Marina Bay Sands Fuels Singapore’s Artistic Future with S$500,000 Donation

Marina Bay Sands has stepped forward with a generous donation of S$500,000 to the National Arts Council’s (NAC) Sustain the Arts (stART) Fund. This substantial contribution underscores Marina Bay Sands’ unwavering commitment to fostering Singapore’s vibrant arts community and promoting innovation in emerging artistic expressions.

The donation paves the way for the creation of the Sands Innovative Arts Fund under the stART Fund, an initiative designed to empower small arts groups and catalyze their journey toward long-term sustainability. By establishing this fund, Marina Bay Sands aims to champion emerging talent and propel the creative community forward by embracing cutting-edge technologies in art creation and audience engagement.

The Sands Innovative Arts Fund stands as one of the most significant contributions by Marina Bay Sands to the arts since its inauguration in 2010. This fund aims to bolster emerging artists as they venture into the community, exploring novel technologies and inventive approaches to artmaking and audience interaction. The donation is also positioned for dollar-for-dollar matching under the Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth’s (MCCY) Cultural Matching Fund, potentially elevating the total contributions to S$1 million.

This initiative follows the recent signing of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Marina Bay Sands and the NAC, solidifying the integrated resort’s commitment to becoming a pivotal platform for the arts. This strategic alliance seeks to transform Marina Bay Sands into a dynamic canvas, offering a distinctive array of cultural experiences for event organizers and delegates alike.

Marina Bay Sands and the NAC are extending an invitation to Singapore’s vibrant arts community to apply for the Sands Innovative Arts Fund under the stART Fund. Interested applicants can submit their proposals through the Open Call, which is open from today until February 29, 2024. Successful applicants will be notified by June 18, 2024. For further details, visit the stART Fund page on the NAC website.

The launch of the Sands Innovative Arts Fund aligns with the highly anticipated Singapore Art Week, taking place from January 19 to 28, 2024. Simultaneously, Marina Bay Sands is hosting the second edition of Where Art Takes Shape, an immersive celebration designed to inspire and captivate art enthusiasts and the broader community across the entire property. From January 19 to 21, the integrated resort played host to ART SG, Southeast Asia’s leading international art fair, at Sands Expo & Convention Centre.

Marina Bay Sands, since its inception in 2010, has been a stalwart supporter of the arts, championing the creative spirit and providing crucial assistance to budding artists striving to showcase their work. The commitment is visibly evident in its Art Path program, featuring 11 large-scale pieces of public art, such as the Rain Oculus and Wind Arbor by Ned Kahn and Drift by Antony Gormley.