SINGAPORE – To support artists at a time of economic uncertainty given the conflict in the Middle East, rental hikes at Goodman Arts Centre (GAC) will be deferred in 2026.

Instead, the National Arts Council and the Arts House Group, which manages the arts centre, will review at the end of the year the rates for 2027. 

Minister of State for Culture Community And Youth Baey Yam Keng said this in Parliament on April 8. 

He was replying to Ms Gho Sze Kee (Mountbatten), who asked whether measures are being considered to help tenants cope with higher rentals, and whether longer-term plans are in place to ensure arts practitioners have access to affordable workspaces. 

News that rents at GAC would increase by as much as 60 per cent caused anxiety among artist tenants worried about rising costs. 

GAC offers 77 units, including 26 project studios for short-term tenancies of up to 12 months, the rates for which were last reviewed in 2012.

There are 51 units under the Framework for Arts Spaces scheme, which supports arts groups for leases up to nine years, the rental for which is subsidised by NAC up to 80 per cent. 

Mr Baey said: “To support our arts sector, NAC provides such spaces at rates below commercial rental rates.”

He noted that in considering rental increases, the NAC “takes into account rising operation costs for the maintenance of these spaces and the need to ensure that the revised rates remain affordable compared with other commercial spaces in the vicinity and other arts spaces”.

Mr Baey added: “In planning for the future, NAC will take steps to ensure that arts spaces remain accessible and affordable for artists and arts groups.”