Book Launch "The Future of Heritage": Celebrating BA Arts Management Research
How can research on cultural heritage help us reimagine its future and further development to benefit generations to come?
Synopsis: Starting with keynotes from Dr Venka Purushothaman, LASALLE Deputy President and Provost, and Jervais Choo, National Heritage Board (NHB) Deputy Director, Organisational Design and Innovation, the seminar will discuss the story behind the book The Future of Heritage (2023: Pagesetters). It will share the research achievements of the book contributors from LASALLE's Class of 2023, who will present their projects to reflect on the future of heritage in Singapore.
Grincheva, Natalia (Ed.) 2023. The Future of Heritage. Singapore: Pagesetters.
ISBN: 978-981-18-7373-7 | DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8074105
Seminar Series: This event is part of the seminar series ‘Glocal’ Agenda in the Arts Management Research: Interrogating, Redefining and Challenging Traditional Research Canons.
This event is free and open to the public.
Venka Purushothaman
Keynote Speaker
Dr Venka Purushothaman is Deputy President and Provost at LASALLE College of the Arts. He is an award-winning art writer and academic with a distinguished career in Singapore's arts and creative industries. Venka advances transformative arts education and is the founder of the Asia-Pacific Network for Culture, Education and Research (ANCER). He speaks internationally on meta trends in arts and education. Venka serves on expert panels dedicated to Singapore's arts, culture and youths. Internationally, he chairs the Strategy Board of Zurich-based Shared Campus, a consortium of arts universities developing new educational paradigms and the International Advisory Council of the New York-based Living Arts International, which develops artists in Cambodia. He is also a member of the International Cultural Relations Research Alliance of the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (Germany), a grouping of scholars studying new approaches to international cultural relations. Venka is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, UK and University Fellow at Musashino Art University, Japan and a member of Association Internationale des Critiques d'Art, France (AICA Singapore). He holds a PhD in Cultural Policy and Asian Cultural Studies from The University of Melbourne.
The Future of Heritage: Provoking Existing Practices
The emphasise and investment in heritage as an emblem of the past effervescent of cultural capital gained speed in a fast decolonising and globalising twentieth century: Museums to theme parks, intangible experiences to found artefacts became the lifeblood of destinations, experiences and creative economies. In a vastly different contemporaneous world – any understanding of heritage must negotiate shifting identities, deglobalisation, environmental crisis and digital experiences: that is, heritage must be relational and contextualised to everyday experiences. I seek to provoke the manner in which we may need to revisit our existing cultural practices and relations beyond received frames and conveniences.
Jervais Choo
Keynote Speaker
Jervais Choo is the Deputy Director for Organisational Design and Innovation (ODI), and currently heads the Innovation Programme office at the National Heritage Board. The division is responsible for business and digital transformation through creative solutioning to identify and incubate innovative solutions for the heritage sector and explores new and frontier technologies and works with organisations, companies and agencies to explore the application of digital concierge/AI-chatbot solutions for museum experiences, autonomous robotics/IoT, and explorations in virtual and immersive environments. Jervais founded the DigiMuse programme in 2017, an initiative aimed at building a vibrant cultural sector that is invested in digital innovation and has held other portfolios in the past decade including Programme Director for the Singapore Night Festival and the Singapore Heritage Festival, and Deputy Director of the National Museum of Singapore.
Abstract: Future of Heritage, Heritage of the Future
As the world pivots towards a ‘digital-first’ reality, the question of what the future of heritage can be is an important one. It is also equally important that we also consider what might be our heritage of the future and what do we need to do now to lay the foundation for collections, preservation, and transmission for that future. The keynote address will paint the broad context, challenges and opportunities in the space of heritage preservation and collections and aim to provoke introspection and provide insight into the increasingly important field of digital experience design for the heritage sector.
Natalia Grincheva
Moderator
Dr Natalia Grincheva is a Programme Leader in Arts Management at LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Digital Studio at the University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on innovative forms and global trends in contemporary museology, digital diplomacy and international cultural relations. She received many prestigious international academic awards, including Fulbright (2007–2009), Quebec Fund (2011–2013), Australian Endeavour (2012–2013) and SOROS research grant (2013–2014). In 2020 she was awarded Oxford Fellowship for her visiting research residency at the Digital Diplomacy Research Center at the University of Oxford. Apart from her most recent co-authored book, Geopolitics of Digital Heritage (Cambridge University Press: 2024), Dr Grincheva’s publication portfolio includes two monographs: Museum Diplomacy in the Digital Age (Routledge: 2020) and Global Trends in Museum Diplomacy (Routledge: 2019).
Jordan Tham Jun Hui
Panelist
Jordan Tham Jun Hui, 2023 recipient of the McNally Award for Excellence in the Arts, is Marketing Executive at ARTSG. He is a highly accomplished creative manager with a wealth of experience in marketing for the arts, culture, and entertainment industries. He has worked with a diverse range of clients, including advertising agencies, artists, and arts organizations such as SAtheCollective to develop and execute innovative marketing campaigns to draw public attention to various art forms. Jordan's outstanding contributions to the field of arts, culture and communications have earned him invitations to speak at several prestigious conferences. These include the LASALLE College of the Art's Trans/Mission, 9th Asian Undergraduate Research Symposium, and the 28th International Conference of International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies.
Cultural Heritage and Digital Communications: Measuring Augmented Reality Experiences
The Chapter “Cultural Heritage and Digital Communications: Measuring Augmented Reality Experiences” excellently brings together the world of museums and heritage and technological advancements in Augmented Reality (AR). Not only does the chapter feature illuminating insights from the creative tech sector in Singapore, discussing the role of AR experiences in contemporary audience engagement with the cultural heritage, it goes much further to propose a new assessment framework to evaluate these AR encounters with heritage. Stressing both quantitative and qualitative criteria, the research offers a model to measure the impact of AR filters created by museums to educate and entertain contemporary audiences through a close engagement with heritage. Applying the new evaluation framework to a case study of the Escape Batik Shop AR filter developed by the National Heritage Board in Singapore, the chapter offers a step-by-step guide for heritage institutions. This guide can help museums better understand audiences’ AR experiences with the heritage, by looking at a wide array of factors from aesthetics to edutainment.
Lim Li Juan Shalyn
Panelist
Lim Li Juan Shalyn is Cultural Programme Officer at the Embassy of France in Singapore. She is passionate about working with communities and exploring art as a tool of bridging those communities. With experiences at STPI, Art & Market and leading Project Rediscover Kampong Gelam 2022, she constantly seeks fresh perspectives and explores strategic initiatives for the engagement of arts, heritage, and culture. Her research on ‘Museums without Walls in Southeast Asia’ has been presented at the 9th Asian Undergraduate Research Symposium, Trans/Mission Seminar 2023 and 28th International Conference of International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies. With a focus on critical global issues and heritage management, she hopes to work with communities to preserve both tangible and intangible cultures.
Museums without Walls in Southeast Asia
The Chapter “Museums without Walls in Southeast Asia” is a fascinating account of ecomuseologial practices happening in different communities in Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia. The chapter identifies and analyses effective heritage preservation technologies which help local communities to preserve their tangible and intangible heritage, especially under conditions of limited resources and infrastructure. These models of ecomuseums, which exist due to—or even despite—the lack of institutionalised interventions, are illuminating forms of heritage survival that are emerging in more virtualized and hyperconnected environments.
Kenix Tan Hui Min
Panelist
Kenix Tan Hui Min is a highly motivated individual who thrives in fast-paced environments and constantly pushes herself beyond limits. Her unwavering passion for the arts has led her to accumulate a wide range of experiences in arts volunteering and working with esteemed organizations such as Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Theatre Today, and ART:DIS Singapore. During her time at LASALLE College of the Arts, Kenix spearheaded the Arts Management Committee that successfully united diverse cohorts through an array of engaging events and activities. Notably, she also presented her Dissertation research at the prestigious 28th International Conference of the International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies. With a clear vision in mind, Kenix aspires to design accessible arts experiences that resonate with people from all walks of life. Along her journey, she is determined to work alongside individuals who share the same dedication and eagerness to deliver the transformative power of the arts to diverse audiences.
Singapore Museums Experimenting with and Questioning Google Arts & Culture
The Chapter “Singapore Museums Experimenting with and Questioning Google Arts & Culture” interrogates the value of Google Arts and Culture (GAC) platform for museums in Singapore. This chapter boldly reveals important developments in the local cultural heritage ecosystem, which contests a perceived high value of services provided by global media giants, such as Google, who dominate the international media landscape and successfully push into cultural heritage markets across borders. The chapter shares insightful conversations with heritage professionals in Singapore to reveal that local museums put stronger emphasis on developing their own local institutional partnerships and online resources to garner a stronger control over their brand identity and value communicated on the global scale.
Mruthika Priya Raman
Panelist
Mruthika Priya Raman is a growing cross-disciplinary arts practitioner and manager with an inclination towards accessibility and inclusive art practice. Despite receiving formal training in multiple art forms, she advocates for a movement practice unlimited by labels or categorization. Thika most recently had the opportunity to present her research on Singapore’s cultural policy at the 9th Asian Undergraduate Research Symposium. Her most recent work experience includes being a Project Manager and Marketing Assistant for StoryFest 2022, as well as part of the five-person organising team for 2022 ARTWALK, an annual multidisciplinary public arts festival organised by LASALLE College of the Arts and Singapore Tourism Board. She hopes to facilitate the convergence of diverse voices and promote a more fluid artistic landscape, fuelled by understanding and sensitivity.
Contemporary Bharathanaatyam among Singapore-based Practitioners
The Chapter “Contemporary Bharathanaatyam among Singapore-based Practitioners” excellently employs autoethnography along with other qualitative methodologies, explores the transformations of the traditional Indian dance Bharathanaatyam in Singapore. This research depicts many factors, including technological advancements, which help the traditional dance practice to eventually find new forms. These new manifestations of heritage resonate stronger with contemporary dancers in Singapore, who reimagine the dance for future generations. Gaining more ownership over the form, democratising its practices and relationship among teachers and students, contemporary Bharathanaatyam becomes a living legend of the heritage tradition. It thrives not necessarily through the “purity” of the form, but instead finds new life through dedicated dancers, like Mruthika, who have the courage and express deep commitment to keep the heritage tradition going.
Eunice Goh Yee Yu
Panelist
Eunice Goh Yee Yu is a highly motivated and outspoken individual with a strong passion for the arts and entertainment media industry. While studying at LASALLE College of the Arts, Eunice showed proactive leadership in the Arts Management Committee (AM-CO), which has organised initiatives to cultivate camaraderie in the cohort. She also served as the student emcee for LASALLE E-Orientation 2021. Notably, Eunice was actively involved in the Stars on Symphony project with Symphony 924, as she demonstrates and further develops her skills in project management. Her professional aspirations are rooted in arts management, as she collaborated with esteemed organisations including Mediacorp and The Esplanade Co. Ltd. Through her work experiences, Eunice has honed valuable skill sets across the media, theatre, and film sectors.
Value Creation in Animated Films: Disney Cultural Storytelling
The chapter “Value Creation in Animated Films: Disney Cultural Storytelling” explores Walt Disney Company’s approaches in creating highly engaging and captivating media products featuring cultural heritage and traditions from different countries around the world, including Asian ones, which keep breaking global box-office records. The research illuminates how cross-cultural sensitivity, cultural glocalisation practices across local markets, and a diversified workforce within the company generate economic value for Disney in their production of Animated Cultural Representative (ACR) films. The research draws on interviews with current and former employees of the Walt Disney Company, including its offices located in Singapore, to demystify its global media attraction power. The chapter is evidence that in the contemporary international media environment, an accurate cultural heritage presentation that—through diversity and inclusivity—respects and demonstrates cultural sensitivity to the source communities has become a foundational factor of success.