[in-enaction] ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN COMPETITION FOR A NEW NATIONAL ART GALLERY, SINGAPORE

> > SINGAPORE LAUNCHES ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN COMPETITION FOR A NEW NATIONAL 
> > ART GALLERY
> >
> > *
> >
> >
> >       /- Architects around the world invited to conceptualise a design
> >       for the Art Gallery, to be housed in two iconic heritage buildings
> >       set in the heart of Singapore’s Civic District, City Hall and the
> >       former Supreme Court building.  /
> >
> > //
> >
> > /Singapore, 22 February 2007/ – The heart of Singapore’s city centre is 
> > set to become even more vibrant in the Civic District area, with a new 
> > National Art Gallery /(working title)/ to be completed around 2012. 
> > Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Dr Lee Boon Yang, 
> > announced on 13 February 2007 that Singapore will launch the 
> > Architectural Design Competition for the National Art Gallery this month 
> > for local and international architects to develop the best design concept 
> > for the new National Art Gallery.
> >
> > The Art Gallery will be housed in two historically significant 20^th 
> > century monuments situated in Singapore’s Civic District – City Hall and 
> > the adjacent former Supreme Court building. The Art Gallery is envisioned 
> > to be dedicated to the presentation, collection and study of Southeast 
> > Asian and Singaporean visual arts, and the examination of how the art of 
> > this region connects with developments in the rest of the international 
> > art world. Today, Southeast Asian art makes up two-thirds of Singapore’s 
> > national collection of some 7,500 pieces of artworks.
> >
> > A unique opportunity to work with civic monuments of such scale and 
> > historical importance, this project will add a new dimension to the 
> > cultural and art spaces in Singapore.
> >
> > Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister-of-State for Information 
> > Communications and the Arts and Foreign Affairs, who also chairs the 
> > Steering Committee for the National Art Gallery said, “A new National Art 
> > Gallery is timely at this juncture in Singapore’s transformation to 
> > become a global city of the arts. This architectural competition is just 
> > the first step, towards building a national institution that will be 
> > owned and valued by the community, and one in which all Singaporeans will 
> > be proud of.”
> >
> > Since 1992, both buildings have been gazetted as national monuments, and 
> > are subject to preservation guidelines under the authority of the 
> > Preservation of Monuments Board. They were vacated in 2005, and have 
> > since been used occasionally, for example, in 2006 as one of the 
> > exhibition venues for the Singapore Biennale 2006 and as a registration 
> > centre for delegates of the International Monetary Fund/World Bank 
> > meetings.  More information about the buildings’ heritage and history are 
> > included in _Annex I_. Architects participating in the competition will 
> > be provided with the preservation guidelines but are encouraged to 
> > develop innovative ideas.
> >
> >
> >     Entries sought
> >
> > This architectural competition is organised by MICA in association with 
> > the Singapore Institute of Architects.
> >
> > The competition will be conducted in two stages. The first stage, an open 
> > ideas competition, will look for initial design ideas, and be judged on 
> > design philosophy and task appreciation. Entries at Stage I are kept 
> > anonymous and competitors’ identities will be revealed to the jury after 
> > they have been shortlisted for the second stage. Shortlisted competitors 
> > will move to Stage II, a design development competition, where they will 
> > be asked to develop their initial concepts and demonstrate the 
> > workability of their proposals against a budget. At the end of the 
> > two-stage competition, the jury will select not more than three winners, 
> > where one winner may be commissioned in end 2007 to design and build the 
> > National Art Gallery.
> >
> > Extending an invitation to architects from Singapore and around the world 
> > to come forward with bold and creative ideas, Dr Balaji said, “The 
> > competition presents an exciting and unique opportunity for top talents 
> > from Singapore and around the world to not only shape the Civic District 
> > but to also steer Singapore to the forefront of global cities and define 
> > our presence as a visual arts hub.”
> >
> > The competition brief for Stage I, terms and conditions will be available 
> > on the website at www.nationalartgallery.sg 
> > <http://www.nationalartgallery.sg/> from 23 February 2007 onwards. The 
> > closing date for Stage I is 13 April 2007.
> >
> >                                                                         -End-
> >
> > **
> >
> > *Notes to the Editor:*
> >
> > *_About the _**_National_**_ _**_Art_**_ _**_Gallery_**_ of 
> > _**_Singapore_**__*
> >
> > The National Art Gallery of Singapore /(working title)/ is a new visual 
> > arts institution which will contribute to building Singapore as a 
> > regional and international hub for visual arts.  It will focus on the 
> > display, promotion, research and study of Southeast Asian art including 
> > Singapore art, as well as play host to international art exhibitions.
> >
> > Situated in the heart of the Civic District, the City Hall and adjacent 
> > former Supreme Court building - two important heritage buildings symbolic 
> > of Singapore’s nationhood - will be converted to house this exciting new 
> > visual arts venue, and is anticipated to be completed by 2012. The 
> > National Art Gallery will be a civic and creative space, established for 
> > the enrichment, enjoyment and engagement of Singaporeans and visitors 
> > from all over the world.
> >
> > *__*
> >
> > *__* *_About the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, 
> > _**_Singapore_**__*
> >
> > The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) is a 
> > multi-faceted ministry.  It is both an economic and social ministry with 
> > the vision to nurture and develop a Creative Economy, Gracious Community 
> > and Connected Singapore.
> >
> > The Ministry's mission is to develop Singapore as a Global City for 
> > information, communications and the arts, so as to build a creative 
> > economy and a connected society with a Singaporean identity rooted in our 
> > multicultural heritage.  It aims to propel the creative economy through 
> > the development and promotion of the creative industries (arts, design 
> > and media) and infocomm technology sector to create new economic value 
> > and jobs.  It also aims to forge a strong sense of community, national 
> > identity, rootedness and inclusion among Singaporeans, and to foster 
> > better understanding between the Government and its various stakeholders 
> > through effective public communications. More information on MICA is 
> > available at www.mica.gov.sg <http://www.mica.gov.sg>.
> >
> > *__*
> >
> > *__* *_Media enquiries, please contact Hill & Knowlton:_*
> >
> > Ms Pamela Tor Das
> >
> > Tel +65 6390 3330 or +65 9765 2971 / Email 
> > pamela.tordas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > Ms Janice Quah  Tel +65 6390 3361 or +65 9680 7555 / Email 
> > janice.quah@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> > <mailto:janice.quah@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >
> > *__*