The Embassy of France in Singapore and the National Arts Council, Singapore (NAC) signed on Thursday 21st July 2022 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), committing to support the creation of a bilateral Artist-in-Residency Programme by arts and culture institutions over the next five years, in the fields of visual, literary and performing arts. This is testament to the strong cultural cooperation and commitment from the two countries to support exchanges between artists and art professionals in the future.
Under the MOU, arts organisations in France and Singapore that offer residency programmes will have the opportunity to receive support to welcome artists and arts professionals from both countries to conduct research and/or create artworks, for periods of at least six weeks and up to six months, in France and Singapore. In a ceremony held at the Arts House, the MOU was signed by Mrs Rosa Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of NAC and HE Mr Marc Abensour, Ambassador of France to Singapore.
Mr Marc Abensour says: “The bilateral artist-in-residence residency programme between France and Singapore will, without a doubt, contribute to developing co-creations, co-curations and co-productions and to deepening the cultural dialogue between our two countries. It perfectly illustrates the priorities of the intergovernmental cultural agreement signed in November 2019 between the two Ministers of Culture and will generate long-lasting collaborations that could be presented within the framework of the next editions of vOilah! France Singapore Festival.”
France and Singapore have enjoyed a deep cultural relationship since 2009 with the signing of the first Agreement on Cultural Cooperation by both Governments. In 2019, the Cooperation Agreement between Singapore and France on Enhancing Cultural Cooperation was signed, further underscoring both countries’ shared commitment to develop and sustain cultural and artistic partnerships in the arts and heritage sectors.