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Newsroom: 2008 Newsroom

20 February 2008

APB Foundation Inspires Emerging Local Arts with One-of-its-Kind Arts Adoption Programme

To inspire local arts in their creative endeavours, Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation today unveiled a new arts adoption initiative named the APB Foundation Inspire Programme.

The APB Foundation Inspire Programme funds specific plans drawn up by arts organisations and/or artists that would bring their works to the next level. It also embraces efforts that enable them to advance towards their goals though training and enhance their capabilities thereby improving their sustainability. Through the programme, the adopted beneficiaries will each receive S$30,000 per annum, up to a maximum of three years, from the APB Foundation. This is an effort by APB Foundation to support the public-private partnership in arts development initiated by the National Arts Council (NAC). The Council also facilitated the selection of the inaugural cohort of beneficiaries.

At the inaugural launch of the APB Foundation Inspire Programme today, Mr Huang Hong Peng, Regional Director, APB, on behalf of APB Foundation, presented a “hong bao” worth S$450,000 to Mr Lee Suan Hiang, Chief Executive Officer of NAC. The sum represents the initial three-year fund for the programme and will be disbursed through the council to five adopted arts beneficiaries.

The five beneficiaries receiving their hong baos today included:

  1. Apsaras Arts, an Indian dance group;
  2. Angkatan Sasterawan ’50 , a Malay literary arts group;
  3. Ding Xiaoyan Ruan Ensemble, a Chinese Orchestra;
  4. Cake Theatrical Productions, a new comer in western-style theatre; and
  5. Sculpture Society (Singapore) , a sculpture or visual arts group.

Mr Huang Hong Peng, Regional Director, APB, commented, “The APB Foundation has always been an ardent supporter of the arts. The APB Foundation Inspire Programme looks at supporting emerging and promising artists and arts organisations which often are not able to take on activities which are congruent to their growth and objectives due to the lack of funds and resources. Through the programme, we hope to remove some of the obstacles and set them on the path towards fulfilling their potential and meeting some of their objectives.”

The APB Foundation Inspire Programme is open to emerging practitioners of five arts forms namely Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts. In assessing the applications, the APB Foundation would review the merits of the proposed plans, artistic achievements and creative potential of the practitioners, and their management of finances and resources.

“With the help of NAC, the APB Foundation met five local arts groups that demonstrated strong creative potential, clear vision and a passion to grow their art. What got the APB Foundation really excited were the plans which they will be embarking on through the APB Foundation Inspire Programme. We see tremendous value in these causes and believe they will work to raise the level of artistic works, further develop arts appreciation and build up the future audience base in Singapore,” added Mr Huang.

On the programme, Mr Lee Suan Hiang, Chief Executive Officer, NAC said, “I am glad APB Foundation has responded to NAC's call by stepping forward so generously to support the development of the arts. This will be a big boost to the arts groups adopted by them. We hope more corporations in the private sector will follow APB Foundation's example by supporting the arts and embracing it as part of their corporate social responsibility.”

Unique in their own ways and pursuing different goals which are aligned with their objectives, each adopted beneficiary of the APB Foundation Inspire Programme will be utilising the annual funds as follows:

1) Apsaras Arts (Apsaras)
Committed to cultivating an appreciation for Indian Arts, Apsaras is keen to introduce to Singapore, Neo Bharatham – an Indian dance technique that is currently not available locally. With the adoption of the APB Foundation, Apsaras will be hiring professional male dancers who are trained in Neo Bharatham to impart the dance technique to Apsaras’ dancers, perform at Apsaras’ performances and contribute in choreography. It is envisaged that eventually, Apsaras’ core dancers will learn the technique, thus further raising the standards of Apsaras’ dancers. To facilitate transfer of skills in Singapore, these local dancers will also be imparting the craft to other fellow dancers. Local audiences will then be able to enjoy a new Indian dance form right here in Singapore without having to leave home.

2) Angkatan Sasterawan ’50 (Asas ’50)
Asas ’50 is taking a three-pronged approach towards exciting Malay-speaking youths about the literary arts. In reaching out to the youth-at-risk, Asas ’50 will be implementing a Biblio-Therapy Programme which aims to nurture an interest in reading and writing. To develop a passion for poetry and recitation amongst the young, a Heartland Poet Programme targeting school students will be introduced. Through the Cyber-based Literary Arts Innovation Club, Asas will offer an online resource centre for both veteran and aspiring writers. Collectively, the activities have been designed to enhance the level of appreciation for Malay literature; raise the standard of literary works; and improve capacity for future teachings and outreach programmes.

3) Ding Xiaoyan Ruan Ensemble (Ruan Ensemble)
As the very first Ruan (a Chinese string instrument) orchestra in the world, the Ruan Ensemble is committed to raising the bar for Chinese ethnic music performance and enhancing appreciation of the art form. With this in mind, the Ensemble will be commissioning four new pieces to be performed at their annual concert and holding a two-part exchange programme with the Beijing Conservatory Ruan Ensemble from 2009 to 2010. The programme, which involves a combined concert in Singapore and later in Beijing, serves to further extend Ruan music locally and beyond; offer a learning platform for the performers of Ruan Ensemble to raise their performance standards; and broaden the exposure of Ruan Ensemble beyond Singapore.

4) Cake Theatrical Productions (Cake)
New on the arts scene but already showing a lot of potential is Cake. With support from APB Foundation, the two-year-old group will be able to share their brand of experimental theatre with the Singapore public through one free outdoor performance for each of the three years of adoption. During each show, Cake will be inviting cultural groups and emerging artists to perform in a bid to add to the vibrancy of the arts scene and offer fellow aspiring artists the opportunities to perform as well as raise their profiles. It is also intended for the outdoor performances to be accessible to the general audience so that more people in the community can experience the art.

5) Sculpture Society (Singapore)
With an eye on raising the standard of sculpturing in Singapore, the Sculpture Society (Singapore) is launching a Practical Workshop Pavilion at Fort Canning Park. The workshop pavilion will be used to conduct monthly practical workshops or talks for the public and school students; and house their new artist-in-residence programme which facilitates an exchange of ideas and knowledge between foreign artists and local talents. The activities will serve to enable more public interaction on the art form and extend the reach of the art to more young Singaporeans. Apart from the regular workshops, local sculptors can expect to benefit and learn from their foreign peers through the Artist-In-Residence programme.

About Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation
Instituted in June 1994, the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation (APB Foundation) has been fulfilling APB's philanthropic commitment to society. Its philanthropic intent spans three areas namely Creativity Development, Human Excellence and Humanitarian Causes.

Since its inception, the Foundation has provided grants and other forms of support to over 150 initiatives, benefiting disadvantaged homes and charitable organisations, medical research bodies, theatre and music groups and scholarship programmes amongst others.

The APB Foundation envisages a fun and vibrant arts scene in Singapore. It has supported causes that cultivate artistic talent, grow audiences and develop local artistic work. Moving together with the local arts community that has blossomed over the years, the Foundation holds the hope that Singapore will soon join the ranks of nations where diverse local arts groups enjoy strong followings from all sectors of society.

Recognising that Singapore's global competitiveness lies in the hands of its people, the APB Foundation has been investing in Human Excellence causes that are designed to discover and nurture talent, and to build human capital.

The Foundation is hopeful that with its contributions, Singapore can realise an enhanced competitive edge supported by a ready pool of talents, sportsmen, educators, researchers and professionals.

In reaching out to the disadvantaged in the community, the APB Foundation seeks to play a constructive and developmental role in the community, and partners those who share common altruistic goals to better serve societal needs. The Foundation believes in enabling self-help amongst the beneficiaries so that they could rise stronger to move beyond their problems and contribute to their community or society eventually.

The APB Foundation Board of Trustees, assisted by its Advisory Committee, envisions the Foundation to play a constructive and developmental role in the community, and working with partners who share common altruistic goals to better serve societal needs both in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region.



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