Recent Differentiation between Two Cultural Industries By Cultural Policies: Singapore’s Cultural Transformation and Inequality Problems Since 2012

Singapore has been developing as a top level of global cities since 1990’s. They always take advantage on implementing with economic policies and on posing political regulations against artistic activities, particularly art expressions. But at last their government began to establish both an art culture and popular culture (including ICT culture) since 1990’s. Because of continuing cultural policies, cultural level (both appreciation and participation) among Singaporean has been rising and cultural inequality has been gradually a little bit improving. However according to their economic inequality (15% new rich and other relatively poor stratification), there still existed cultural inequality among them.
In my presentation I would refer to the three points. One is to give an overview of 5 terms (from establishment to development) consist of cultural institution in Singapore. Second point is to point out the separation between an art culture and popular culture. And last one is to analyze their recent changes and reorganization of culture policies from a long-term national plan since 2012. For example, the recent plan contains supporting basement of national identity by an art culture and directing toward bottom up cultural level among Singaporean. Contrasting with an art culture, cultural industries, that is popular culture, has been accepted with governmental support with considerable regulations, but market of cultural industries (e.g. movies, music, etc.) have been expanding and growing an innovative transformation. Finally, in addition I would cover the different multi-cultural background compared with U.S.A, Canada and Western Europe. Singapore has kept a typical example as a unique way of advancement through an art system in context of globalization.