Speech by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Trade & Industry, Mr Peter Chen at the NAFA New Campus Groundbreaking Ceremony (28 July 2001)

SPEECH BY MR PETER CHEN, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND MINISTRY OF TRADE & INDUSTRY AT NAFA NEW CAMPUS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY AT BENCOOLEN STREET ON SATURDAY, 28 JULY 2001 AT 10.30 AM

1. Singapore aspires to be a Renaissance Global City. The development of the arts must be part of our aspirations. Since July 1999, the Government has provided funding for NAFA and the LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts to deliver high quality diploma programmes in the arts. Also, the long-awaited opening of The Esplanade - Theatres On The Bay will take place in October next year. It will provide the physical facilities for the promotion of the arts in Singapore for both local and international artists and audience.

2. But why are the arts so important to us? The simple answer may well be "because we are human". As human kind we have both the power of reasoning and the quality of emotions. The arts is as old as the dawn of mankind as evidenced by cave paintings. We know and realise that without the arts - music, painting, theatre, dance, film and literature - life would not be human. The arts bring the necessary dimension to our human experiences, adding colours and emotion to an otherwise functional world. Whilst economic development feeds our body, it is the art that nourishes our soul.

3. Today marks an important milestone both for arts education in Singapore as well as for NAFA. We gather here this morning to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for NAFA's new campus. This is the first government supported infrastructure for arts education in Singapore since the announcement in August 1998. For NAFA and all her students, staff, alumni and supporters, this is the new dawn for the Academy.

4. NAFA has its humble beginnings as an art school in 1938 with only 14 Fine Art students. Today, some 60 years after, its present population of 3,500 students bears testimony to NAFA's progress and achievement. The solid foundation for NAFA's art training was laid by pioneer artists and teachers such as Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Jen Hao, Huang Pao Fang, See Hiang To, Georgette Chen and Chen Wen Hsi. Since then, NAFA has nurtured senior artists like Thomas Yeo and Ng Eng Teng, and younger ones like Goh Ee Choo and Chandrasekaran who are among the finest in Singapore and the region.

5. As we survey the three plots of land that have been earmarked for NAFA's new campus and prepare to "break the ground" for piling, it is also a time for NAFA to revisit its mission. A new campus brings with it the potential for NAFA to take a giant step forward towards fulfilling its mission in a new world and a new economy. As NAFA seeks to establish herself as one of the finest arts school in this region, she has to continuously seek creative ways to improve and develop high quality programmes relevant to our society and to our economy today and tomorrow. As NAFA looks to the future, she needs to also find a niche for herself. She has the unique opportunity to ride on her 'Nanyang' tradition to evolve its own unique blend of the eastern and western arts. This is not an easy path to take. But NAFA has a good track record for such success, because the "Nanyang" style itself is a unique and successful blend of Chinese and South-east Asian traditions.

6. Arts should not exists solely for arts sake. It must be for society and the community. The community plays an important role in supporting and sustaining the arts and arts institutions in Singapore. Although the Government will provide $65 million out of the $80 million building cost of NAFA's new campus NAFA will have to raise the remaining $15 million over the next few years. Raising this amount is not an easy feat as NAFA will have to convince the community of her relevance. I want to take this opportunity to encourage NAFA's alumni and the community to come forward with their generous support. Working hand in hand with government support, we will together ensure the provision of quality facilities to deliver a quality arts education for our tomorrow.

7. I am very pleased to be invited for this groundbreaking ceremony. It makes an important milestone in the history of NAFA. I look forward to NAFA's continual contribution to a richer and more vibrant arts scene in Singapore and thus enriching the lives of the community.