How your company can benefit from supporting the arts in Singapore

The support of arts and culture in Singapore is growing significantly. More companies are giving to the arts, and they are also, in general, giving larger amounts.

In 2011, the total amount of contributions above $50,000 grew by 22.4%, from $23.7million to $29million, with especially strong support from corporations.

Why has support from corporations increased? How might your company benefit from supporting the arts?

Elevate Your Brand Image

Singapore has a huge range of arts experiences on offer. With the right selection, support of the arts presents the opportunity to change the way your brand is perceived.

A sponsor of dans:festival at the Esplanade since 2009, Viz Branz has seen the effects of its sponsorship on business.

As COO Soh Puay Khong says, “The association with the festival enables our brands to differentiate themselves from the competition by projecting an ‘up-market’ or premium image.

Engage with Key Clients

Arts events present opportunities to entertain key clients, and to deepen and strengthen the existing relationship in a setting that highlights your company’s creativity and vibrancy.

Self-initiated arts and culture activities, such as the Lanxess SNYO Classic, serve as conversation pieces, further facilitating client engagement.

Boost Morale and Productivity

Go beyond cash sponsorship. Get staff actively involved in arts and culture activities, and you’ll see a dramatic boost of morale and productivity.

When NPE Print Communication became an active partner of the Singapore Arts Festival, the effect on staff was electric. They came to work with a new sense of purpose, productivity levels shot up, and the team bonded over their role in the Arts Fest. As Managing Director Francis Chia pointed out, “This is something monetary incentives may not be able to achieve.”

Build a Cultural Legacy and Enhance Corporate Reputation

M1, a Distinguished Patron of the Arts, supports the arts in order to play their part in giving back to society. The rewards? Seeing budding talent nurtured through sponsorships, and an enhanced local arts scene.

Through events such as the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival and their support of performance groups such as T.H.E. Dance Company and Frontier Danceland, M1 is building a cultural legacy by supporting the growth of the Singapore arts scene, while building a corporate reputation as a strong supporter of arts and culture.

Reach Out to Prospective Clients

For the B2B sector, museums, performances and festivals present excellent opportunities to entertain, engage and network with prospective clients.

With some creativity, companies can also open up unexpected avenues to reach prospective clients through support of the arts.