SINGAPORE - The arts and entertainment scene in Singapore looks set to grow in 2008 – next year‘s calendar is already filled with over 20 concerts and arts performances in just January alone.
More local artists and productions are also expected to make their way into overseas markets.
The Singapore Arts Festival looks set to hit new heights in 2008 after marking its 30th anniversary with resounding success in 2007.
Also going big following a good run is the Singapore Biennale, with a stronger focus on students.
Another signature event for Singapore is the World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD).
After its 10th birthday bash in Fort Canning in 2007, WOMAD is setting its sights on Gardens by the Bay at Marina next.
"We can do a lot more things and undertake a lot more projects and even have camping. That‘s all in the pipeline – and you‘ll see it coming in the next five years or so," said Sarah Martin, festival director of WOMAD.
A full calendar of arts performances also means greater challenges, in terms of venue.
Benson Puah, CEO of The Esplanade, said: "One of the challenges that faces us is the lack of venues. We need more small spaces to help develop work. When you do new work, you need time, rehearsals and space, with the technical support that we‘re able to offer.
"When we had our Dance Festival this year, we literally ran out of space. We had to bring our dancers to other venues for them to rehearse, so one of the happy problems with such a busy calendar is that we need more spaces within the Esplanade."
The Esplanade‘s long-term plan is to expand in a Phase 2 development. For now, it partners other venues like the Drama Centre to accommodate growing demand for space.
Made-in-Singapore movies broke new grounds overseas in 2007.
MediaCorp Raintree Pictures‘ "Home Song Stories" gained a high profile in Taiwan, winning two trophies at the 2007 Golden Horse Awards.
Such success paves the way for a similar reception to the 2008 production of "Skin Lover" – a S$15 million horror film that is also produced by MediaCorp Raintree Pictures.
Additionally, MediaCorp did well for its television productions and was crowned Terrestrial Broadcaster of the Year at the Asian Television Awards.
Lucas Chow, CEO of MediaCorp, said: "This award will give us a lot of encouragement to put in more effort into coming up with higher quality productions and even more regional content."
Online, a rap video by top bureaucrats in the Media Development Authority (MDA) received over 100,000 hits on YouTube.
Cassandra Tay, director of communications at MDA, said: "I was blushing throughout the whole session. And I don‘t know how to dance. When you try new ways to communicate your messages, it‘s understandable that there are people who appreciate your efforts and there are those who don‘t. And this comes with experimentation and breaking new grounds. What‘s most important is that as an agency that‘s championing creativity, we walk the talk."
Another unforgettable moment in television history is the crowning of Singapore Idol Hady Mirza as the first Asian Idol in front of millions, creating a ready market in the region for his second album.
For the homeviewer, the future of television also looks set to get more crystal clear, with more high-definition TV programmes expected. More than 100 hours of HD programmes have already been produced in Singapore in 2007.
Source : www.channelnewsasia.com (26 Desember 2007)
