Singapore is distinctive because it does not force different cultures into a single mould, but encourages them to interact and flourish.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said this on Saturday (31 October) at the opening ceremony of the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society’s new campus. Citing the society as an example, he said he hoped it would reach a wider range of new audiences, as all Singaporeans should be able to appreciate the beauty and richness of Indian classical arts.
“This is especially important in Singapore, where we are a meeting point of different cultures and traditions. Every community has its own heritage, but we also want Singaporeans to look beyond our own communities, and take an interest in the cultures and traditions of others.”
PM Wong stressed that Singapore’s distinctive approach to multiculturalism does not seek to erase differences or merge cultures into one. “Instead, we make space for different cultures to flourish, while encouraging them to interact, influence and enrich one another.”
One of the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society’s founding aims was to ensure that a new generation of Singapore-born Indians remained connected to their cultural roots. He said this mission remained relevant today.
Today being a very different world, young people can watch artists and performances from around the world with just a tap on their phones. Their artistic tastes and influences are naturally more diverse than those of previous generations.
“Some may worry that, with all these competing influences, our young people may lose interest in their cultural traditions. But I do not think we have to see it that way. Our challenge is not to shield our young people from new influences but it is to give them stronger roots so that they can engage confidently in this new world.”
On cultural heritage, PM Wong said tradition and innovation were not opposites. The traditions people inherit are the fruits of innovation by earlier artists, who learnt from their predecessors and continually experimented and adapted. A vibrant tradition must therefore combine both traditional and innovative elements.
