The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) announced its partnership with the National Arts Council (NAC) on Dec. 23 to create an interim independent space for street art along the Rail Corridor beneath the Commonwealth Avenue viaduct.
The new art space, which will exist for a year starting 2014, will complement URA’s Draft Master Plan 2013’s initiative in promoting the spirit of “PubliCity”, where the community will be involved in converting open spaces into public art spaces.
Curated by urban art collective RSCLS and supported by both the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and Land Transport Authority (LTA), the art space will not only be a canvas for street artists to display their skills and produce temporary artwork for users of Rail Corridor to discover, but also involve the participation of the community in activities like a street art jam.
URA’s senior director for physical planning Tan See Nin said, “The Rail Corridor is currently a recreational space with many people strolling, jogging and cycling along the trail and enjoying the green landscapes along the way. We would like the Rail Corridor to be a place for shared experiences and community bonding as well. We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner NAC and the street art community to introduce this art space. It is a creative way to inject more vibrancy and community involvement into the Rail Corridor and provide a unique experience for users of this public space.”
NAC’s director of arts and youth Kenneth Kwok added that by facilitating dedicated art spaces, street artists can have the physical and artistic platform to express themselves and practice their craft. He also said that the council will continue to support the development of Singapore’s street art scene through grants, spaces and public engagement.
Photo: URA’s Facebook
