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Chevonne, Gerald, Kean, Huien, Mingye, Jomantha

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Chevonne, Gerald, Kean, Huien, Mingye, Jomantha

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Personally, I think that making a living as a street artist or a street performer is interesting. I do have a lot of respect for the hardworking performers I see at places like orchard. However, it does not appeal to me as a future job possibility.

The first reason would be that there’s no stability of income. The amount of income earned every month is affected by many factors. One, for example, is the weather conditions. During the monsoon season, the income earned by street performers may be considerably low due to being unable to perform in rainy weather. When it’s not raining, it would be hot and humid which can leave the performer exhausted and drenched. A street performer also has to perform during specific timings like peak hours if they wish for an audience.
Furthermore, the income is greatly affected by the generosity of the people watching. It’s a common occurrence to have the audience watch and not give any money. This would mean the busker might not be able to earn enough to even put food on the table.

Secondly, the job prospect can be demoralising. It can be very tiring sometimes and may not pay very well compared to a 9 to 5 job and is definitely tougher. As a busker, you must have the utmost passion to perform and live up to people’s expectations. You need to pique their interest and entertain them. Despite the effort put in, many people may ignore you or just watch without giving any tips. Busking spots can also be highly contested due to the best locations being located at popular areas like orchard road, where many buskers would perform beside each other, fighting for the spotlight. I personally can't imagine the stress some of them go through. The tremendous amount of determination they have is worth admiring. They have to brave through difficulties such as situations where they are unable to busk legally due to not being able to obtain the licence needed.

Lastly, most of the public view street performers negatively. Most people don’t think very highly of street performers and view them as uneducated, lazy, and worst almost identical to a beggar. To be fair, it might be understandable for them to think this way. In their point of view, they think of busking as something that’s easy to do, like learning a couple of tricks, maybe sing a bit, sit back, and wait for donations to come in. However, despite how simple it may sound, A lot of hard work goes into preparing for a performance. Countless hours spent honing one's skills to ensure everything goes smoothly during a performance, only to have someone criticise your profession for not being a ‘proper job’. Sounds depressing, doesn't it?

In my opinion, as someone with a musical background, I think that performing on the streets is not something that is impossible. However, I will definitely not consider this as a full time job. Perhaps in the future, during the weekends, I can perform during my free time to earn some extra income, interact with people, and most importantly, enjoy myself.

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Yu Heng, Jin Ren, Wan Lin, Torance, Chu Xuan

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Yu Heng, Jin Ren, Wan Lin, Torance, Chu Xuan

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My parents would share the same sentiment as I do. However, there will always be an exception. There will always be someone who shares different voices with me. Likewise, my friend, Gerald. When I was passing by Orchard Road, my friend who was with me at the time seemed to have a keen interest in the street performers. Out of curiosity, I asked him why and he gave me these answers.

He first told me about the mix of passion and work ethic. He actually is a Saxophonist and has expressed an interest in pursuing a musical career. However, he didn’t just want to read scores all day and perform in a band. He wanted to play his own songs and perform music that he wishes to share with others. He likes old 80s to 90s music like ‘Fly Me to the Moon’. Being a street performer will allow him to pursue his fascination with music and earn money along with it. Singapore is known for being a technologically advanced country and many students study subjects that deal with engineering and mathematics. Perhaps actually being able to find a stable income while also mixing with his lifelong passion for music. Though it may seem like a scary thing to do at first, putting all you bets on one job that may or may not succeed. I have seen cases of people attracting large crowds along Orchard Road and gaining atleast five dollars after every performance. That has to be as much as few hundred dollars every day if people are generous enough. Mixing that with artistic passion and it definitely makes for a job that one can get used to.

Being a street performer isn’t as boring as it seems, everyday we will encounter people from different backgrounds. Some may enjoy street art but some may not. As a street performer, there are chances where our performance helps to cure the broken hearts of people or brighten the day of people. We believe music and art can help cure people feelings as it understands the feeling of people. Perhaps we meet people with the same interest as us. Gerald said he wouldn’t mind starting a street band should he encounter someone who shares the same passion along the way. Or maybe we can trend on social media with our performances and artworks. Tourist are known for filming everything when visiting places, if you manage to attract their attention then your efforts would not have been for naught. Spreading you artworks and promoting your performances and pieces

Freelancers like street artists have more advantages than employees employed by a company. Freelancers can enjoy privileges such as flexible working hours. They can exercise a healthy balance between working hours and their lifestyles, increasing their work productivity. This is something employees working in a company find struggles to do so as they have to abide by the contractual working hours, following their mundane routine. Being a street performer or artist mean you can be your own boss, you make your own decisions and do not need to feel pressured by others to get work done. The freedom of such a job is surely enough to get anyone excited about it.

In a nutshell, though street artists job might not sound appealing to many but  little do people know, the important role street artists plays in the community. Although they might not earn as many as others do, they still earn a certain amount of income to be able to suffice themselves without going hunger. I respect my friend’s ideas and no matter what I will support him. Who knows? maybe he was right after all

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Rui En, Jayden, Wei Kiat, Yang Xuan, Lixuan 

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Rui En, Jayden, Wei Kiat, Yang Xuan, Lixuan 

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No, it does NOT appeal to me in the slightest.

Firstly, the financial instability that comes with working as a street artist is a huge turn away. There are several factors that affect a street performer’s income. The weather, the ability to attract audiences as well as the generosity of the audience are just a few. Busking usually takes place in open places, like the streets of Orchard Road. This means that  weather conditions are very important to street performers. If the weather becomes too hot and starts to become unpleasant for street performers, I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes and would stop performing. Secondly, if it starts raining, street performances would most likely halt, while performers and audience struggle to find shelter. This proves that weather can affect the income of street performers, hence making their income unstable as weather conditions can be unpredictable.

Another factor that could affect the income of street performers is the size of the audience. Everybody has different preferences, and some would appreciate performances put out as much as others might, thus, they may not be able to attract enough attention with their skills. By not attracting enough attention, there may not be enough of an audience to donate money to them, hence unfortunately also contributing to the income instability street artists experience. In my opinion, the biggest factor affecting a street artist’s income is the generosity of the audience. The donations from the audience are the performer’s main source of income. If the audience donates a tiny amount, the performer would thus earn a small amount. If the audience are generous, however, the artist would earn quite a profit, evidently showing the possibilities in regular income fluctuations for these street performers.

Additionally, the way the community might see me is another reason why I would not choose to be a street performer - lazy, and unsuccessful. To date, it is ubiquitous that that street performers do not have a “ reliable”  income as compared to those working as office workers or a doctors - some examples of what our society stereotypically refers to as “ proper jobs “. In the harsh reality, there will definitely be a number of people who would openly express their discontentment toward these artists. For example, some parents would even intentionally stroll past these performers and blatantly warn their children to “ study hard and not end up like these people “, or “ Only uneducated people have improper jobs like these “. These comments are disheartening, and I do hope the community would learn to be more welcoming to these street artists or performers who are simply trying to earn a living.  At the end of the day, I would still not be enthralled by being a street performer or artist as I prefer not to receive any hate because of how I make a living.

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Zi Xuan, Kar Chun, Nawfal, Shanice, Gopika

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Zi Xuan, Kar Chun, Nawfal, Shanice, Gopika

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Similarly, as what I’ve stated, although my parents would agree with my view that being a street artist is not the best choice, my friends on the other hand would oppose to that view. Here are some reasons why.

Firstly, being a street artist allows you to have flexible working hours and locations. Street artists would usually choose to perform during peak hours or the weekends as there would be a larger crowd. For example, during the weekends there will be a massive crowd fascinated by their performance in front of Takashimaya at Orchard. Street performers benefit from the crowd as when people are interested, most of them would donate a dollar or two to the performers as a way of saying ‘Great performance! Good job! Here are some tips for your stunning performance!’ Street performers do not only consist of people performing stunts but also singers who would sing along the walkway with a guitar or piano, with their fellow band members. For instance, at the underpass linking from Ion Orchard to Isetan, there is a guitarist who would sing different pop songs and there would be some passers-by who would sing along with him, swaying with the beat.

Secondly, being a street artist can brighten up people’s day. Street art brings around life in the city as it adds character and complexity to what otherwise may be a boring place. The street art around us brings colours to our mundane life. The street artist’s art and performance can bring a smile to our faces or at least help people destress simply by looking at it. For example, a caricature artist in Orchard sells and draws portraits of passers-by. These portraits can make people’s day better and it is a way for street artist to showcase their incredible talents. Street artist will also be able to make quite a bit of money from these portraits. Although the income may be inconsistent or they may not make as much money as lawyers or doctors, it is the joy that they bring to people that matters, amidst the hustle and bustle of life.

Art allows street artists to express themselves freely. I’m sure many people know about graffiti. It is a form of street art decorating our walls and buildings with vibrant colours. For example, Kampong Glam has many graffiti paintings on the walls of shophouses and buildings along the road and usually there are many people, including tourists, going there to take a picture and post on their social media. Some of the graffiti drawn on the walls would bring back memories of the past and evoke a sense of nostalgia. The artists of the graffiti may not be well-known amongst people, but when they see their artwork being popular and featured on social media, they would feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Therefore, there are plenty of reasons why my friends oppose my view. They feel that it is better for one to pursue their interest and do what they love. Being a street artist or performer may not earn you much but at least you are able to choose your working hours and location, bring joy to people and express yourselves to the world through your artwork.

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In singapore I think most are not really interested in art or art related activities. Having said this there are some exceptions.

One of the main reasons I think it is as such is because of our education system in Singapore all there is not much importance given to art. Instead they focus on subjects such as science and maths. The main reason we are more inclined to subjects such as math, science and even technology would be due to the reason that we are a small nation. We are one with no natural resources and solely dependent on human resources. Such subject and excellence will allow us to have a better world standing compared to the arts stream.

Another reason art is rather not well recognised is due to the limited exposure in singapore . This is something the schools are working on but still can be improved. In singapore besides the singapore museum there are no other well know places for arts. Unlike countries like Italy and Greece we are not well know for art and their culture.

Finally the last reason that arts are being neglected by the majority of singaporeans is due to the internet. This may rather seem unrelated but allow me to explain. With the rapid rise of the technology over the past 10 years may things have been overtaken and deemed useless. One of such would be museums and plays. With a simple click of a button may beautiful art effect can be uncovered dating back thousand of years. This is something that the museums cannot give us. Alike this plays have also been outdated due to the rise of movies and drama series. They provide people with a wide genres and also could be watch at the confort of their home. With  the everchanging landscape of the current would people would choice comfort or anything.

Having said all of this I think that there is a small minority of Singaporeans that enjoy art and art related activities as a hobby or an unwinding activity. Personally I can related to this as i find physical art form more appling then anything. Be it a simple walk in a park that i can turn into a sketch or a museum trip in the different countries that i go to. Being a singaporean hospitality is something that we take pride in. whenever anyone relatives or friends come over to singapore in the ‘to do list’ a museum trip or and play must be included as i think it helps bring out our unique history amd people

In a nutshell i think that majority of singaporeans are not really interged by art or art related activities.

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In my opinion, making a living as a street artist or street performer does not pique my interest. There are various reasons as to why  street performing doesn’t particularly appeal to me, such as the views of society, job prospects and unstable income.

As you know many parents would hope for their children to pursue a successful career, such as doctors, lawyers and accountants.  However, being a street artist is not a stable job that can provide a constant and reliable source of income unlike other everyday jobs such as a nurse that is a necessity everywhere in the world or a 9-5 desk job that can provide consistent income. Especially if it’s your main source of income, some will barely be able to support themselves. It’ll be even worse if they were the breadwinners of their family. Causing them to feel that it’s quite difficult to make ends meet. Take for example, there is a magician who often performs on the weekends at orchard road. He is constantly able to gather a  big crowd that awaits curiously as to what may happen next. However, people often give only a dollar coin and sometimes not even anything at all.

Another factor that comes into play will be how society views street performers. To put it bluntly, it is often seen as a job whereby people who do not have the ability to get a proper job, will resort to performing on the streets. Often times, people rarely look up to street artists and think of it as a lowly job. Some feel that street performers also known as people who do busking, are people who have no sense of direction in life. The elderly normally have negative sentiments towards people who busk for a living. Although its common that there would be crowds of people watching them perform, but more often than not, people would only think of it as a form of free entertainment. Many friends their age would also think that street performers lack ambition and drive because they don’t have a ‘proper job’. These somewhat insolent remarks make me feel that street performers deserve the respect that each and everyone of us receive.

Singapore is especially known for it’s horrible weather conditions. As Singapore is situated near the equator, our temperature levels can hover around at least thirty five degrees everyday, causing discomfort when staying out under the blazing hot sun for a long period of time. Heavy downpours too happen when we least expect it, which results in significant inconvenience to Singaporeans. As for street artists and performers, these harsh weather conditions would affect them the most. For example, one can look at the weather report and see that it’s a supposedly sunny day. Upon trusting these weather reports, they go ahead and set up their stations at their busking spots, ready to display their talents for passerby's to witness. However, it can suddenly start raining cats and dogs, causing a pause to their performance and having to seek shelter. Hence, these weather conditions do affect a street performer’s business greatly. On top of that, bad weather conditions would also mean lesser income earned, and hence serves as a disadvantage.

All in all, although living as a street artist or street performer does sound rather interesting and unique, there are more to this than meets the eye, and hence it does not appeal to me.

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I would definitely say that my parents are on the same page as me regarding this topic, though my friends, especially the artistic ones, might not agree. Based on previous conversations, I would venture to say that a few of my friends are very keen on such a career.

According to them, with a normal 9 to 5 career, we are nothing but the mere puppets of larger corporations or a boss who makes five times the salary that we do. Being a street artist or performer, the chains of curtailment are broken and the liberating freedom of self-expression and being your own boss can become a reality. There’s no authoritative voice dictating when you have to perform or when you have to be there on the street. This liberation from a life on monotonous repetition is already reason enough for some of my friends to consider a life as a street artist or performer.

Not to mention, you can also bring joy and liveliness to a dull and depressing neighbourhood. Be it a commission from the government to paint murals under HDB blocks to brighten up living spaces or busking on the streets of Orchard Road to provide local entertainment to all who are passing by, you’re sure to bring a smile to someone’s face or make their day just a little brighter. In Singapore, the government frequently commissions street artists to paint beautiful artistic murals on HDB walls and public spaces. While this is a new initiative, it is sure to carry on far into the future, providing both aspiring artists and those who are renowned in the field a platform to display their talents and bring life to the country.

Lastly, being a street performer, or a busker as it is more commonly known, tells a story of self, people and culture. It goes beyond the talents of oneself, but puts on full display a collection of history and culture. In today’s modern world, certain arts are being forgotten as more and more people are looking on to the future, yet leaving behind their heritage. Busking in our streets exposes the masses to an art form and revitalises it, ensuring that it isn’t forgotten. Even I can relate somewhat to this point. There are often buskers camping near the exit of AMK Hub, and their performances draw large crowds that gather around to immerse themselves in the world of the busker. This has allowed me to discover new forms of art and explore the heritage of the street busker.

To conclude, there are points of interest on both ends of the spectrum. However, what we choose to become is up to us in the end. It all comes to what we care about in a career, be it money, status or simply to enjoy.

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The majority in Singapore are not interested in art activities, such as visiting a museum or watching a play, while a handful of them are.

Firstly, some of them simply perceived the artwork as random drawings as they were unable to understand its significance. My parents once expressed great confusion and thought that the artwork was just drawings put together when I took them to the Singapore National Museum. I think that's quite true as if they do not understand what they are seeing, they will lose interest and find it boring. Hence, they do not find visiting the museum enjoyable.

Second, some of them might not enjoy the crowded environment when many people gather in a single spot simply to view the artwork or to snap photos or selfies with them. Some people might prefer to enjoy the artwork by themselves rather than gather with a throng. It isn't the point of visiting a museum to see other people's backs or just a side of the artwork, making them irritable. It would be pointless to travel there then. As a result, individuals might prefer to view a clearer version of the artwork online rather than going to the museum.

Finally, even though the majority of people are not interested in art activities, there are some that are since they might find inspiration in the artworks or even in the play. Museums may be a fantastic resource for teaching students about the past. They can also help students to think critically and creatively as well as encourage them to think beyond the box. Whereas for the play, I could see different people’s action, face expressions and even the effect. As an art student completing coursework for the o'levels, I had to manipulate and draw a lot to come up with the different layouts. Noting being able to come out with interesting drawing, making me frustrated and not able to meet the date requirement. I would definitely need some inspiration for this and can find it by looking at the many artwork exhibitions at the museum rather than just using our own thinking skills. Therefore, going for art activities would be fascinating for those looking for inspiration.

In conclusion, the majority in Singapore are not interested in art activities such as visiting the museum or watching the play. However, we can learn something new from art activities and make it an enjoyable one.

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Some Singaporeans are interested in art activities while some don't.

Art activities allows us to gain new hard skills like learning to shade objects to look 3D. It gives us the creativity to explore new way's of drawing and coloring to bring the drawing to life. It is fun to

Additionally, Singaporeans can visit museums and learn about the speciality of art and how the artwork is important to the artisit. In the Singapore museum, artwork is being displayed and it conveys the artist emotions to the visitors how they created the masterpiece. It is interesting to Singaporeans to how different shapes and sizes of the artwork portrays different feelings like anger or sadness.

On the other hand, other Singaporeans are not interested in art activities as it is boring. Seeing artwork and imagining is mundane and we could spend the time on other activities, such as playing mobile games or kart racing.

Secondly, art activities like watching a play do not excite some Singaporeans too. Watching drama with a lifeless background and seeing people talking and listening to their bad puns do not interest me.  However, movies are action packed and every scene builds my adrenaline. Therefore, art activities are dull.

Above all, a handful number of Singaporeans do not enjoy art activities as it does not produce the quality that excites the viewers, while others enjoy the creativity of it.

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From the people I have met, I feel like mostly the older generation are interested in visiting museums and watching a play. At least a handful of people I know some that are interested in viewing at art pieces who appreciate the time and effort the artists come up with to create something so meaningful. They even try to get inspiration and motivation from what they have seen and even try it for themselves. But some still come and take a look maybe because it could be very calming and stress relieving. My aunts and uncles sometimes watch plays and even invite me to watch with them. And as a person that really admires arts, I definitely enjoyed every second of it.

Some may find art activities wasteful and boring. Who wants to spend money just to look at randomly made up paintings or watch people perform when they can just look it up in the internet for free? Because of that, they rather make use of their time to do something else they find much more of their interest.

I have been in museums and the places felt like a wonderland. Beautiful abstract pieces everywhere and people of older ages looking at every one of them. I feel like it is an amazing place where artists show their creativity to the world. In conclusion, I think art activities is not for everyone and it depends on the level on interest one has towards it.

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On a general level, many people in Singapore  aren’t interested in art activities. The number of locals who visit the National Museum or other galleries is quite low. Though there is a small handful who do visit these art exhibitions, the average joe in Singapore hardly visits the art museums in Singapore. It is usually tourist who frequent these places to savour the diverse culture and rich history that Singapore offers.

One reason as to why many locals do not visit museums is because it is simply difficult to understand the exhibitions. As much as they may look nice and all, many of us only see the piece on a surface level. We don’t see the deeper meaning behind the art work and we quickly become clueless, especially when the exhibit is abstract.

Another reason is because many locals do not follow the art scene in Singapore. As Singapore is still relatively small and is still growing, many people aren’t familiar with the different local artist and their works, making it hard to locals to resonate with the artist.

As for watching plays, there is a bigger group of people who appreciate such plays. However this group is still smaller compared to majority who do not watch plays.

Watching a play is easier to understand as it tells a story through emotions, acting and dialogues, unlike the lifeless paintings in a museum. Watching a play allows people to follow along easily as people will be able to have a physical connection with the actors. I remember once when I was in Secondary 1, my Literature teacher had brought us to watch a play “Emily of Emerald Hill”. The play was about the life of a poor girl who marries into a rich Straits- Chinese family. Through the play, I was able to feel the emotions of the actor and the struggles she faced with her family. It was certainly an eye opener and I truly enjoyed myself through the play.

However, there are also plays which were hard to understand and this is why many people aren’t interested in watching plays. Firstly, some of there plays require some appreciation of a certain type of music. One example is the Phantom of the Opera. With zero appreciation or opera or classical music, it was difficult to understand what the actors are trying to say. Another reason is because plays aren’t as accessible as compared to watching a movie or TV- series. We have to wait for new productions to be posted unlike a sit-comedy where new episodes are being posted ever few days. And so, many people aren’t able to wait for new plays.

Though the people in Singapore may not be as active in the art scene as compared to other countries like France, more and more people are defiantly being more open to the different arts in Singapore.

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People in Singapore are interested in art, but not specifically visiting museums or watching plays. In this day and age, museums just isn't the thing for the younger generations. Most people would rather browse art online or visit an online museum rather than go down to the actual museum. Plays , to young people seems boring and time-consuming , preferring to watch alternatives.

Art has become a common interest with people online. Some like to view art related to their favorite characters or interests , while some just enjoy art from their favorite artists. Online artists have become more prominent in the world of art, having to please their audiences online through their art that can be done way easily and quickly online. Singapore, being a nation that is mostly on their devices, would definitely prefer to appreciate online art rather then art from museums. Online art is simple and easy to find, just one tweet or a google search and you'll find what you're looking for. Museums, are buried deep in the city, needing to pay fees and travel there just to view some old art that doesn't appeal to the people anymore. Although some people still visit museums for the historical art, i would say that most Singaporeans will prefer online art over art in museums.

Plays on the other hand, might be the opposite. Many people still enjoy the idea of going down to the Esplanade to watch a play that interests them. They still enjoy sitting down for hours watching multiple actors perform ,conveying art through drama and acting. However, plays is a fading idea in the art world, there has always been a nemesis to theatrical plays.

That nemesis is Movies and films. Films, films and movies are easy to access, found on Netflix, TV progammes and mostly on pirated sites. Films and movies are more convenient than plays, easy to watch and can be watched at any time, and is way more interesting. Movies and films can add visual effects and animations while plays can't. Animations is also taking theatrical plays place in drama or performance arts, being way easier to complete compared to plays where rehearsals are required. With a more "lazy'" younger generation, it is no surprise that they would prefer the more convenient option, movies and animations. Although there are still some people who watch plays to see "live art", it is obvious that people prefer to watch action and drama from the comfort of their homes rather than at a actual theater.

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majority of the people in singapore are not keen in activities but a handful still enjoy going to the museum or to the theatre to watch a play.

the majority of the singaporean’s that are not interested in art activities are normally too preoccupied with their hectic daily life to make time for art activities. they have a 9 to 5 job on weekdays and the duty of visiting family gathering on weekends which will leave them no time to be interested nor intrigued by art activities.

to the majority of singaporean, going to art activities in singapore such as museum also might just seem like a waste of time to visit and see something that they had already known about since young through school textbook knowledge. as for going to plays some might have the stereotype that singapore’s entertainment industry is not worth the time spent watching due to the lack of skills hence why they usually avoid singapore’s art industry.

however there are moments especially when singaporean’s are overseas when they are intrigued and interested in art activities as to them museums and plays can help them learn more and understand the country that they are visiting‘s history. since they also have more time to relax and to spend on visiting and learning more about other countries culture i believe that they would definitely more willing to art activities in that sense.

personally i as a singaporean am not interested in art activities due to the busy life of students nowadays, they is barely any time left to enjoy the simplicity and exquisiteness of art. weekdays are filled with extra curriculum classes and weekends are filled with family gatherings hence leaving me no time to appreciate art. i also find art activities in singapore unnecessary and a waste of time to visit just to learn more about our culture when singapore’s culture is already all around us. for example hawker centres or parks where they explain the singapore culture and past, hence why i am not interested in art activities as well.

all in all although majority of the singaporean’s would not be interested in singapore’s art activities they are interested in other countries art activities as they barely have knowledge of others as compared to our country’s.

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In my opinion, the majority Singaporeans are not very interested in art activities. However, there is still a handful of us who are keen on taking part in them.

Firstly, many Singaporeans are uninterested in art activities as they may be more preoccupied with playing online games or scrolling through social media. They may think that visiting a museum is dull as it holds overwhelming history that just does not peak their interest. Additionally, they are seen as a place where people go to learn about history and culture, but not to have fun.

Secondly, most of my friends do go to museums but they are not there to learn the history and culture. Instead, they go to museums to take pictures because of the interior designs and details that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye. For example, a museum that became really popular for a period of time was the Ice Cream museum. It attracted a lot of visitors because of the intriguing offers. The free unlimited flow of various flavored ice cream that they could enjoy. There was even a disco room that was a popular photo spot. It would be occupied by many and they would need to wait for some time to have the room for themselves. There were many interactive sections in the ice cream museum that would keep you entertained. Eventually, they drifted away from the history of ice cream. Resulting in them spending more time on taking pictures and having a blast. Surprisingly, the one thing that they could takeaway from the museum trip was that ice cream is invented in China.

Lastly, I will talk about the handful who are interested in art activities. I for one am interested in them. I admire the meaning and techniques artists put into their artwork to convey words through their art. The time and effort they put into their artworks are commendable. For example, my friend, Denise, invited me to watch a ballet performance with her. I jumped at the opportunity and agreed joyfully. The ballet performance was held at Esplanade theatre and it would be my first time there. I’ve only seen the theatre in pictures but how different it was to see the place with my very own eyes. My eyes sparkled at how grand and vast the place was. Bright lights illuminated the theatre and there were rows and rows of seats at different levels. A huge stage with velvet red curtains falling over it which hid a masterpiece. Images were projected on the curtains to start the story and not long after, it parted to reveal the first scene. Set in Spain, Don Quixote tells a story of love, betrayal, and eternal devotion. The dazzling, humorous and virtuosic ballet sets out on a series of chivalrous acts, whimsical twists, and proof that love conquers all. It’s a glittering showstopper, with sparkling technique and an incredible cast of toreadors, flamenco dancers, and dryads. After that breathtaking performance, I was even more hooked in art activities. If you asked me whether I would watch more of such plays, it would be a definite yes!

In conclusion, majority of people in Singapore may not be very interested in art activities, such as visiting a museum or watching a play. However, I think interest in art is being encouraged as we could learn a thing or two from it.

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To answer the question, I'd say that the vast majority of Singaporeans are not exactly very enthusiastic about entertaining the idea of appreciating art, because to them, art is greatly unimportant in our modern society, whereby technological advances and developing studies in areas like medicinal cures, for example, are most frequently the heart of our city's interests.  However, there is definitely a number of Singaporeans who do, in fact, are interested in understanding the depths and messages that artists hope to relay through different genres of art - some coming in the form of fine art displayed in art galleries, some danced and sung in musicals or plays hosted in theatres, or even some silently explaining historical happenings in museums.

Despite Singapore being a bustling metropolitan city, the city does have a decent number of art exhibitions which depict the artistical talents of its people in freedom. The National Museum displays historical remnants of our rich heritage dating back to before Singapore officially existed in world maps, while the National Art Gallery down in City Hall allows its visitors to peacefully unravel the creative thinking processes of artists- who express their thoughts and personalities through intricate paintings or beautiful sculptures. Famous musicals have also made their stops in Singapore decently enough, with plays like Cats or Frozen Broadway Musical being performed in every corner of Singapore's theatres.

Even though Singapore has introduced so many ways of allowing its people to interact with the idea of art in its various forms and meanings, there will always be Singaporeans who would feel that taking time to genuinely understand the meanings behind these pieces is a huge waste of their precious time, and that they would most likely prefer to partake in activities like car roadshows, or mega supermarket promotion periods.

However, I do hope that more Singaporeans would eventually warm up to the idea of embracing art around us, and that as a community, we will learn to use art as stress-relievers and further educate ourselves and future generations, to not shun this way of expression in our society.

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Are people in your country interested in art activities such as visiting museum or watching a play?

To a certain extent, yes.  I would say some people in my country expressed interest in art activities such as visiting museum or watching a play. Conversely, there will be a handful of people who have no interest in these activities.

Singapore is a well diversified country which comprises of people from different backgrounds, race, religions and cultures. By visiting museums, people from different backgrounds can gain more insight and have a deeper understanding of the history of the past, cultures and customs people practised here in Singapore. Many foreigners living in Singapore would have visited the Singapore’s Musuem to find out more about Singapore’s provenance, learn more about their new environment, to better adapt to the new environment.

For example, a friend of mine, who came from China, Shanghai, Jing Xuan whom I met during my tuition class, likes to visit museums. She had visited many Singapore’s museum for instance, the Chinatown’s Heritage site to learn more about the early Chinatown’s settler, Asian civilization museum to discover more about rich history about the connection between Asia and Singapore. By uncovering the history, she will be able to appreciate more about others cultures, traditions and connect better with people around her. The other friend of mine, who is a crazy fan of science, enjoys visiting the Singapore Science Musuem to explore more about the interesting science facts around us and get to experience first hand.

Not only does my friends enjoy art activities, my family is also one of them. Singapore Chinese Cultural Center, is one of the frequent cultural centre we often visit to watch plays performed by the talented performers. A play, not only provides us with entertainment but allow us to learn more about the abundant chinese history and more about our own roots, ancestors through their play.

There are many people around us who appreciates the different forms of arts and have expressed their interest in involving themselves with art activities such as watching a play at the theatre, visiting museums. But there will always be some who don’t appreciate art. For instance, I’ve known people who visit art museums just to take nice aesthetic photographs. They are generally not interested in the arts.

To sum up, I believed that everyone should be familiar with their own roots and should at least have some general knowledge on the origin of their culture. Museum, will be the best way to expand people's horizon and strengthening their understanding of their own belief.

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Are people in my country interested in art activities such as visiting the museum or watching a play?

In Singapore, most Singaporeans would  have no interest to indulge in art activities. However, a few would still see art activities as something captivating.

A reason why many might not have an interest in art activities is because it is time consuming. Spending an hour or so to do such an activity would sound uninteresting. Thus, the majority would choose something else, more specifically to utilise that one hour with a more fruitful purpose. An example could be to play a simple sport with friends. Basketball only requires a ball and can be easily played with friends at one of a myriad of basketball courts. Also, these public facilities are free, compared to art activities which may have an entry fee. Being able to have much fun through a physical activity is surely more memorable than walking around the museum to look at sculptures or to view a play which just might not be a form of interest to many.

On the contrary, a small number of people would watch a play or visit a museum as they find it entertaining. Watching a play is like watching a drama series. Everything has been practiced for and the fact that a play can be done live, would be pleasant to the audience. Those who act or perform in drama would be able to relate to a play and its characters. Maybe the play could be something about happiness, which definitely has a positive effect on the feeling of the audience.

Additionally, visiting a museum can be interesting to a handful as they might want to see what art has to offer. It could be about the history of Singapore and how the country developed from the past. For example, I remember visiting the National Gallery and saw a monument built for Queen Victoria. Her statue was made to recognize her efforts in protecting Singapore back then. However, this is not the only unique thing there. The National Gallery stores a cornucopia of items and information which is compelling to all so that we can spend time reading and viewing at the artefacts. Also, this includes many art galleries and exhibits that showcase picturesque works that allow people to acknowledge Singapore's art heritage.

All in all, despite the many Singaporeans who choose not to engage themselves in art activities, an opportunity to immerse themselves in either watching a play or visiting the museum may get them to learn more about the artistic culture here.

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Well, I believe that most Singaporeans are not interested in art activities such as visiting a museum or watching a play. I believe that on the rare occasions that we do, it is because we were either brought by our organization or school, or maybe it was an activity that we wished to tick off on our ‘holiday activities’ list. Now, let me explain why most Singaporeans are not interested in art activities.

Firstly, participating in art activities such as visiting a museum or watching a play, is quite costly. For example, an entry ticket to visit a museum can cost up to forty dollars! I believe that most Singaporeans will agree when I say that that amount of money could be spent on other things, such as new clothes or a book, which to many, is more worth the money than visiting a museum. Therefore, many Singaporeans will find participating in art activities expensive and thus dislike participating in art activities.

Secondly, it is because many Singaporeans find art activities not entertaining and not thrilling as compared to other activities. Since a young age, Singaporeans are not heavily exposed to art activities, especially with the covid situation that hindered schools and organizations from allowing them to bring Singaporeans out for act activities. This has thus led the younger generations of Singaporeans to be uninterested in such activities. Though Singaporeans may have countless opportunities to participate in art activities, they may have grown up surrounded by more entertaining activities. Hence, they may cast aside the thought of participating in art activities to participate in activities that have a thrill factor, for example activities like sports and video gaming. To many, such activities are more engaging than sitting down in a theatre.  To add on, social media is an option. Proven by the many Singaporeans who are engrossed in their devices, staring at their screens for hours a day, the content of social media is definitely captivating and entertaining. Therefore, many will not see art activities as a better source of entertainment.

Of course, there are definitely some Singaporeans who are interested in art activities and thoroughly enjoy and look forward to the experience, such as myself. I do find art activities engaging, for example when I was brought to watch a play about Pinocchio. Though entertaining, participating in art activities is something that I will not do regularly due to the reason for it being costly. However, since I have not participated in any art activities recently, I plan on participating in at least one after my O-levels this year.

To conclude, though many Singaporeans are not interested in art activities such as visiting a museum or watching a play, I hope that more opportunities will arise for Singaporeans to participate in art activities and find out that it can be as equally or even more exciting than other activities.

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I feel that many Singaporeans don't have a big interest in art related activities.

The reason why many don't like visiting the museum is because they think it is a waste of time and it is not interesting . In museum there would usually be some old artifacts and lots and lots of explanations for each artifact. They might feel that this is purposeless as knowing the brief history of a country is already enough and learning about each and every minute details is useless. This is because history is not really applicable in our life. Museums are a very boring place as there is no feeling of exhilaration. It just feels like reading a encyclopedia but instead pf flipping pages we walk around. example, my primary school has brought us to the Singapore National Museum a few times and no one would be listening when the tour guide talks, we all would be engaged in our own conversation and busy filling up answers on a booklet which we have to complete before we leave. Today's generation is look for places that are 'Instagram friendly' which are places that are interesting enough to be posted on social media. And when we look at museum like the National Museum of Singapore or the National Gallery Singapore, they are not aesthetically pleasing.

The reason why not many people like to watch plays is because they feel that watching a play is like watching a movie but with a low budget. In a movie there is action, car  chases, people shooting at each other, most importantly our favourite actors and actresses. If we can watch a movie with all this inside why would we waste money and time watching a play where there would be actors with mid range acting skills and worst of all there would be no action. Not only that sometimes there are very dangerous stunts done in movie which makes us sit on the edge of our chairs and bite our nails. We can't expect all this in a play so people don't have interest in plays. For example, my school asked us to watch a play online as it was during covid period which was the only play i ever watched. I was watching it after just 5 minutes I got tired of it because it was just 1 person talking to herself and sometimes when she is supposed to talks to the other characters in the play. There would be no one she would just talk to herself. So it was just like a person telling a story, it felt more like a story telling session then a play.

In conclusion I feel that many don't like to do any art related activities as it is purposeless and a waste of time and money.

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Over the years, I rarely see people going to the museum or watching plays. Only a minority, which are usually the tourists, would watch plays and visit the museum. Majority would tend to find art and cultural history boring and maybe there are reasons for their view.

Museums are not that popular because they are not seen as fun and interesting. They are usually seen as a place where people go and learn about history and cultural of either their own country and not have fun. Majority do not visit museums as firstly, they feel that they do not need to visit museums just to appreciate art or history. Instead, they prefer to learn it in other ways. Another reason why majority do not visit museums is because there is little appreciation for the history and cultural of Singapore. For example the Singapore National Gallery. It is the most popular museum that everyone would visit but those who do not like history, would only go to the museum for the interesting events that they host. For instance, the doraemon exhibition. The doraemon exhibition took place last year from 5 November to this year 5 February, at the national museum. Many people paid and went to look at the exhibition. The museum was packed with people at that point of time but majority of the crowd there was for the doraemon exhibition rather than the history part of the museum. Nowadays there are not as many people who truly appreciate the cultural, history and art of Singapore’s past. These museums are rather viewed as places for tourist despite the fact that more Singaporeans should visit these museums to truly get a feel of how Singapore was like and how precious our culture is.

Plays like musical and operas are on the same level as museums. Now that technology is developing all around us, people spend more time staying at home and watch shows online rather than spending the time going out to the theatre. Many might find that musicals and operas are not as compelling as movies due to the different level of action. For instance, when I was in Primary 6, my school brought us to watch a Chinese play called ‘Monkey King’ which many would know for their famous mischievous monkey. As we went to the theatre, I saw that many of the seats were taken up by students whose schools brought them to watch the play. Watching the play allows me to feel the difference between a play acted on stage and a movie played on the screen. It’s effects may be different but more people are interested in watching shows with more action and visual effects rather than people acting it out on stage which does not really bring the vibes of an action show. Even though the play was broadcasted online a few years back, the teachers still brought us to the theater to give us a feel of how it is like rather than keeping us in school watching it online.

All in all, Singaporeans should really start to realise that these plays and museums are important in the education of our history and culture. Hopefully in the future these museums will continue to stand and become even more popular, serving as a monument for our past.

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When it comes to visiting museums or watching a play in Singapore not many would find it an appealing activity to take part in but there are a small handful that does.

Let’s start with the majority of Singaporeans  that’s not keen in going to the museums or visiting an art performance. Firstly, many Singaporeans are not interested in Singapore history as its a small country not founded until 1918 so its history  is not so interesting and long as compared to other countries so they find it a waste of time to visit museums. Secondly, Singaporeans appreciation for art is low and would find it a dull activity to do. Many of the younger generations would prefer to stay at home and look at social medias or watch youtube rather than going out just to join art activities. Hence many Singaporeans wouldn’t be interested in art activities.

However, there are some minorities in Singapore that does take part in art activities. To them they find it relaxing to visit a museum or watch a play . They can enjoy the magnificent art work produced by local artist in the national gallery,watch a play in esplanade or visit the museum to leanr more abou the singapore heritage. This can be a break to their stressful working or studying life. They find it pleasent and relaxing to visit all this museums or plays.

For example, my parents would rather spend their weekends doing their own activities like catching up on their drama or go out with their friends but never a trip to the museum or to go to a play, just simply due to the reason they find it mundane to do so.

In conclusion, many singaporeans wouldnt be interested in art activities within singapore and would rather use their free time and do their own preferred activity.

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The majority in my country are not interested in art activities like visiting the museum but there are still a handful that do so.

One reason I feel is the Covid-19 situation. Due to Covid, our friends from other countries would not be able to travel here as tourists which causes the decrease in tourism in Singapore. Singaporeans would learn in school about their own country's history, hence we seldom head to the museum during our free time but it would be different when there a foreign friend with us. We would want to show them around Singapore, to the different iconic places we have. And also bring them to the Singapore Museum so that they can learn more about Singapore's history like when Singapore became independent or during Japanese Occupation. This would be the only time we willingly want to go to the Museum as we want our foreign friends to know more about Singapore. The only time i went to the museum was during a primary 5 school trip to the Singapore Museum, my memory for it isn't clear. I only remember visiting a collection of broken ceramic bowls and coins from the Qing dynasty in China. I was deeply attracted to China's history, hence i stayed there walking around and only reluctantly leave after my teacher called me.

Another reason would be our interest towards art. Singaporeans nowadays are attracted by the different things on social media, be it Instagram posts or tik tok videos. It comes to a certain extent that our interest for art would die off as we are attracted to the internet. For example, during the weekend when we normally have time to go out or during public holidays, I would choose to stay at home with my phone, lying down in my comfy bed, together with the cold breeze from the air-conditioning. This is what I call life for me. But this is not always the case, instead I would also head to the library with my friend to revise some of the subjects that I am weak in. During holidays, my friends and I would choose to spend our time having fun at the beach or going out to play escape room. As you can see, we don't choose going to the museum or art gallery as they do not pick our interest. Hence, I believe as we grow older, and when technology advances to a higher state, there would seldom be people going to the museum.

For the few that enjoy going to art activities like the museum or art gallery, I believe they are either an artist or someone that has great interest in historic context. They would choose to explore the museum during their free time as they want to know more about the different art pieces, what is the history of this artist, why he chose to draw this art and what feeling is he trying the express in his art piece.

Lastly, I feel that regardless of anyone in the country, be it the one that likes art activities or those who dislike art activities, we should all be more willing to explore the different art cultures we have in Singapore. Some art pieces may also attract those that do not like art to know more about it, who knows.

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In my opinion, it is no doubt that people in Singapore do visit museums or watch plays. Firstly I have to address this point, in such a buzzling and busy country like Singapore, I must say that the majority of them do not have much interest in visiting such places and would rather spend their time elsewhere. However, there is a small minority of people who actually have a profound interest in such activities.

To put it bluntly, Singapore does not have such an extravagant history as compared to other countries like China. We as students hardly ever visit a museum out of our own will, especially if it comes with a fare and we have to pay. As a student, if not for the schools that provide learning journeys to the Art Science Museum, or the National Arts Gallery, it definitely would not be on the top of our to-do lists. Certainly for a normal student who has no particular interest in art, museums would not even pop into my mind. Well I must say that the museums are certainly a beautiful and splendid place bursting with serenity and we feel as if time is stilled. If we’ve got nowhere else to go, but have an interest in photography then yes, museums are a definite go to.

On the other hand, in other countries like China, it’s a definite must to visit museums and learn about their incredible and unique history. When my family goes overseas, we go in a pack of 9, a family of 4 generations. There was this Noah’s Ark Theme Park we visited in Hong Kong, which till now I still fondly remember. Inside it was simply miraculous, there was a video playing about the history and the events that took place over the years, which my grandparents were quite intrigued by. There were many art exhibitions which were free of charge which was a plus and a multitude of art pieces which we took many photographs with.

For instance, with regards to musicals, my parents often watch musicals during their free time as a form of relaxation and spending time with each other. Not once, not twice but on a frequent occurrence, my brother and I were often left to our own devices while they went out to watch numerous musicals. Ranging from Cats, Phantom of the Opera, South Pacific and many others.

As for my family, my grandfather has always been wanting us to expand our horizon and experience different forms of art and took us to watch plays and musicals. Such as Shakes Sphere and Annie. I'm sure that many Singaporeans across the different generations also share the same sentiments and want to explore and learn more about it too.

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I feel that the majority of Singaporeans, including myself, are not interested in art activities like going to museums or watching plays. However, some minorities do.

As for those who have no interest in art activities, it would probably be because they think it is a waste of time. Things like art are shunned and not respected in Singapore, as it is seemed as something that is mundane. Especially since Singapore is a fast-paced society, we feel that there are more productive, more purposeful activities to partake in. Take, for example, exercising which can train our body, and attending courses to learn new skills. Most Singaporeans would feel that it is not worth their time to visit a museum as the history of the country do not intrigue their citizens. Plays are also not worth their time, as plays can be replaced with a much more interesting alternative, films.

However, this does not mean everyone in Singapore feels that visiting museums or watching plays is an utter waste of time. For some, museums can give them a sense of serenity, it can allow them to relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of the modern city. Participating in art can be a leisure activity for them. For example, the museums and theatres are much quieter and slower-paced than other places in Singapore. In a museum you don't see people running around, or screaming, instead, you see them strolling at their own pace quietly. This makes it so that after a long week of work, Singaporeans can unwind in a quiet place.

When I go overseas, I would contradict my own opinion. In Singapore, museums are places which I would avoid. But in other countries, museums are places which I would visit first. This is because the arts of another country would pique my curiosity, as compared to Singapore's, which I feel is rather boring. An example would be the trip to Vietnam, I insisted on going to the historical museums to observe what life was like in the past. I learnt that due to the Vietcong War, citizens were living in fear and living standards were horrendous. It was a very enriching journey as I got to learn a lot more about Vietnam's history.

Regardless of the varying levels of interest in art among Singaporeans, we should respect each other's preference. For the majority of Singaporeans, I feel that we should try to be open and willing to experience art in Singapore, and perhaps one day we may be able to appreciate and gain a deeper understanding for the multiple cultures, here in Singapore.

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I would say that the majority of Singaporeans are engaged in taking part in art activities, including visiting museums and watching plays, this includes me and my family! I feel that the government actively supports and promotes arts through various ways. One example is the fundings by the National Arts Council, in order to inspire our people with distinctive arts and connect our communities.

Firstly, I noticed that Singaporeans often attend art festivals and events, such as the Singapore Arts Festival that is held every January, that brings together local and international artists to present exhibitions, art fairs, and talks. And the Singapore Writers Festival, an event that features both local and international writers. It includes book launches, writing workshops and poetry readings. These events showcase a diverse range of artistic expressions, providing opportunities for the public to experience and appreciate different art forms.

Secondly, the theaters in Singapore is also well-developed, with numerous local and international productions staged throughout the years. Like the Esplanade Theatre on the Bay is a prominent performing arts center that hosts a variety of music and dance performances. And the Victoria Concert Hall which is well-known for its grand architecture and is a popular choice for performances, musicals, and concerts. Additionally, there are also many more good theaters across Singapore that cater to different artistic tastes.

Personally, when my parents have time they would pull me to the museum to look at the history of Singapore. It started when I was in primary school. At first I hated going to those museums as I felt that it was totally a waste of time. But after awhile I find myself getting immersed into the history of Singapore as I gained more insight on it. From then on whenever I am free, I would beg my parents to bring me to places like Fort Canning Park and Central Defense Heritage Gallery for a visit to understand more about what happened during World War 2. Even when we go overseas like China, we would spend a whole day visiting the  forbidden city, Gu Gong and National Museum of China at Beijing to experience their history. I have learnt stuff such as what happened during the Opium Wars and civil war between communist and people republic.

To sum this up, although interests can vary among individuals, Singaporeans have a significant level of interest and engagement in art activities among the population.

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I disagree that majority of singaporeans are interested in art activities.

Singapore has long been recognised for its emphasis on scientific and technological advancements which has led to the focus on STEM education and career paths. Consequently, the arts have sometimes been overshadowed, leading to a perceived lack of interest among the populace.

The educational system in Singapore places a strong emphasis on science and math subjects, as they are seen as crucial for economic development and technological innovation. This emphasis often translates into a prioritization of STEM-related activities and events in schools, leaving limited time and resources for arts-related pursuits. For example, my school has many programmes involving STEM such as the science programme and math week; however my school rarely has art programmes or a week dedicated to learning more about the arts.  As a result, many people such as myself may not have had the opportunity to develop a deep appreciation for art.

Furthermore, there is a prevailing mindset that success and financial stability are closely tied to careers in the sciences or engineering sectors. This mindset often leads individuals to prioritize academic achievements in these areas, which can inadvertently marginalize the arts. A lot of my peers look down on students who are taking O level art as they assume that we are incapable of grasping subjects that are perceived to have a harder syllabus, although what they don’t know is that art is actually a subject that is very hard to get a distinction in as it requires deep understanding and motor skills. Additionally, the fast-paced and competitive nature of Singaporean society may leave little time for leisure activities, including those related to the arts. As a result, individuals may feel compelled to allocate their time and energy towards more "practical" pursuits.

While it is true that Singapore's focus on science and math has led to a perception of diminished interest in art activities, this does not imply a complete lack of interest. There are still individuals and communities within the country who deeply appreciate and engage in the arts. Efforts are being made to promote the value of the arts and create opportunities for artistic exploration. It is essential to foster a balanced education system that recognizes the importance of both STEM and the arts, allowing individuals to develop a well-rounded perspective and appreciation for diverse forms of knowledge and expression.

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I know a lot of Singaporeans who are interested in art activities while some are not.

A reason why Singaporeans these days are more interested in visiting museums is because of social media. These days, the use of social media is skyrocketing. Many Singaporeans of various ages of even below ten are now actively on social media. There are many trends that are going on by GenZ and among them, a trend that is popular these days is them posting aesthetically pleasing pictures of themselves in museums. This leads to more exposure of museums and how fun it can be. Because of this, many are more eager to visit museums to keep up with the trend.

However, some Singaporeans arent interested in art activities as they feel that it is meaningless and a waste to time. When thinking of museums, the first thing that would come to most people’s mind is, museums are just a place filled with old artefacts and things of the past. Also, rather then burdening themselves by travelling to watch a play, why not just stay in the comfort of their own room then enjoy Netflix and chill.

For me, I love art activities. Though I was not interested in such activities before, museums and shows are adapting to things that catches our attention. For example, there are many types of museums in Singapore. Especially in the artscience museum, many familiar topics that we were aware of but never talked about, is coming alive in museums. Such topics like insecurities. It ctaches many of our attentions as we relate to it. It is also truly fascinating to view our insecurities in a form of art insted of viewing it as something ugly.

In my conclusion, I feel that many SIngaporeans are becoming more keen to participate in art activities. However for the people who are still not interested, I hope one day they find an eye catching factor that ctaches their attention and lead them to enjoy art one day.

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In general, I believe that most of my fellow citizens are not interested in such arts, turning to other forms of entertainment to spend their free time on. However, I do know a few people who enjoy such leisure activities during their free time.

You cannot deny that nowadays more and more time is being spent online, socialising, working and even studying. To put it simply, people nowadays find things like watching a play, or gazing at art pieces a thing of the past. I enjoy art activities, often feeling very excited when my mom decides to bring me to a museum overseas. For example, most recently, when I visited Vietnam, I went to the Hua Lo prison relic, where I saw many of the cruel and inhumane things done mostly to the political prisoners there. I got to step in and see the holding sites and cells inside, as well as more gruesome torture devices and even a guillotine. The suffering and overcrowded prison often caused widespread diseases due to the insanitary conditions. Such museums expand peoples knowledge of the past and helps ensure the names of people who did villainous or heroic things will be remembered for their actions. However, as I grow older, my interest slowly shifts away from such mundane acts like visiting a museum. Instead, I find myself more attracted to modern forms of entertainment like tiktok or youtube, which can be accessed from my handphone instead of having to travel to the different art locations. I'm sure the same can be said for many out there.

However, I do know a few people who has a burning passion for art activities. Take one of my friends with a musical background for example. He's very into classical music and loves attending those concerts. As a performer in a band, he also enjoys listening to band performances to, as he says, lose himself in the music. When asked why he was interested in concerts and performances instead of something more modern, he said that it was so he could see firsthand the elegant and skillful playing, and the hard work performers put in. Also, as an aspiring performer for the SAF band, he watches the musicians to be inspired to be just like them. Besides, it's also a peaceful way for him to relax when he's not studying or doing work.

Overall, art activities are definitely not everyones cup of tea. Some, like my friend, might like it, while some may prefer other types of entertainment. However, I believe that one should at least try such art activities at least a few times. Who knows, one might even develop an interest in these activities.

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I think that the majority of people in my country are not interested in art activities. Museums and plays are usually attended by the tourists which visits Singapore. Not many of us have went to a museum or to watch a play. Usually, majority of people only visit the museum once or twice in their whole lifetime because they were brought there by the school for a learning trip. The younger generation of Singapore like Millennials and Gen Z tend to go for concerts and more modern activities. Even the older generations rarely attend art activities, usually they just sit at local coffeeshops to sip their coffee or tea. However, some people do go to museums and plays if they had family or friends visiting from overseas. They would guide them to the attractions in Singapore near the city areas and museums are usually one place that they would stop by to learn more about Singapore's history and how we came about.

There are also the minority. The small percentage of people in Singapore who visit museums and watch plays often as an activity instead of going to Sentosa or shopping. They would go out with their parents or friends to art activities to appreciate them. Regardless of age, there are always people who enjoy these kind of things. They would visit different museums as a hobby trying to learn about all of them. Like going to the National museum to learn about the art and culture of Singapore or going to Science Centre to learn more about Science and Technology. There is also the Singapore Art Museum, often visited by local aspiring artists to get some ideas and be more creative with their art works.

Personally, I am part of the majority group. I rarely go to art activities like plays and museums. I remember the last time I went was back in primary 4 when the school brought the cohort to the Science Centre. It was fun, we had exciting lectures about different chemicals and there was even a showcase. Some students were even picked out to assist in it. Afterwards, we went around the Science Centre and looked at the different things on display. We were also allowed to try some of the machines there. I remember using a microscope for the first time there, we had to scrap our mouths to get cheek cells and we looked at our own cells through the microscope. Since then, I haven't done anything like that. I don't enjoy going to museums often but once in a while wouldn't hurt. Art activities are not everyone's cup of tea and definitely not mine but I think it's good to try it once in a while and who knows, maybe I could end up developing it as a hobby.

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For the majority of people in Singapore, no. Although there are a lot of people who are interested in such activities, most of the people here are not very keen on it and don't seem to be able to appreciate others' work.

I enjoy going to art museums, I never liked leaving my house but this is something I am always more than willing to make an exception for. However, everyone around me either are very against going or can't properly appreciate the art works there, so I never got the chance to go, since there's no one to go with. It's also the same for my friends who are also interested in art. They want to do art, but, their families would get a heart attack at the thought of them not wanting to be a doctor, engineer, lawyer or businessman. This is the same mindset many of the older generation have, as such, they look down on artists and their works, and discourage the younger generation from going into the arts or showing any interest in it. It is because of this that most people are disinterested in the arts, and wouldn't want to go to plays or art museums or anything to do with art. They think it is nothing more than a waste of time.

In addition to this, most people don't stay near a museum or anywhere that host a play. As a result, people find it troublesome to have to travel a long distance to see a few paintings or dramatics. Since they find it so troublesome, they would rather not go to a museum or play.

So, with both reasonings, most people in Singapore are not interested in such activities.

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In my opinion ,I think that majority number of Singaporean's are not interested in art activities due to several reasons .

Firstly, I think many people in Singapore are not interested in visiting museum in Singapore. However, the other hand ,when I travel overseas ,museums will be the first place I will visit. This  is because, learning about history of different countries is to further understand other countries. For instance , when I went to Japan,

The second reason many Singaporeans find art activities not entertaining and not thrilling as compared to other activities. Since a young age, Singaporeans are not heavily exposed to art activities, especially with the covid situation that hindered schools and organizations from allowing them to bring Singaporeans out for act activities. This has thus led the younger generations of Singaporeans to be uninterested in such activities. Though Singaporeans may have countless opportunities to participate in art activities, they may have grown up surrounded by more entertaining activities. Hence, they may cast aside the thought of participating in art activities to participate in activities that have a thrill factor, for example activities like sports and video gaming. To many, such activities are more engaging than sitting down in a theatre.  To add on, social media is an option. Proven by the many Singaporeans who are engrossed in their devices, staring at their screens for hours a day, the content of social media is definitely captivating and entertaining. Therefore, many will not see art activities as a better source of entertainment.

All in all, I think that majority number of people in Singapore are not interested in art activities

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I’d say that a vast majority of the people in my country are not particularly keen in taking part in any form of art activities. However, it is needless to say that there is definitely still a handful of people who appreciate these art activities.

Nowadays among the average Joe, many people tend to neglect the presence of these extraordinary arts as they prefer to dedicate their time towards doing more meaningful things, such as studies, work or even online activities! It is no doubt that Singapore is a busy, bustling city, known for it’s rigorous education system and hectic lifestyle. Hence, many people do not have the time or opportunity to take a trip to the museum or watch a play. Even if they were to fork out time from their busy schedule for leisure activities, they’d rather use that time to catch up on their latest shows or hobbies, instead of spending that time aimlessly walking around museums or sitting among crowds watching plays that often cast a sleeping spell on them. For example, I for one would definitely prefer catching up on my Korean-drama series instead of making a trip down to the museum and paying money to watch plays that would most likely bore me to death.

Singaporeans too not do not show signs of interest towards art as it could be quite costly. A simple trip to the museum could cost one up to forty dollars or more, and the fee to watch a play could easily exceed a hundred dollars. These prices appeal to us Singaporeans as plain nonsense, as the money spent on art activities could be used for more efficient thing, such as food or clothing. In addition, we are able to see free art all around us, be it at HDB blocks, schools or even at work offices! For example, HDB blocks display significant art pieces done by various residents in the neighbourhood. Schools too put up art work done by students, and invite students from the performing arts to do a play or sing and dance for the school to witness and enjoy.

However, this does not apply to every individual, for there are still a minority who share an interest towards the arts. To some, a simple thing like visiting a museum or watching a play gives them a sense of serenity, where they are able to relax and put their mind to ease, especially after a long day of work. This can serve as a form of tranquility to one, as well as allow one to expand their knowledge and broaden their horizons towards facts about historical content.

In conclusion, although there are a majority of people who are not interested in any activities related to art, I do hope for more people to be more open towards the beauty of art. This way, we would be able to gain a better understanding towards the various arts and learn to appreciate them together.

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In all honesty, I think there is only a minority of locals here in Singapore visit any of the museums we have here. The same can be said for plays, operas or even live performances. Though some might think it is not very interesting to see these art and cultural displays, the number of people that visit these exhibitions is not zero, there are several people that will attend these forms of cultural representation and perhaps there are a few reasons for that.

Starting off with museums, be it art or historical displays, I would say that it isn't just students that visit these places. We all remember our learning journeys to places like the National Gallery, but there are more than just us students. Historians or artists, visit these places quite often to get a hold of the rich history and artworks of Singapore. Looking at even the most minor details they visit these places to get firsthand experience on how Singapore used to be and how its functions. Singapore is a small country and therefore the oral tales from generations gone by may be lost, museums however preserve these traditions and artefacts, bringing people to get a new grasp and understanding on our history and culture. I used to be one of those students who attended museum trips in school, I believe it was to the Singapore Philatelic Museum. It focused on the different ethnic groups of Singapore in the past and teaching the children how Singapore used to function, how lives were like back then and provided statues with clothing and old city sets to take us back in history. There was large studio rooms with reconstructions on real life places like Chinatown but back in the 1960s. There were tour guides which provided much insight into the architecture style and the quality of life back then. These museums like the Peranakan Museum, Art science Museum and National Museum of Singapore all serve a simple purpose, the preservation and continuation of Singaporean culture and legacy. We may feel that we do not need to see these bygones of the past, but attending these museums provide so much insight and the atmosphere of connection that links the present to the past.

The second thing is plays, things like live operas or drama acting. People nowadays do not necessarily need to travel to concert halls to see the newest plays or operas and arts just isn't that popular among the people here. Rather, they can just watch the play and art pieces online. Singapore is a country that is technologically developed and places much emphasis on continuous development and breakthroughs in Science and Mathematics. Though I cannot claim to have seen any plays in person, I remember the time back in Secondary One where my English teacher showed us the play 'Emily of Emerald Hill' on YouTube, a older play focusing on the protagonist Emily going through the struggles of life. When I read the comments it seemed as though much of the audience are older Singaporeans who seem to have a sense of nostalgia when seeing the play. Some of them saying that they used to watch the play back in the days and are happy to see it performed once more. The idea that plays aren't watched anymore is a something that isn't true, rather the art and tradition has been persevered and will be performed for many years to come, though the modern generation and people like me cannot see the value in attending these plays, the past generations that have gone by will enjoy these plays years into the future.

I wish that these ideas and cultures should be visited more often. Although as a quick developing country we do not like to look back on the past. I think that there should be more people seeing these displays of our culture and heritage and we can start to appreciate the value of these plays and museums.

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Majority of the people in my country, Singapore are not keen in taking part in art activities like visiting museum. However, a handful does.

As Singaporean, we often learn about the Singapore history through history lessons in schools. Therefore, we have a strong understanding about the history of Singapore. Starting from just a small island discovered by Sang Nila Utama, founded by Stamford Raffles in 1819, to being invaded by the Japanese in 1942; and lastly how we developed to the present Singapore. As we learnt the history of Singapore since young, many of us find it unnecessary to visit the Singapore museum and look back on the past. Hence, many Singaporean are not interested in visiting the museum.

Secondly, Singaporeans tend to only visit museum for the sake of taking pictures; either for those aesthetic pictures they wish to see on their instagram accounts. For example, there was a period of time when many people went to the Art Gallery to take pictures around the lobby as well as the wall of paintings. Though it started from the teenagers, it influences the adults to also visit museums for aesthetic purposes only.

However, some students visits the museum for references for school work. For example, some Art students goes to the Art museum for reference purposes for their examination. One of my friends went to both the Art Gallery and Asian Civilisation Museum for research and reference for her Art courework about females in the past, their wedding dress and shoes they wear daily. With these minority, they still help to maintain the percentage of Singaporean who visits museums.

In conclusion, I think Singaporean don't appreciate art as much as many from other countries. We tend to find it unnecessary and prioritise their studies or work instead. Since that is so, we also don't see the need to visit museums and even find plays boring.

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People in Singapore are interested in art, but not specifically visiting museums or watching plays. In this day and age, museums just isn't the thing for the younger generations. Most people would rather browse art online or visit an online museum rather than go down to the actual museum. Plays , to young people seems boring and time-consuming , preferring to watch alternatives.

Art has become a common interest with people online. Some like to view art related to their favorite characters or interests , while some just enjoy art from their favorite artists. Online artists have become more prominent in the world of art, having to please their audiences online through their art that can be done way easily and quickly online. Singapore, being a nation that is mostly on their devices, would definitely prefer to appreciate online art rather then art from museums. Online art is simple and easy to find, just one tweet or a google search and you'll find what you're looking for. Museums, are buried deep in the city, needing to pay fees and travel there just to view some old art that doesn't appeal to the people anymore. Although some people still visit museums for the historical art, i would say that most Singaporeans will prefer online art over art in museums.

Plays on the other hand, might be the opposite. Many people still enjoy the idea of going down to the Esplanade to watch a play that interests them. They still enjoy sitting down for hours watching multiple actors perform ,conveying art through drama and acting. However, plays is a fading idea in the art world, there has always been a nemesis to theatrical plays.

That nemesis is Movies and films. Films, films and movies are easy to access, found on Netflix, TV progammes and mostly on pirated sites. Films and movies are more convenient than plays, easy to watch and can be watched at any time, and is way more interesting. Movies and films can add visual effects and animations while plays can't. Animations is also taking theatrical plays place in drama or performance arts, being way easier to complete compared to plays where rehearsals are required. With a more "lazy'" younger generation, it is no surprise that they would prefer the more convenient option, movies and animations. Although there are still some people who watch plays to see "live art", it is obvious that people prefer to watch action and drama from the comfort of their homes rather than at a actual theater.

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On a whim, I would say that the majority of Singaporeans would not be interested in art activities such as going to museums or watching plays.  Of course, there are a handful of people who indulge themselves in the world of art, though they make up the minority of Singaporeans.

I believe that most Singaporeans have no interest in art activities mainly because of our lack of time to truly appreciate the arts. In a bustling city-state such as Singapore where everyone has something to do and somewhere to be, most of us don't get opportunities to pause our hectic lives and take time to visit a museum or watch a play. Instead, a moment of reprise may be used to catch up on our Korean dramas or engage in our hobbies. Take yourself as an example. After a week of grueling and unrelenting work, would you use that 3 or so hours of precious free time to walk around a boring museum? I don't think so. We might visit the museums or watch local plays once in a blue moon when our foreign friends come to visit, just as we would when we're overseas, though in the end, the visit was not due to any particular interest in the arts. With no time for discovery and exploration, most Singaporeans are unable to develop any interest in the arts.

I also believe that most Singaporeans are so surrounded by local culture and history, that they see no point in going out to specifically engage in the arts. In our everyday life, we see art everywhere. Be it at the MRT stations, in school, or the murals that are ever so present underneath our HDB estates. Singapore is a tiny nation abundant with everyday displays of art, making most Singaporeans numb to the true beauty a piece of art may have. Although this could be considered by some to be a good thing as it exposes ordinary Singaporeans to the arts, I believe that this instead causes Singaporeans to see the arts and places such as museums, art galleries and local theatre to be mundane and insignificant as they already see such things on their everyday commute or whenever they go downstairs to buy their food.

Other than that, Singapore also has a very young and developing art scene, leading to many Singaporeans being unfamiliar with local artists and thus being unable to relate or resonate with some pieces of art. This is especially true for abstract pieces of art or those with foreign influence. This is becoming increasingly true with the spread of social media. With many creators now posting their creations on social media, and many of these creators being foreigners, much of the younger population is now 'whitewashed' by these foreign artists and they forget the rich heritage of our local artists. This is quite understandable since social media is increasingly accessible and much more convenient than places like museums.

To conclude, despite our claim to fame, that is queueing for nearly everything, most Singaporeans would simply not waste their time queueing for something that doesn't pique their interest. And unfortunately, the arts doesn't seem to be most people's cup of tea.

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The majority of the people in my country are not keen in art activities like visiting the museum or watching the play. Here is why I say so.

Firstly, The decreasing rate of interest in history and art is a major reason for many who don't visit museums or watch plays. When people have no interest in the exhibits presented by the museum they find it a waste of time and money to go there. They find museums boring and unapproachable. Perhaps, its because What fascinates one does not necessarily get the same reaction from another. However, I believe they are just not exposed to the right type of art that intrigues them. Art seems to be fading away as schools focus more on the analytical and articulate sciences and mathematics. We have started to neglect art and exposure of art towards youth has decreased significantly.  Without understanding the art and the history a person won't be interested in art activities. A person who understands art and history will see a vase as an ancient artifact with a deeper meaning while others just see a regular old vase . Personally, if I had 2-3 hours of free time I would much rather go out somewhere else interesting than spend time walking around a museum with exhibits that don't intrigue me or don't capture my eye. I have only went to the museum when brought as a learning journey by my school even though it was educational I found it dreadful and a waste of curriculum hours. People don't find the need to go to museum when any information needed is at their fingertips with the help of technology. Therefore the lack of interest in the arts is a reason why people don't find museums interesting.

However, there is a minority who still love to spend their time at their museum or watch a play. Those who are intrigued and would like to know more about the past and  are amazed how things were done in the past, what life looked like and even what people wore ,go to museums. museums are living history from times gone by that helps us understand ourselves. People gain vast amount of knowledge from the diverse and widespread exhibits each with a certain theme. While, People interested in drama and visual arts watch plays. Theatre doesn’t only act as entertainment; it holds up a mirror to society. You can discover something new about yourself and the world you live in by watching what unfolds in front of you. Plays are the art of story telling. This is what makes it interesting. They find it very entertaining and relaxing to do art activities.

Although the sad truth is that the vast majority do not prefer art activities, I believe it is something that must be changed. People must learn about their cultural heritage and its importance and not neglect it. Hopefully, the perspective of people changes for the better.

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Doing art activities like watching a play and visiting a museum are things that the majority of the people in my country, Singapore, are not very interested in. With only a small handful that are. And today, I will be focusing on why people in Singapore are not interested visiting museums

The key reason as to why most Singaporeans are not interested in watching a play or visiting museum is the lack of exposure to it. Most of us rarely choose to visit museums in our own free time, really only going if we were invited to or for an excursion. Museums are really only truly enjoyable to those who have interest in history or arts, which many of us in this day and age do not have. Without interest, visiting a museum is just pointless. In addition, with the improvements in technology, most of the artefacts and information shown in museums can be easily found online with a simple search, which makes it a complete waste of time to travel all the way to a museum especially if we do not live near one. For example, once I went on an excursion to the National Museum Of Singapore where there are many historically and culturally important artefacts. However, not long into the excursion, I found myself getting very disinterested in the collections of artefacts presented and had skimmed through most of exhibitions there. I only truly found myself slightly intrigued by the hands on portion of the exhibitions. In the end, I found that whole trip a waste of time as none of the artefacts or exhibitions stood out to me and most of the information that was shown could be easily found on the internet. This results in us not finding the need to visit museums as we have other things that we would rather spend our time on like our hobbies.

On the contrary, there is also the minority that have interest in the history of Singapore or interest in art which makes them enjoy visiting a museum and in fact do so regularly. Visiting a museum allows them to expand on their knowledge of the history of Singapore and also get inspiration or just simply enjoy the art exhibitions. A museum also has a very solemn atmosphere which some find relaxing as it they can take a break from their work or school life in general. For example I have a friend, Tricia, she is a big history fan and often visits museums in her free time to gain more knowledge on the history of Singapore. Whenever she goes overseas, she also visits museums in the particular country as she will get to learn about the history and culture of the country which she finds extremely intriguing. To her, visiting museums not only expands her knowledge, it also allows her to take a break from her stressful school life. Which is why although it is a minority, there are still people in Singapore that enjoy visiting museums as a simple get away from their stressful life's.

In conclusion, although there is a vast majority of people in Singapore that are not interested in art activities like visiting museums and watching plays due to lack of exposure, there is still a small minority that enjoy going to museums as a relaxing activity.

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I believe that majority of Singaporeans do enjoy art activities such as visiting a museum or watching a play. However, we have to keep in mind that not everyone shares the same idea. It is possible that some Singaporeans may not find art activities alluring or appealing.

Museums like The Ice Cream Museum, Mint Museum of toys and Madame Tussauds Singapore Wax Museum are the ones that most Singaporean goes to these days. As a student, I've been to the National Museum of Singapore more than 10 times as is a popular learning journey destinations for schools. I may not know the history there like the back of hand but it get's boring to think about going there. Many adults also consider historical museum to be dull and mundane. If you have a sweet tooth like I do, The Ice Cream Museum gives a one of a kind experience to try out unique ice cream flavours that are hard to find. Or if you would like to take a trip down to memory lane, Mint Museum of Toys have four thematic levels with thousands of vintage pieces to see. Alternatively, if you are interested in taking photos with your favourite actors, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is for you. For marvel fans, a new figure, Loki was recently added to the Marvel Super Heros line-up. These museums may not be new however they are more exciting and enjoyable as these days, Singaporeans prefer these experiences over learning about Singapore's history which they've been doing since primary school.

In Singapore, going to plays and shows is a common past time for most adults.  For example, a performing arts venue, The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay presents a range of performances, from regional productions to travelling international artists. Swan Lake - The United Ukrainian Ballet, a showcase from the previous year, is a story in which good prevails over evil. With each structured and precise movements, the ballet created a beautiful symphony that wowed the audience and captured the attention towards the show. In 2017,  there was a showcase titled Giselle. The romantic tale of young innocent love but also betrayal. Together with the ballet, the symphony and romance in the play was brought together alluring and appealing to the audience's hearts.

In addition to plays and performances, Singapore also celebrates a wide variety of traditional, modern, experimental, and other creative forms and styles. The Singapore International Film Festival, the Singapore Writers Festival, and the Singapore Art Week are just a few of the many arts festivals that Singapore hosts every year. These activities provide Singaporeans the chance to connect and immerse themselves in the arts.

Overall, people in Singapore are definitely interested in art activities, and the city-state provides a range of opportunities for them to do so. Whether it's visiting a museum, watching a play, or attending an arts festival, there is always something for everyone to enjoy.

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Most people in Malaysia, especially the Chinese, aren't really keen in taking part in art activities such as visiting a museum or watching a play, and that includes myself and my family too. But of course there are a small but considerable minority of Malaysians who enjoy indulging themselves in these type of arts, with some even centering their lives or career around it. But the rest are simply not interested, and for three main reasons:

Firstly, a majority of young Malaysians have been raised in such a manner that took away our appreciation for the arts. We've been raised by our parents to live a life centered around studying and getting a high-paying job, the arts has often been regarded as a distraction, and many of the older generations such as our parents or grandparents often question the purpose of the existence of the arts. Such perspectives have been ingrained in us, and that is why we can't really understand and admire the arts. Art is simply art to us- we simply don't see the depth of the meanings behind the artwork, or we just can't appreciate it. And even for plays, while there will be more Malaysian audiences than there will be for fine arts, many of them most probably aren't able to see the deep meanings that most plays have. And that is pretty evident in the fact that most Malaysian movies like KL Zombie, Nasi Lemak 2.0 or Hantu Kak Limah (Malay for Kak Limah's Ghost) are comedic, plain, and have a basic storyline. This shows that Malaysians aren't exposed to deep, meaningful movies. We are used to movies that don't hold significant values, which will raise another generation of Malaysians that will have a shallow view of what a movie is, which will then continue to produce poor movies- a vicious cycle. This brings me to the second reason- the lack of exposure.

In Malaysia, art museums and theaters are mostly located in major or historical cities like Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown or Melaka. But not all 32 million Malaysians live in the three cities, and even in Georgetown or Melaka, they are mostly shophouses with tradition Chinese or Peranakan art and shows, rather than that of fine arts or paintings that are located in a huge buildings or the theaters that have regular drama or shows there. So the art museums that are actually comparable to art museums in other nations are largely located in Kuala Lumpur, and but once again, not every single one of the 32 million Malaysians are based there. So schools across Malaysia don't really have the opportunity to expose young Malaysians to the arts physically and many of us often grow up not having any real knowing the concept of art. For me, I am a native of Georgetown, and in my primary school years, trips to museums or shows were rare whenever we had it, it was mostly the historical street that the museum is at that was the focus. Teachers never really elaborated on the artworks and often let us roam around freely, and we ended up learning nothing from the learning journey. Even though in today's age where we can simply search artworks online or watch plays on YouTube, I highly doubt that the experience would be as immersive or effective on a person that if he experienced the arts for himself in person. For me, who only got a phone as late as when I was in secondary school, I wasn't exposed to the arts in my childhood years, which is why I struggled with art class in my secondary school years, often failing by five to eight marks. It isn't just me- my parents too, rarely ever goes to the museum. The last time we went to a museum as a family was two years ago, and only because our relatives from Penang was visiting us. Whenever they pass by a street artist drawing up a masterpiece, the most they would say is "his drawing very good".

The third reason for this disinterest is because of a normalization of art in our everyday lives, especially for people who live in places like historical Penang and Melaka. In these places, art is literally everywhere- so much so that a piece of painting no longer gets our admiration. For example, you can find paintings and murals in Penang everywhere- from buildings, to your void deck, to the wall next to a coffeeshop. Penang is literally littered with art. We see it when we walk to school, grab lunch, meet a friend, or even when we take out the trash! So as you can imagine, seeing artworks every day, every moment we walk out of our house made our eyes numb towards artworks. And once again this is also fueled by the first reason: we were taught to see art as a distraction from our life goals. So of course street art is Penang's pride, but we ourselves are too used to it to be able to enjoy it.

There will, however, still be a handful of people that are still passionate about art. Despite our education system not being able to expose them to art, they are either naturally trained or specially taught be able to search deep into their souls and create art with deep and rich meanings. But all in all, Malaysians, especially the younger ones, are slowly moving towards a soulless society where what appeals to us are no longer artworks but instead numbers and formulas. We were raised this way, and I'm no exemption.

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No, making a living as a street performer doesn’t appeal to me. I am extremely interested in the arts, even going to the extent of joining a choir, however the cons outweigh the pros. Being a street performer or artist was an option I considered in the past, but I’ve thought through it, and it’s a unnegotiable no for me. Among them, there are three significant factors that breaks the deal for me:

Firstly, the income a street artist receives is unstable compared to that of a corporate employee. In an office job, a monthly salary is guaranteed, and in fact, mandated by the government. There is a security, compared to the income of a street performer or artist. A street performer depends on the generosity of his or her audience, and not just their favor. One could merely stand by the side watching a street performance, singing along, waving flashlights but yet at the same time be not willing to drop a coin or two into the offering box. This is provided that the street performer would even be able to attract an audience. Should people not find the performance interesting, the performer wouldn’t be able to grab anybody’s attention, and would not earn a single dollar. Some factors wouldn’t even be in his control- if it rains, a street wouldn’t be able to perform; if it’s too hot, there would be no audience. For me, there are simply too risks involved that repels me from choosing to be a street performer. I’d prefer a stable and secure source of income, even if that meant I wouldn’t be working in an industry of my interest.

Another reason is many’s perspective is one that stations street performers and artists at an equivalent status as that of ‘beggars’. What many see is a casually-dressed shamelessly begging for people’s money. Street performers are also often viewed as lazy people who couldn’t or weren’t willing to study hard and get a proper, decent job. This view is shared by most of our parents, and especially given that we’re Asians, their definition of what a ‘career’ is is strictly confined to an employment at a well-established corporation. For me, I wouldn’t buy into this perspective, but I can understand where they’re coming from. Street performing is an unconventional job in a sense, especially because one wouldn’t be part of a company and there’s no dress code, no office, and no employer except for yourself. Because of this view, many, shun and shame street performers and artists, and for some parents, they’d be willing to do the same to their own children too. In such a world where street performers and artists are shone in such bad light, I wouldn’t want to snatch the center spot of the stage.

Lastly, street performers and street artists often don’t enjoy the benefits a person working in a conventional office job has such as paid time off, health insurance and retirement benefits. Without health insurance, accompanied by the fact that some street performers might not be able to qualify for government assistance, a lot of them would have to bear any medical costs they incur themselves. And the fact that street performers and artists have an unstable income doesn’t make things any better. What’s worse, because they are not employed under any  companies, they wouldn’t enjoy the privilege of paid medical leave. For a street performer, a day off can mean about a hundred dollars lost in income. This can result in street performers having to put their jobs over their health,performing even when they’re sick, as they couldn’t afford healthcare coverage. Throughout his carrer as a street performer, he isn’t required to contribute 20% of his income to his provident fund account, and upon reaching the retirement age, he wouldn’t have enough for retirement. This can mean additional years of working, either a street performer or something else.

As much as I am interested in singing, playing instruments, painting and drawing, I don’t think I would like to make it my career in the future. There are simply too many risks attached with this career path, and I’d have to follow my mind and not my heart here.