SINGAPORE'S grand old lady is getting her most expensive makeover yet. Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall will be refurbished and reconfigured to add more space for arts groups.
The price tag: $180 million, almost a third of what it cost to build the Esplanade.
This sum is on top of the $115 million set aside for the next five years to grow Singapore into a global arts city. The premises will close in 2010 and reopen three years later.
News of the makeover came as a surprise to the arts community, who had worried that cuts would be made in government funding in the light of the economic downturn.
But Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew assured them otherwise as he gave more details yesterday of the masterplan to guide Singapore's arts and cultural development.
'I can assure stakeholders that the Government remains fully committed to this sector...We'll work with them to help them weather the storm,' he said.
The refurbishment of the two venues is part of a broader plan to develop and promote cultural institutions around Empress Place. One recent project announced: the construction of the National Art Gallery, reported to cost $320 million, at the former Supreme Court and City Hall. It is expected to open in 2013.
The imposing Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall was gazetted as a national monument in 1992. The theatre is 148 years old while the concert hall is 103 years old
In 1995, the concert hall, which was then home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, had its interior repainted and the air- conditioning system improved to the tune of $700,000.
The next year, $6 million was spent renovating the theatre, including installing an orchestra pit and fire curtains for the stage. In 2002, $250,000 went to maintenance and repair works for the theatre.
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts said the latest refurbishment will include improving the acoustics, seating and backstage facilities.
The space will also be reconfigured to accommodate rehearsal needs and commercial pre- and post- performance activities.
The theatre and concert hall will continue to operate until renovation commences.
Mr Yan Yin Wing, music director of the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra, which has been performing at the concert hall since 1986, welcomed the plans.
He said: 'The concert hall is getting a little bit old compared to other modern venues such as the Esplanade.'
His 70-member orchestra has begun looking for a new concert venue but will continue to play there next year.
Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui also announced plans to review the Arts Housing Scheme. It will be extended beyond providing work space for professional artists and arts groups to include private arts businesses and specialised services such as art conservation.
In 2010, when the School of the Arts, Singapore moves from its temporary premises at Goodman Road to Kirk Terrace in the Bras Basah Road area, the vacated premises will be converted into an additional 15,000 sq m of arts housing space.
The National Arts Council will also be launching a scheme next year to support Singaporean artists' residencies abroad, as well as foreign artists' residencies here.
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