The Ministry of Information and the Arts is formed

On 30 September 1990, during the People’s Action Party Community Day celebrations at NTUC Pasir Ris Resort, then First Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong announced the formation of a new ministry.^[1] The Ministry of Information and the Arts (MITA) would bring together selected sections of the Ministry of Community Development and the Ministry of Communications and Information.^[2] According to Goh, MITA’s aims were to keep Singaporeans informed about government policies and national issues, as well as to create a space for culture to flourish.^[3] Its acting minister was then Minister of State for Finance and Foreign Affairs George Yeo, who later became the Minister for Information and the Arts on 1 July 1991.^[4]

MITA was formed on 28 November 1990.^[5] It comprised the arts division and the heritage departments (including the National Archives of Singapore, Oral History Department, National Museum and National Library Board) of the Ministry of Community Development as well as the information division of the former Ministry of Communications and Information.^[6] The Board of Film Censors and the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation also came under MITA’s purview.^[7] MITA’s mission was to inform, educate and entertain; make Singapore a hub city of the world and to build an economically dynamic, socially cohesive and culturally vibrant society.^[8]

The MITA logo, designed by MITA officials under the direction of MITA artist Ng Ken Siew, was launched in 1994. It comprised (1) a green calligraphic stroke, (2) a red circle, and (3) a full red dot: Red symbolised human activity and communication and green represented nature from which all life springs and must remain close to. The hollow and full dots reflected the yin and yang that form the basis of art.^[9] Then Senior Parliamentary Secretary Ho Kah Leong, an artist and calligrapher, designed the calligraphic stroke of the logo.^[10]

References
1. Henson, B. (1990, October 1). Chok Tong names his two deputies. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. The Straits Times, 1 Oct 1990, p. 1.
3. New ministry seen as timely focus on arts. (1990, October 3). The Straits Times, p. 21. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. The Straits Times, 1 Oct 1990, p. 1.; Tan, S. (1990, December 22). Let the people lead. The Straits Times, p. 6.; Ibrahim, Z. (1991, July 2). BG Yeo, Boon Yang and Sidek sworn in by President Wee. The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Singapore. Ministry of Information and the Arts. (1991). Singapore (p. 212). Singapore: Ministry of Information and the Arts. Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN-[HIS]
6. Singapore. Ministry of Information and the Arts, 1991, p. 212.; Leong, G. (1992, November), MITA is two! MITA Matters, 1(8), 1.
7. Leong, Nov 1992, 1(8), 1.
8. Singapore. Ministry of Information and the Arts, 1991, p. 212.; New ministry aims to make Singapore hub city. (1990, December 7). The Straits Times, p. 22. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
9. Singapore. Ministry of Information and the Arts. (1999). Ministry of Information and the Arts: A profile (p. 2). Singapore: The Ministry. Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN-[HIS]; Emotions too play a part in binding societies: BG Yeo. (1994, January 2). The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
10. Lim, 27 Feb 2002, p. 93.; The Straits Times, 2 Jan 1994, p. 2.