I consciously spent a decade saying yes to as many experiences in entertainment as possible: I was a radio DJ. I trained with Rajah & Tann’s entertainment department. I hosted documentaries. I acted on stage and screen. I was a gig musician. I travelled to international music conferences to understand different ecosystems. I moderated panels. I managed a Singapore band into a Singapore brand. I co-opened a Michelin-plated restaurant. I puppeteered and voice acted.
I now problem-solve with the benefit of multiple points of reference.
In March, I co-produced a livestream to help the music ecosystem. I co-drafted surveys targeting the music community, cleaned the data, and presented our findings to the former MCCY Minister. I’ve packaged information on grants and policy updates to reassure groups of gig musicians, and heard from the wider creative community as one of the administrators and moderators of the SG Covid-19 Creative/Cultural Professionals & Freelancers Support Group.
After many Zoom meetings with arts administrators, I wish to bring that research-focused, community-grounded, service-oriented mindset further up the policy ladder more directly, zooming in on greater audience education and uplifting creative freelancers.
Building on the work of previous Arts NMPs, I wish to bridge the gap Audrey Wong identified between creative freelancers and policymakers. The livelihood issues of invisible, “non-essential” freelancers have worsened with Covid-19 and need urgent attention.
Our diversity as creatives is both a weakness and a strength - it is up to us to harness it, and help policymakers make sense of our industry and its cultural value to the nation as a tool of resilience.