Artistic Manoeuvres

In challenging times, art may be what we sorely need to soothe our souls. First, slick moves are needed to connect artists and buyers

- Joe Lim

WHEN IT COMES TO ART, not many people are ready to reach for the bill. Whether it is appreciating a painting, sculpture, installation, or watching a performance, many prefer to do it without having to pay. There exists a mindset that art should be free for all. And that democratising art benefits society as a whole. This idea has merit, and has been acknowledged and supported by governments, as evidenced by the proliferation of public sculptures and installations. But not all art come under public domain, because art often takes a private and personal nature. Hence people collect pieces that speak directly to them or represent something of unique value to them.

With COVID-19 raging on globally, and economic hardship hitting almost everyone, art dealers and curators are finding that people are even more reluctant to open their wallets than ever, prioritising their resources for various essentials instead.

In a 2017 Straits Times report, it was cited that the Singapore government supported about 80 per cent of arts and heritage funding, or about SGD 595.7 million, through the National Arts Council (NAC). But year on year, donations in cash and kind to the arts scene have be dwindling considerably – by almost half. A 2015 report cited SGD 64.7 million down from SGD 136.1 million.