Cultural vibrancy, international talent, and economic dynamism often go hand in hand.
Thirdly the arts stimulates developments in related spheres. New technologies are being developed to provide new content as well as new expressions for the performing and visual arts. In the visual arts, for instance, digital art is now a new art form expressing the mind of an artist with the use of computers. Such art is also disseminated digitally though the internet. An artwork now does not need to exist physically like a painting or sculpture, but in cyberspace. In the performing arts, new or improved technologies in sound and lighting help to enhance the audience’s experience of an artistic work, be it a musical performance, drama, dance, orchestral music, or a multimedia event. There is tremendous scope in the new kinds of aural and visual experience that the technical or artistic director of a performance can bring to bear on a public presentation.
The arts scene in Singapore has received new impetus in recent years. Last year Singapore hosted nearly 3,000 art activities which were attended by 800,000 people. Art sponsorships also increased, totalling some $38 million last year. The Festival of Arts had 39 sold-out shows. With the completion of the Esplanade next year, we can look forward to more such programmes and activities.
I congratulate the organisers and exhibitors for bringing state-of-the-art technologies to this exhibition. Held for the first time, the Total Events Asia will also present new initiatives in the areas of event organising and management. This is timely as consumers of entertainment are now increasingly more demanding and sophisticated. It is no longer sufficient to have top talent among performers. Top talent is also needed in producing technical effects as well as organising an event in totality. The consumer today is looking for a total experience that is stimulating, innovative and entertaining. This is in fact a "new economy" demand placed on entertainment and the performing arts. These industries as well as the industries which support them, be they technical or service related, have to grow in tandem with the higher expectations of consumers and their constant demand for new ideas and innovations.
PALA 2001 and Total Events Asia will boost the growth of these supporting industries. They are also ideal occasions for industry professionals to share information on the latest trends and developments, and to network with each other.
In declaring open PALA 2001 and Total Events Asia 2001, may I wish all participants a highly productive and successful event.
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