Singapore Art Museum Receives SGD2.25 million from Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation
October 29, 2007

Singapore Art Museum and Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation are proud to announce a long term partnership that is aimed at recognizing and promoting contemporary art in Singapore and the region.

SAM will receive a donation of SGD2.25 million to organise the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize series. The inaugural exhibition will take place in 2008, and thereafter held once every 3 years for the duration of 15 years. The APB Foundation Signature Art Prize is a quality mark of distinction and excellence awarded to artists whose work represents a significant development in contemporary art. It is also the highest juried art prize in the region. There will a total of 5 awards: Grand Prize (SGD 45,000), 3 Juror’s Choice Awards (SGD 10,000 x 3) and a People’s Choice Award (SGD 10,000). A premier juried prize of contemporary art in the region, it is envisioned that such a platform will stimulate and promote lively public discussion of new developments in contemporary art in this region.

The announcement cum donation ceremony for the APB Signature Art Prize series will be held on 30 October 2007, 7pm at Singapore Art Museum Glass Hall. The event coincides with the Museum’s launch of The Big Picture Show, a first in the Museum’s history in featuring 26 mural sized paintings from all 10 ASEAN countries, in celebration of ASEAN’s 40th Anniversary as well as marks Singapore taking over the chair of ASEAN in November 2007. The cheque for SGD2.25 million will be presented by Trustee and Chairman of the Advisory Committee, APB Foundation, Mr Koh Poh Tiong at the ceremony, and received by Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Dr Lee Boon Yang, on behalf of Singapore Art Museum of National Heritage Board.

Says Trustee and Chairman of the Advisory Committee, APB Foundation, Mr Koh Poh Tiong, “It is ultimately, our intention that the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize will be to the Asia Pacific region what the John Moore’s Painting Competition is to the United Kingdom; and, the RBC Canadian Painting Competition is to Canada. I am confident that the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize will put Singapore on the regional, if not global, map for the arts. We have committed the financial component; and, while that can provide the vital spark, it is up to you to fan the flames. Whether you are artists, gallery owners, museum curators and administrators, art historians or educators, journalists or patrons, each of you plays an indispensable part in developing and promoting art. I would therefore like to ask you to support this award in your various capacities; and, together, we can make this Signature Art Prize a real success, one whose impact on regional art will be felt for years to come.”

Says Director, Singapore Art Museum, Mr Kwok Kian Chow, “In an era where the sustainability of a programme is very much dependent on continued funding support, the funds provided by Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation will help ensure sustainability of such an award series, which is important to stimulate continued development in the visual arts, by providing a long term funding commitment to the Singapore Art Museum. We are honoured to have Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation as an anchor presenting sponsor to collaborate with Singapore Art Museum on this worthy project.”

Adds Mr Kwok, on why such an art award series is being led by Singapore Art Museum, “Singapore Art Museum is one of the few museums in the world specialising in modern and contemporary Southeast Asian Art. Amidst escalating interest in regional art globally, there is little institutionally-led direction in supporting contemporary Southeast Asian art. Singapore Art Museum believes that it should take the lead in organising an award to recognise emerging talents from the region and beyond, as well as provide them with a suitable platform for exhibition. This is therefore a niche that is worth developing and promoting, while recognising other major talents from the region and beyond, as well as their socio-political and geographical contexts, which in many ways is a shared experience.”

As a start, the Art Prize will look at 12 key countries including: Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

The inaugural APB Foundation Signature Art Prize in 2008 will be curated by Singapore Art Museum. An international jury panel will be convened to assist with the selection to ensure inclusivity.