The first-ever Singapore Arts Festival in 1977 was a modest effort. Subsequent Festivals have improved tremendously. This is reflected in the 1984 Singapore Festival of Arts. It will last seventeen days and feature twenty local and foreign groups with 49 performances, apart from film presentations, exhibitions, public lectures and outdoor performances in both the visual and performing arts. With its expanded scope and added variety, this Festival opens up even more doors to cultural enrichment for our people.
The Festival is a fitting way to commemorate Singapore’s 25 years of self-government and demonstrates that our people can provide the creative impulse and the supportive environment for viable cultural growth. The infusion of an international flavour through the participation of countries with long cultural traditions should inspire our artistes to achieve a higher standard of performance.
Corporate support has made this Festival possible. I therefore wish to thank the sponsors and all the other contributors for their unfailing support since the Festival’s inception.
I wish the 1984 Singapore Festival of Arts every success.
– S Dhanabalan (Minister for Foreign Affairs and Culture)
(Source: Ministry of Culture Programme)