National Arts Council appoints S'porean diplomat Chan Heng Chee as new chairman

National Arts Council appoints S'porean diplomat Chan Heng Chee as new chairman

SINGAPORE - Veteran Singapore diplomat Chan Heng Chee will be taking over from Edmund Cheng Wai Wing as chairman of the National Arts Council (NAC) from Sept 1.


Get the full story from The Straits Times.

Here is the release from NAC:

Appointment of the 12th Board of the National Arts Council

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) has appointed the following Council members for a two-year term with effect from September 1, 2013:

  • Professor Chan Heng Chee (Chairperson)
  • Mr Edward Chia
  • Ms Claire Chiang
  • Ms Chong Siak Ching
  • Mr Goh Yew Lin
  • Mr Guy Harvey-Samuel
  • Ms Koh Lin-Net
  • Mr Vinod Kumar
  • Associate Professor Kwok Kian Woon
  • Ms Lian Pek
  • Ms Tan Li San
  • Mr Alvin Tan
  • Mr Wong Siew Hoong
  • Mr Yeoh Oon Jin
  • Mr Suhaimi Bin Zainul Abidin
  • CEO, National Arts Council (upon appointment)

MCCY and the Council would like to thank the outgoing Chairman Mr Edmund Cheng Wai Wing, as well as outgoing members Ms Aw Kah Peng, Mr Richard Chia, Mr Ng Cher Pong, Mr Benson Puah Tuan Soon, Ms Priscylla Shaw, Ms Audrey Wong Wai Yen, Ms Woo Mun Ngan, and Mr Yam Ah Mee for their valuable time and contributions to the NAC and to the development of the arts in Singapore.

Mr Cheng served 11 years on the Council, three years as Deputy Chairman and eight years as Chairman. He was also the Chairman of the Strategic Review Committee and the Human Resource Committee.

During his term, Mr Cheng oversaw the Council's launch of several new initiatives under the National Plans for Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, as well as the Arts and Culture Strategic Review. This includes initiatives in the areas of Community Engagement, Capability Development and Arts Education.

Mr Cheng's term as Chairman also saw active improvements to support Singaporean artists and arts companies in their development, through assistance schemes under the New Grants Framework and the Framework for Arts Spaces.

Council members are drawn from the private, people and public sectors, including the arts. The Council guides the work of the NAC in the development and promotion of the arts and culture in Singapore. In particular, the Council oversees matters of corporate and financial governance and advises the management of the NAC on its strategic priorities and the planning of major arts initiatives.

Ms Yeoh Chee Yan, Permanent Secretary, MCCY said: "On behalf of the MCCY I would like to extend our deep gratitude to Mr Edmund Cheng for his stewardship of the NAC these past 11 years. He has been a tireless champion for the arts in Singapore and under his watch, the arts scene has flourished. I would also like to thank all outgoing Council members for their dedicated service and invaluable contributions to the work of the NAC.

"I warmly welcome the new Chairman and members on board. With their rich experience and love for the arts, I'm confident that the new Council, under the leadership of Professor Chan Heng Chee, will provide good counsel to the NAC as it works to promote the development of arts and culture in Singapore".

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