How Can We Connect More to Our Local Art Scene

amandabek
Apr 14
2 min read

Updated: Apr 17

What is the importance of local art?

Local art is significant as it showcases the uniqueness of a community’s cultural identity and heritage, which fosters a sense of belonging and empathy for one another (Ketchum, n.d.). Not only does the local art scene benefit the community as a whole, but on the individual level as well. Participating in artistic activities can bring about therapeutic qualities: stress reduction, enhanced creativity, and improved subjective well-being (Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups, n.d.). Here are some ways we can stay connected with our local artscene.

Visit local museums and exhibitions

Local art museums provide opportunities for homegrown artists to gain entry into the art world (Parenti, 2020), hence regular attendance and participation in the local artscene is one way to support Singaporean artists (National Arts Council, n.d.).

Get to know local artists and artistes

The next time you open your go-to music app, consider listening to a local artiste. Before you think that Singaporean musicians are limited to The Sam Willows, Gentle Bones, and JJ Lin (albeit good recommendations), think again! If metal is up your alley, you may like to check out “Aggressive Raisin Cat” (Lim, 2023). The band “brb.” may be on your list if you prefer R&B (Chua, 2020). Everytime you listen to a track on Spotify or a monetised video on YouTube, you are contributing a small commission that goes to the artist! Along the same lines with visual art pieces, if you’re looking to decorate your living space, consider commissioning or purchasing from a local artist instead of sourcing from commercialised places.

Be an arts volunteer

Volunteering your professional skills and time can contribute to artistic organisations’ growth; responsibilities include promotion of art events, improving visitor experience, and ensuring smooth event operation (National Arts Council, n.d.). More information on various arts volunteering programmes can be found here: https://www.nac.gov.sg/support/giving-to-the-arts

Written by: Adalee Loh

03/2024

Sources:

Chua, C. (2020, August 28). Introducing: Singaporean R&B trio brb. share their narratives of love and loss. Bandwagon. https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/introducing-singaporean-r-b-trio-brb-cool-with-it-my-type-interview-2020-sg-music

Ketchum, D. (n.d.). Go local: Why you should support local art. ArtBase. https://www.artbase.com/blog/go-local-why-you-should-support-local-art

Lim, G. (2023, January 25). Nine rising Singaporean artists to watch in 2023 — shazza, Sun Cell, Syaz Smooth, Soph T., and more. Hear 65.

https://hear65.bandwagon.asia/articles/9-rising-singaporean-artists-to-watch-in-2023-aggressive-raisin-cat-iman-fandi-j-m3-narysal-shazza-soph-t-sun-cell-syaz-smooth-xena-giam-cross-ratio-entertainment-universal-music-singapore-where-are-the-fruits

National Arts Council. (n.d.). Giving to the arts. https://www.nac.gov.sg/support/giving-to-the-arts

Parenti, D. (2020). The importance of local art museums. Arts Help. https://www.artshelp.com/the-importance-of-local-art-museums/

Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups. (n.d.). The mental health benefits of art. https://scrippsamg.com/mental-health-benefits-of-art/