Background on the Society
The Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society started its 50th year in 1999. Half a century is a milestone for any organization, more so for a self-help Society devoted to the teaching of the classical arts in a non-formal environment. It began humbly, with just 12 members and little else. Today, it has 14 teachers, nearly 800 students and a pan-Indian curriculum that reflects the cultural diversity of a vast country with an ancient heritage.

Developing and sustaining that curriculum has been one of the greatest challenges for the Society so far, but one which has yielded many benefits. It has fostered home grown talent and created an awareness and understanding of the Indian cultural heritage, particularly valuable in multi-ethnic Singapore.

To a large extent, the growth of the Fine Arts has paralleled the growth of Singapore. From tough, early years, it graduated to an expansive period through the '80s and early '90s when it received much government support and consolidated its position.

To keep its lead into the next millennium, the Fine Arts needs to seize the opportunities that arise as the transformation of Singapore into a global city for the arts gets underway and face up to the challenges as competition increases. The organisational restructuring, soon to be completed, will prepare for this. The division of teaching and performance into two distinct entities will sharpen focus and improve administration.

It will also help in achieving a more ambitious goal - a redefining of identity, a move to a multi-cultural platform from a quintessentially Indian one, the growth of an artistic vision.

The Society's philosophy is described in Sanskrit in its logo which reads: 'Kala Samskrithi Lakshanam' - art characterizes civilization.

In the early years, the Society's efforts were principally directed towards the organization of concerts in music and dance by local and visiting performers. In the 1950's, efforts were channeled towards the creation of an Academy to provide tuition in the fine arts, initially in Carnatic music and Bharata Natyam.

The Society is a non-profit Indian cultural organisation in Singapore that has achieved a high level of technical excellence in Indian Fine Arts. Graduates trained at the Society's Academy of Fine Arts provide principal support to other Indian cultural groups.

The contribution of the Society to Indian Fine Arts in Singapore has been extensive.

The Academy of Fine Arts
The Society began the teaching of music as early as 1952 on an ad-hoc basis and formally established the Academy of Fine Arts in 1959 with two teachers and about 20 pupils. Today it has a teaching staff of fourteen and some eight hundred and fifty pupils, offering programmes in both South and North Indian Music and Dance. The classes are run at the Society's premises located at 2A Starlight Road and also at selected community centers such as Changkat Changi and Nee Soon. Teachers for the Academy are recruited from India and Sri Lanka who have had special training in music and teaching methods. Some of the Academy's teachers have given albums in compact disc and audio tapes which act as an encouragement to their pupils.

The Academy runs a five-year graduate programme with an approved syllabus leading to the award of a Certificate of Merit. There is also a three-year Post Graduate course leading to a Diploma, for those who wish to pursue excellence in their subject after their graduation. External examiners from India, renowned in their field, attend and mark the fifth, and all subsequent years' examinations annually. The Academy ensures high levels of achievement of its graduates by close adherence to the syllabus and stringent examination requirements.

Talented artists including external examiners hold workshops for students and teachers so that they fully benefit from the presence of these talented people in Singapore.

In the last seven years, 47 students received the Certificate of Merit and 33 the Post Graduate Diploma.

Premises For The Society
In the initial years, the Society and the Academy functioned at various places with a staff of two to three teachers and with about 100 pupils. With growing enrollment and range of courses offered, it was founded necessary to look for a fairly large premises to run the academy effectively.

In recognition of the Society's contribution to the Indian Fine Arts in Singapore, the National Arts Council was very gracious in allocating the former Rangoon Road Primary School building in Starlight Road for the exclusive use of the Society.

The premises had to be converted for use by the Society and the Society spent $900,000 towards the renovation of the School excluding $100,000 for fixture and fittings. The renovation was completed in the later part of 1992 and the Society moved to its premises in January 1993.

With the continued support of the National Arts Council, the Society is very optimistic that it will grow and expand its activities. The immediate target is to reach a student enrollment of 1,000 students. The number of teachers is now 14. Also, the Society is having an Indian Orchestra which would provide the students with an opportunity for regular outside performance. Later the Orchestra will also experiment with the use of other ethnic instruments and attempt to blend Indian music forms with that of other ethic groups in Singapore. Another idea being considered is the setting up of classes for those who have a keen interest in semi-classical so that the Society would cater to a wider audience and therefore improve the overall Indian music standards in Singapore. The Society's ultimate aim is to attract non-Indians to learn the arts and to this end the Society is offering a scholarship if there is positive response.