Singapore's vibrant art scene is making significant strides in expanding its global footprint, with local galleries and cultural institutions doubling their international engagements since the COVID-19 pandemic. This strategic push overseas aims to develop artistic talent, reach broader audiences, and introduce more diverse artworks to Singapore's local cultural landscape. However, rising operational costs present ongoing challenges, as travel and shipping expenses have increased by approximately one-third in recent years.
Major cultural institutions like the National Gallery Singapore, which saw visitor numbers exceed pre-pandemic levels last year, are actively deepening their international connections. At the independent contemporary art gallery Yeo Workshop, international exposure has become central to its mission. The gallery has doubled its participation in overseas art fairs since 2019, participating in prestigious events in Paris, Hong Kong, and South Korea. These connections have led to invitations to major exhibitions such as international biennales.
According to founder Audrey Yeo, who also serves as president of the Art Galleries Association Singapore, these international opportunities are crucial for artists' professional development. "It's very important that local artists have their work seen by an international arena, because you meet all the cream of the crop of curators, institutions, museums and art collectors at these platforms," she explained. "When our local artists get an opportunity to exhibit there, they then can interact with those audiences and level up their practice to the next level. When they come home, the community can appreciate or benefit from their artwork." Some of these artists' works have been displayed at free public exhibitions or donated to medical institutions such as the Institute of Mental Health.
At Objectifs, a visual arts center specializing in photography and film located in Bugis, regional collaborations have similarly increased. Interest from international artists to collaborate and exhibit at Objectifs has grown by around 20 percent since the pandemic. The space regularly hosts artists from throughout Southeast Asia for mentorship programs and conducts educational tours for students and seniors to engage with regional art. Programme director Chelsea Chua emphasized that such initiatives help build empathy and community connections. "I think that the onus is also on art spaces like us to create different points of engagement for different communities and different audiences – to expand one's worldview, to form different kinds of solidarities, to learn about lived experience outside our own," she noted.
Despite these positive developments, industry participants acknowledge that rising costs remain a significant challenge. Local grants and platforms like the Singapore Biennale, organized by the Singapore Art Museum, have helped ease this financial burden. The biennale brings together artists from around the world for dialogues and exhibitions, with conversations often leading to future collaborations beyond the event itself. As SAM chief curator Shabbir Hussain Mustafa explained, "This is also what we're trying to develop - allow our artists to develop the right kind of networks so that they can go on to build projects well beyond SAM and its initiatives." The museum is dedicated to inviting local artists to participate in these conversations while reaching out to young and emerging artists to help advance their careers.
The National Arts Council is actively supporting these international efforts through exchange programs. Four Singaporean artists will travel to South Korea later this year under a partnership with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. Sam Lay, director of strategic partnerships and engagement at NAC, said the collaboration aims to deepen understanding between the two countries' art sectors. The participating artists will research venues and study the sustainability of their respective art markets, with findings used to develop future programs with other international partners. "I think we intend to use arts and culture as a very meaningful way to strengthen the relationship between countries," Lay added.
At the National Gallery Singapore, record-breaking growth has been achieved a decade after its opening. The museum now attracts nearly 2 million visitors annually – nearly triple its opening-year attendance. This success is attributed to expanded Singapore-Southeast Asia programs and improved public accessibility. From major festivals like Light to Night to smaller community-focused initiatives, CEO Eugene Tan said the Gallery strives to be inclusive. "This has really been our fundamental base from which we've then used to foster a greater appreciation of art among our public, both in Singapore and Southeast Asia," he told reporters.
Engaging younger audiences has become a key focus for the Gallery, addressing a challenge faced by museums worldwide. The institution has implemented initiatives like the Kolektif, its flagship youth program for 17- to 25-year-olds, providing them a platform to voice their opinions on important issues. "We also use social media a lot. For example, a post that we did using Gen Z language slang reached over 9 million viewers, and this also helps to bring younger audiences to the gallery – because the youths are really the future of our society," Dr. Tan explained. Experts suggest that museums can serve as community-building spaces, particularly for youth, through forums and conversations. Dr. Priya Jaradi, senior lecturer and convenor of art history at the National University of Singapore, noted that "the youth are bringing their concerns, but also their creativity and criticality into the museums. These are very important to give our youth a sense of participation and agency, so that they do feel that they are co-writing the next chapter – whether of art museums or framing our identity as Singaporeans."
