National Arts Council

The National Arts Council (NAC), established in 1991 is a statutory board of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth that champions the arts and is a key government institution in the development and promotion of Tamil arts in Singapore.

With a mission to foster an arts sector that inspires society, sparks creativity, and connects Singapore globally, NAC promotes artistic excellence through diverse opportunities for artists and arts organisations. It has established a sustainable funding infrastructure through comprehensive grants covering artistic production and presentation, organisational development, audience building, training, and research.

NAC makes vital contributions to the vibrancy of Tamil arts activities across literature, theatre, music, and dance. By supporting established Tamil arts organisations while nurturing emerging talents, NAC ensures the continued growth and sustainability of Tamil artistic expression in Singapore.

Beyond funding, NAC integrates Tamil arts into national initiatives. The Singapore Writers Festival regularly features quality Tamil literary programming and showcases the works of Tamil literary pioneers. Through partnerships such as the NAC-Nanyang Technological University Asia Creative Writing Programme, distinguished Tamil writers from abroad have conducted specialised courses for local literary communities. Singapore Tamil writers also benefit from NAC-facilitated international residency opportunities.

School-based initiatives create engagement between students and artists, nurturing an appreciation for Singapore's cultural identity through various Tamil art forms such as street opera, dance, music, and storytelling.

NAC fosters intercultural understanding by incorporating Indian performances into multicultural presentations. In addition to developing audiences within Singapore, NAC’s advocacy efforts also focus on bringing Singapore arts and culture abroad. To that end, NAC has supported the internationalisation of Singapore Tamil literature, theatre, music and dance through participation in international book fairs such as the Chennai Book Fair and Frankfurt Book Fair, supporting overseas residency opportunities, and participation in international events. 



For more information
National Arts Council. Accessed 1 August 2025. https://www.nac.gov.sg/
Our SG Arts Plan (2018–2022). National Arts Council. Accessed 1 August 2025. https://www.nac.gov.sg/resources/arts-masterplans/our-sg-arts-plan-2018-2022

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.