In the global field of cultural production : Singapore as global city for the arts

My thesis is an examination of Singapore's aspiration to become a Global City for the Arts as set out in the Renaissance City Report released in 2000. By examining the key issues surrounding Singapore's attempt to become a Global City for the Arts, this thesis discuss the reasons why Singapore want to be achieve this aim and identifies the key obstacles in realising this goal. Using a Pierre Bourdieu framework of analysis, I provide a different way of examining Singapore's perception of its position in relation to other cities in the world and highlight key areas that Singapore needs to develop as it seeks to truly become a Global City for the Arts. By expanding and extending Bourdieu's concepts of 'field' and 'habitus', I show how the Government firstly, uses a variety of rules and regulations to manage the cultural production of arts and culture in Singapore and secondly, how it attempts to inculcate an appreciation of a specific aesthetic style in both Singaporean artists and audiences. I argue that Singapore's quest to become a Global City for the Arts is stymied due to its inability to develop a meaningful international global profile through the way it attempts to micro-manage the creation, production and consumption of culture in Singapore. These issues coupled with a rapidly changing Singapore society only serve to undermine Singapore's attempt to become a Capital of Culture. I assert that unless there is a fundamental shift in the way policy directives are implemented and enforced in Singapore, it is highly unlikely that Singapore can truly attain its goal of becoming a Global City for the Arts.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo