National Arts Council CEO Benson Puah to step down

SINGAPORE - Chief Executive Officer of the National Arts Council (NAC) Benson Puah will step down after completing his tenure today (July 31).

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said Mr Puah will continue as the chief executive officer of The Esplanade Company Limited. Yvonne Tham, who is the deputy chief executive officer of NAC, will serve as the interim CEO.

MCCY said Mr Puah – who was appointed as NAC’s CEO on August 1 2009 - has played a significant role in facilitating the development of the arts in Singapore.

During his term of office, he championed closer engagement with the arts community, personally hosting a series of dialogues and consultations in relation to major policy reviews.

He involved artists in the review of the NAC’s enhanced grants framework.

Under his watch, the NAC stepped up efforts in arts education and community arts and launched several initiatives that reach out to Singaporeans of different ages and backgrounds such as the Silver Arts programme for seniors.

Mr Puah also initiated a review of arts housing which resulted in the Arts Spaces Framework that brings artists and audiences together.

He also engaged the arts community in a review of the Singapore Arts Festival. This led to the setting up of an independent company, the Singapore Arts Festival Company, to manage Singapore’s major festival platform.

MCCY said it will work with the council to identify a new CEO to lead NAC in its next phase of growth. CHANNEL NEWSASIA