Profile of Organisations that Received Disbursements from Cultural Matching Fund

14 Mr Kok Heng Leun asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) since its inception, what is the respective amount of funds that has been disbursed from the Cultural Matching Fund to (i) national companies and museums (ii) major grant and seed grant companies (iii) other cultural and arts organisations not covered in (i) and (ii); (b) what is the number of receiving entities within each of these categories; and (c) what is the amount that has been respectively disbursed to the (i) visual arts (ii) performing arts (iii) literary arts (iv) traditional arts and (v) heritage sectors.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (Mr Baey Yam Keng) (for the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth):Mdm Speaker, since its inception three years ago, the Cultural Matching Fund (CMF) has matched about $152 million of corporate and private giving. Among the arts and heritage charities that qualify for CMF, about six out of 10 have applied for and received funding from CMF. The amount matched by CMF comprised $65 million for 12 national companies and museums; $33 million for 36 Major Grant and Seed Grant companies; and $54 million for 37 other charities supporting arts and heritage causes.

The breakdown by sector is as follows: $23 million for visual arts; $40 million for performing arts; $0.6 million for literary arts; $24 million for traditional arts; $20 million for heritage, and $44 million for the remaining groups.

Mr Kok Heng Leun (Nominated Member):I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the detailed answer. Looking at it, out of $200 million, $152 million has been actually used up. So, would this scheme stop when the current Cultural Matching Fund runs out? Would the Government continue to support this scheme?

The second supplementary question is: under what conditions are applications for such Cultural Matching grants rejected?

Lastly, I do note that a huge sum has gone to the national companies. So, I am wondering, while this Fund is good for companies, but at the same time, I think the rationale behind it is to help to build other companies in terms of their capacity to get sponsorship. Has this aim been achieved and how do you ensure that this process is being cultivated?

Mr Baey Yam Keng:I thank the Member for his interest in the CMF. Indeed, the Ministry is currently reviewing the CMF and we are looking at the possibility of a new tranche when it runs out.

As for the eligibility for the CMF matching, in order to qualify for CMF, applications must meet the following criteria.

All arts and heritage charities and Institutes of Public Character (IPCs) are eligible for the CMF. But the CMF may also consider other charities and IPCs that contribute significantly to the arts and heritage sectors. The CMF will also only consider cash donations that are certified by a certified public accountant or auditor. So, in-kind donations will not be matched. The CMF will also not match grants given by the Government or Statutory Boards, donations from ComChest, President's Challenge or similar entities. The CMF will also match donations with benefits that are in line with the IRAS guidelines on donations with benefits.

In terms of calculation of the amount of cash donations, it is based on the amount that is received up to the previous financial year of the receiving organisation. So, applications which do not meet these above criteria will be rejected.

On the Member's questions about the inclusion of national companies and museums, the CMF's primary objective is to promote cultural philanthropy and to encourage individuals and corporations to include arts and heritage causes in their giving. National companies and museums, being larger organisations, are able to raise funds on a bigger scale and will have a greater impact to move the needle in raising public awareness of and support for cultural philanthropy.

However, we are mindful that our national companies and museums should not crowd out the other smaller arts and heritage organisations. Therefore, we have put in place a $15 million funding cap for each CMF recipient. This cap limits the amount of funding that each CMF recipient can obtain, and this will ensure that smaller groups can still tap on the CMF over the longer term.