With the Singapore Biennale now underway, it’s been pretty much all about contemporary art for the past couple of days. But interestingly enough, the big news from the National Arts Council is traditional arts. They announced this morning three new initiatives to “boost” the country’s traditional arts scene. And of course, my first reaction, when I opened my email in-between yakking about the importance of contemporary art to a bunch of uni and poly students for the Biennale’s Young Art Writers Programme was... "Ey?" Under the five-year National Traditional Arts Plan, $23 million will be used for beefing up productions, companies and audiences. The three initiatives are: 1. Presentation and Promotion Grant Scheme (the expanded version). Funding will increase from 30% to 50% to (traditional) artists and arts groups. 2. Seed Grant Scheme. A two-year seed funding scheme to grow traditional arts companies. 3. Strategic Partnerships for Outreach. Which is hooking up with cultural and community organisations and events like the District Arts Festivals by the Community Development Councils and the Singapore Heritage Festival, and schools, etc. By NAC’s count, there are “more than 100 active traditional arts groups”, offering 1,400 traditional arts performances annual (19% of total arts performances). I’m sure the new initiatives will be welcomed by traditional arts groups, but at the same time – and admittedly, my reactions are based on a measly press release – I have a few nagging questions and random initial off-the-cuff thoughts about this whole thrust for traditional arts. *** What does it mean to be a “traditional” arts group or "traditional" artist nowadays anyway? Sarkasi Said is a batik pro and he uses a traditional form but I wouldn’t say he’s a "traditional" artist. I wouldn't even call the late Chua Ek Kay a traditional Chinese ink painter too. Or to use examples from other countries – the SB2011 artist Sopheap Pich, who uses rattan and er, “traditional” craft to create his structures, and Thai choreographer Pichet Klunchun who’s a hardcore Khon dude. But both do works that are contemporary – or at least are accepted and recognized as contemporary. Or even Toy Factory’s recent Chinese opera mash-up show. They’re a contemporary theatre group mining and bringing back a traditional form but in a new way. Or local dance choreographer Raka Maitra -- classically trained but pushing the envelope. The lines between traditional and contemporary are so blurred right now, why the re-demarcation? *** Who is the audience? I’m assuming “traditional” and “community” are two different things. I’m assuming, when MICA minister Lui Tuck Yew brought up support for “community arts” in his speech last week that he wasn’t talking about “traditional arts”. Because, well, The Necessary Stage’s community outreach arm isn’t exactly “traditional”. Unless they bring back wayang kulit (er, in collaboration with The Finger Players?) – but then, does that mean kacang puteh, stools and the works? *** Somewhere in the press release is this statement: “The practice of traditional art forms is deeply skill-based. The fast pace of life in Singapore is often in direct competition with the demands of a practice which requires a high level of skills and competencies to perfect the art.” It’s perfectly true. But it’s also perfectly true that the practice of contemporary art forms is deeply skill-based (or at least in theory, should be). It also requires “a high level of skills and competencies to perfect the art”. I'm just saying. *** I missed the press conference. Maybe they elaborated on all these. In which case, like you, I’m curious to know what exactly does having these new initiatives mean. Meanwhile, NAC will be holding two briefings this month for traditional arts groups and individuals to explain more. It’ll be on March 22, 10am, and March 31, 3pm, at the Drama Centre Function Room 3 at the National Library. Traditionalists – whatever that means – can RSVP at 6346 9578, 6346 9571 or email khalid_ismail [at] nac.gov.sg or lynn_seah [at] nac.gov.sg by this Friday.