MDA drops planned self-regulation arts scheme after pushback from 45 groups

Singapore has scrapped plans to roll out a self-regulation scheme for the sector after an unprecedented mass pushback from arts groups.

The Media Development Authority (MDA) on Friday announced this on its website after the close of public consultations on several amendments to its Public Entertainments and Meetings Act.

The planned scheme was designed to cut down red tape by implementing period-based licensing instead of the existing system, where licences were issued for each event that is organised.

Under the proposed scheme, arts groups were to self-classify performances in line with MDA guidelines, but could be fined for misclassification.

Among the feedback it received was a strongly-worded position paper from Arts Engage, a local arts network that listed 45 groups from various disciplines that strongly objected to the proposal, and called it “reductive and damaging to the arts industry”. Earlier this year, the scheme also strong objections from playwrights, directors and other players within Singapore’s arts sector, many of whom voiced their disapproval publicly online.

Arts groups were concerned that the scheme would fuel self-censorship, especially if they feared getting penalised for wrongly classifying work.

Former Nominated Member of Parliament Janice Koh also submitted a response, calling the system “counter-productive” while adding that several key portions of the proposed terms are not clearly explained.

Following additional rounds of engagement and a town hall session, the MDA noted in closing that “there are certain expectations of Arts Engage that MDA will not be able to meet”.

“We realised that it was not a matter of whether or not the scheme could have been better designed,” said MDA chief executive Koh Lin-Net. “Rather, that there were fundamental differences in views which could not be resolved. For example, whether or not at the highest level of rating, any form of content should be allowed.”

In response to the MDA, Arts Engage reportedly said in a statement that it was “heartened” that MDA had recognised the arts community’s concerns, and hoped to work with the MDA to develop a better framework.

Watch the video made by representatives of Singapore's arts community summarising their concerns about the proposed scheme: