Flying the flag
Meet Gaurav Kripalani: the Theatre Whisperer Who Still Keeps Dreams Alive
For more than two decades, Gaurav Kripalani has been the beating heart of Singapore’s stage scene. Despite feeling a little burnt‑out, he’s still as pumped up as on his very first day, pushing the envelope of what’s possible in the arts.
Literature’s Exit – A Call for a Return
Gaurav’s voice crackles with genuine worry when he says:
- “It’s heartbreaking that literature isn’t a mandatory subject anymore.”
- “You’ll see youngsters who barely get a taste of the classics; I’ve met teens who can’t even get excited about a good book.”
Yet he doesn’t let that blues get him. He keeps marching forward, convinced that theatre and the arts are the glue that holds a young nation together.
From the Early Days to Today
Back in 1996, Gaurav was one of Singapore’s first theatre graduates. The next year, he and his crew brought Shakespeare in the Park to life – a bold move that required them to bring in three‑quarters of the cast and crew from across the globe.
Fast forward to now, and the talent pool is bursting with local talent. “Nearly 90% of the folks we hire are Singaporeans,” he proudly shares.
Why It Matters
For Gaurav, this isn’t just a statistic; it’s proof that the country’s own artists are ready to shine on stage and beyond. He keeps stirring the pot, making sure that theatre isn’t just a hobby but a vital thread in Singapore’s cultural tapestry.
Takeaway
Even after 20+ years, Gaurav Kripalani is still the spark, reminding us all that theatre isn’t just about performances, it’s about keeping the old soul of literature alive in a world that’s fast forgetting its roots.
Singapore’s Artistic Revival: A Bold New Blueprint
Even after the COVID‑19 flurry, Singapore’s creative community is still polishing its posture. According to Kripalani, the art scene needs more than a little tweak to become financially sustainable.
Past Struggles, Future Hope
- During the pandemic, many artists took detours, turning to side gigs to make ends meet.
- Now that the “Covidian cloud” is lifting, Kripalani worries they might return or even push us back a few years if we don’t act fast.
Silver Linings & the Power of Live Performance
“People didn’t realise how much they missed the buzz of live shows,” he says. “It’s hard to beat the gut‑tingling experience of watching a performance with a crowd.”
Funding Matters – Let’s Shake Things Up
- Right now, 70% of the Singapore Repertory Theatre’s revenue comes from ticket sales.
- Kripalani proposes a balance: 40% from tickets, 40% from government support, and 30% from donations.
- This mix would give artists the freedom to experiment and push boundaries.
Keeping the Flame Alive
Kripalani’s four-year run as festival director of the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) shows that Singapore can be a cultural heavyweight in Asia. Even under time crunches—organising a physical festival in just a few weeks rather than the usual two years—he’s proven the city’s resilience.
Creativity in Action
Last November, to dodge restrictions on outdoor events, the SRT staged a lean‑and‑mean production: “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)”—all 37 plays squeezed into 97 minutes—at the Pasir Panjang Power Station.
And it’s not over. Kripalani is determined to keep launching more “Shakespeare in the Park” shows, even if they’re losing money. He believes a vibrant theater scene can elevate Singapore to the arts capital of Asia.
Dreaming Bigger
“If every tourist who stops by dedicates a night to a show, or even plans a trip around one, we’ll be a must‑visit destination for culture lovers,” he muses.
Let’s hope the city’s eclectic blend of ambition, humor, and heart turns those visions into reality.
The essential artist
Michael Tay: The Jazz‑Pining Diplomat Who’s Got a Big Plan for the Arts
What’s In a Teen’s Playlist?
- Most teens are glued to the hot trends of their generation—rock & roll or rap hits.
- Tay, a 62‑year‑old veteran diplomat, took a different route and fell in love with jazz.
- His brother gifted him a hi‑fi set that played smooth jazz, and that’s how it all started.
From Diplomacy to Dynamics of Culture
In his long career, Tay rubbed shoulders with the deep‑rooted cultures of Korea, Japan, and Russia. He discovered a simple truth: Kids who grow up surrounded by music, literature, poetry, and plays tend to keep that creative spark alive for life.
Sing Jazz & New Horizons
- After returning to Singapore, Tay launched the Sing Jazz Festival and the Foundation for the Arts & Social Enterprise in 2013.
- Both ventures have seen steady success and an expanding roster of options for patrons.
The Dark Cloud Over Singapore’s Arts Scene
Despite all the progress, Tay warns that Singapore is still “sidelining the arts”—the public’s instinctive downgrading of cultural pursuits. He’s determined to fight back, to flip that trend and make arts a high‑priority part of everyday life. And with his diplomatic touch and jazz flair, he’s ready to keep the score moving in the right direction.
When the Music Scene Went Mute
The pandemic hit musicians hard: gigs disappeared, concerts became ghost‑towns, and gigs that once lit up the city now lay silent. If you’re draining your lifetime of performances, where’s the comeback parade? Not a single large‑scale show has looked back.
Digital Dreams Miss the Mark
“Digitalisation isn’t the cure‑all we imagined.” Tay reckons. “Fundraising will slide because the craftiness of the pandemic drags benevolence toward urgent social causes. We’re now on a knife’s edge—how we steer the arts will decide whether Singapore really strides as a first‑world society.”
Exporting the Talent: The Road to a Global Stage
Instead of staying stuck in local circles, Tay’s vision is clear: merge Singapore’s creative scene with the world so that homegrown talents can shine abroad. Since the Foundation started, that’s the cornerstone of its mission.
Venture‑Capital Meets the Arts
Unlike regular charities, the Foundation treats fundraising like a venture. If a composer bursts with ideas, the team helps turn those into a market‑ready product—and then ships it overseas. That’s how the 10‑Year Music Commissioning Series was born.
New Composers, Big Ambitions
Every year, a local composer gets a 30‑minute commission. The inaugural piece comes from Cultural Medallion laureate Kelly Tang, who’s crafting an orchestral blockbuster inspired by the National Gallery’s artwork.
- Future goals: Chinese orchestral pieces, jazz tunes, full‑blown musical, even a rock opera.
- “We aim to line up concerts in Singapore, then export them.” This builds a canon of contemporary Singapore music.
- Corporate patrons? Yes—this is how a sustainable patronage network will be forged.
Art Is Born, Not Made
Tay feels arts are an inherent part of our identity. “We’re artists before we’re engineers or accountants.” He’d love a world where the arts are rightfully celebrated as a vital human experience, not a side hustle.
Key Takeaways
- Musicians lost gigs, sales; the show’s still far from back.
- Digital solutions alone can’t rescue the arts.
- Funding trends now favor social causes, not music.
- The Foundation’s VC‑style fundraising is a game‑changer.
- 10‑Year Commissioning Series: a yearly new musical flagship.
- Future plans: Chinese, jazz, musical, rock opera.
- Exporting local talent could lift Singapore’s global cultural standing.
- Build a patronage system by partnering with corporates.
- Art isn’t an add‑on; it’s who we are.
Weaving into the fabric of everyday life
Reviving the Museum Vibe: How Jackie’s Vision is Turning Murky Halls into Trendy Hubs
Jackie Yoong, the senior curator at Asian Civilisations Museum, has one mission: make museums the coolest place for kids and teens. The old-school view of dusty relics? Gone.
From “Yawn‑City” to “Culture Playground”
When Jackie was a school kid, visiting museums felt like a trip to the very back of the attic. They were labeled “old” and “dull.” Overseas, it was a different story: parents treated museums like MoMA or the Musee d’Orsay as must‑see family adventures.
Fast forward 12 years—Jackie’s museum is flipping that narrative. “We need to local crowds,” she says, and it’s working.
Team‑up with the Ministry of Education
- Targeted student programs
- Clever “accessible” messaging
- Kids now see museums as exciting rather than boring
And when the pandemic hit, museums got a digital makeover. Jackie is collaborating with the Royal Ontario Museum to pull together a virtual showcase of the pandemic’s biggest fashion sensation: face‑masks.
Upcoming Exhibit: Masks & More
Opening: November – a tongue‑in‑cheek look at how face‑masks defined a generation.
The New Age of Museums
Over the last decade, new museums have sprouted and older ones had face‑lifts. Inside the halls, staff have become masters of the micro‑content game: turning long, dusty histories into bite‑size social‑media nuggets that Instagram lovers can’t resist.
In short, the secret sauce is simple: keep the content light, relatable, and just enough quirky to hook the next generation.
Beyond the Museum Walls
Events such as the Singapore Night Festival have taken the scene to a whole new level, bringing a mix of vibrant, dynamic, and global flair to the arts circuit.
So next time you think of a museum, remember: it’s not just a relic repository—it’s a living, breathing playground that’s waiting to be explored by the curious and the playful.
Yoong’s Mission to Bring Singapore Museums into the Spotlight
“Youths tend to focus on the present, while museums emphasise the past,” explains Yoong, sounding both hopeful and cautious.
She’s working to bridge that gap, but warns, “Even though we’re innovating to meet them in the middle, we must not lose sight of our vision.”
Why Recognition Matters
Yoong believes Singapore’s cultural scene deserves the applause it deserves.
Most museums here are government‑funded, yet she’s convinced that true sustainability will only come from personal support—more donors, more patrons.
The Fundraising Lesson from Abroad
Having seen fundraising take museums overseas from niche favourites to everyday essentials, Yoong is confident it can happen locally.
If people can “joint‑up” with their favourite exhibits, they’ll feel it’s a part of their lives.
The Sunday Times Survey: 71% Disagree
- June 2023: The Sunday Times surveyed 1,000 participants.
- 71% ranked artists as the most non‑essential occupations.
- Yoong strongly disagrees.
Why Museums Matter
Even if they don’t add to the bottom line, museums do a lot more.
They help answer “Who am I?” and shape our everyday lives.
Yoong hopes people in Singapore will start to appreciate that.
Action Points for Readers
- Attend an exhibit, whether it feels “old” or “cool.”
- Donate—no amount is too small.
- Become a patron and show your support.
- Tell friends about the art you love.
By coming together, we can turn museums into more than just history lessons—they can become hubs of creativity and identity that everyone in Singapore can share.
