National Arts Council

What National Arts Council does

The National Arts Council (NAC) is a Singapore government statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) that develops the literary, performing, and visual arts. It serves artists and arts groups, schools and educational institutions, Singapore citizens, and the corporate and community sectors as primary constituencies. NAC's core offering is a portfolio of grant schemes (Arts Fund, Creation Grant, Production Grant, Capability Development Grant, Major Company Scheme, stART Fund, and the new S$20M Multicultural Arts Programme Grant), capability-development programmes (NAC Cultural Fellowship, Arts Resource Hub), arts-education programmes (NAC-AEP with 1,000+ programmes by 300+ artists; Artist-in-School Scheme), and national festivals (Singapore Art Week, SIFA, Singapore Writers Festival, National Music Competitions). Underlying technology includes the e-services portal for grant applications, Catch.sg as the official arts and culture discovery platform, the SG Culture Pass system for ticketing credits (S$100 per eligible citizen, valid 2025-2028), the Public Art Trust's six self-guided public art trails, and an emerging Arts x Tech Lab plus Project Arts Metaverse stack. NAC's business model is government-funded grant distribution and ecosystem facilitation: annual appropriations from MCCY, supplemented by Tote Board co-funding (notably the Tote Board Arts Grant for schools ranging S$9,000–S$70,000 per institution) and President's Challenge seeding for the MAP Grant. Revenue is not publicly disclosed as a standalone figure.

Name

National Arts Council

Legal name

National Arts Council of Singapore

Website

https://nac.gov.sg

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

National Arts Council is a Singapore government statutory board under MCCY that develops literary, performing, and visual arts through grants, education programmes, public art commissions, and national festivals, serving artists, schools, citizens, and corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Arts Funding and Development

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Arts, Culture, Heritage & Tourism Congresses (THAHAJAN)

Keywords

• Arts funding grants
• Government arts agency
• Cultural development programmes
• Arts education initiatives
• Public art commissioning

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Funding Allocation: NAC receives annual government funding as a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) to support the arts ecosystem through grants, programmes, and infrastructure.
2. Arts Grants and Schemes Distribution: Distributes funds through various grants including Arts Fund (Tote Board Arts Fund), Creation Grant, Production Grant, Capability Development Grant, Market and Audience Development Grant, Presentation and Participation Grant, Research Grant, Major Company Scheme, stART Fund, Multicultural Arts Programme Grant, and Foreign Artistic Talent Scheme.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

National Arts Council is a Singapore government statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth that distributes grants, funding schemes, and arts development programmes to artists, arts organisations, schools and the public. It operates arts education programmes (NAC-AEP), major festivals (Singapore Art Week, SIFA, Singapore Writers Festival), national awards (Cultural Medallion, Young Artist Award), public art commissioning via the Public Art Trust, and the SG Culture Pass consumer credit scheme for Singapore Citizens. It is the primary government body mandated to champion the development of Singapore's literary, performing and visual arts.

Product overview

The National Arts Council operates a portfolio of interconnected arts programmes, funding schemes, and community initiatives rather than a unified technology product. Key offerings include: SG Culture Pass (S$100 cultural credits for Singapore Citizens), NAC-AEP (arts education programmes for schools with 1,000+ programmes), Public Art Trust (public art installations and trails), major festivals (Singapore Art Week, SIFA, Singapore Writers Festival), and technology initiatives (Arts x Tech Lab, Arts Acceleration Programme, Project Arts Metaverse). Funding mechanisms include the Arts Fund, Creation Grant, Production Grant, and the new $20M Multicultural Arts Programme Grant. Additional services include Cultural Medallion awards, Arts Resource Hub for freelancers, Catch.sg advocacy platform, and community programmes like Let's Connect! and Poems on the MRT.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SG Culture Pass: An initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth designed to encourage Singapore Citizens to support Singapore's arts and heritage programmes, providing S$100 credits for eligible arts activities.
• Public Art Trust
• Arts Resource Hub

Products and services

• SG Culture Pass Singapore's largest cultural initiative providing S$100 in credits to Singapore Citizens aged 18+ in 2025 to offset ticket purchases for eligible local arts and heritage activities. Credits valid from 1 September 2025 to 31 December 2028 and can be redeemed through authorised ticketing partners.
• National Arts Council-Arts Education Programme (NAC-AEP) Programme providing all students access to quality arts education, with over 1,000 programmes by more than 300 artists and arts groups annually, funded through the Tote Board Arts Grant. Enables schools to purchase arts education experiences for students.
• Public Art Trust Trust managing public art commissions and installations across Singapore, including self-guided public art trails in six districts: Bras Basah.Bugis, Marina Bay, Civic District, Chinatown, Kampong Glam, and Katong-Joo Chiat.
• Singapore Art Week Annual key festival celebrating visual arts across Singapore, showcasing local and international artists through exhibitions, installations, and programmes.
• Singapore International Festival of the Arts (SIFA) Annual international festival showcasing performing arts from Singapore and around the world.
• Singapore Writers Festival Annual festival celebrating literary arts, bringing together local and international writers.
• Cultural Medallion Award Singapore's highest honour for artistic excellence, awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts.
• Young Artist Award Award recognising and supporting emerging artists in Singapore.
• Arts Resource Hub Resource centre providing support for arts self-employed persons and freelancers, including co-working spaces at 42 Waterloo Street, financial literacy, branding, and wellness resources.
• Arts Fund (Tote Board Arts Fund) Annual arts grant funding various arts programmes and organisations in Singapore, co-funded with Tote Board.
• Creation Grant Grant supporting the creation of new artistic works.
• Production Grant Grant supporting the production of arts projects.
• Capability Development Grant Grant supporting professional development and capability building for arts practitioners.
• Major Company Scheme Funding scheme for major arts companies and organisations.
• stART Fund (Sustain the Arts) Fund providing support for the sustainability of arts organisations and practices.
• Multicultural Arts Programme (MAP) Grant $20 million grant programme supporting cross-cultural and cross-border arts collaborations, anchored in Singapore's multicultural context. Open for applications from 15 July 2026.
• Artist-In-School Scheme (AISS) Initiative enabling artists to work directly with schools to deliver arts education programmes.
• Arts x Tech Lab A technology and innovation programme supporting the intersection of arts and technology.
• Arts Acceleration Programme An initiative to accelerate growth and capabilities within the arts sector through structured support programmes.
• Busking Scheme Licensed busking programme enabling performing artists to perform at designated public locations.
• Catch.sg Official guide to arts and culture in Singapore, serving as a marketing platform and discovery tool for arts events and programmes.
• NAC Cultural Fellowship Fellowship programme supporting career and capability development for arts practitioners.
• I Play SG Music Programme promoting and showcasing Singapore music across various venues and platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• SG Culture Pass reaches all Singapore Citizens aged 18+ (in 2025) with S$100 credits for arts activities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• UOL Group LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Three-year MOU signed with UOL Group and Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) to integrate arts more deeply into Singapore's commercial and hospitality spaces. UOL will support key national arts platforms (Singapore Art Week, SIFA, Singapore Writers Festival) through venue access and hospitality support, create platforms for local artists including artists with disabilities, and introduce arts experiences across the Group's hotels and properties.
• Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Three-year MOU with NAC and UOL to integrate arts into hospitality spaces. PPHG is official hospitality partner for ISPA 2026. At NoMad hotel (opening Q4 2026), Faber Hall will serve as venue for performances and community programmes with local artist works featured.
• International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026ISPA 2026 Singapore Congress hosted by NAC (19-22 May 2026), bringing together 400+ performing arts leaders from 40+ countries. First ISPA Congress return to Southeast Asia in over two decades, reinforcing Singapore's role as international convergence point.
• Changi Airport Group (CAG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Three-year partnership to present Singapore's artistic excellence through Changi Airport (handles ~70 million passengers annually). Multidisciplinary arts initiatives spanning literary, visual and performing arts including SingLit poetry, live music through I Play SG Music initiative, and visual art displays during key arts festivals.
• Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY)coreOthersNAC is a statutory board under MCCY, receiving government funding and policy direction for arts development in Singapore.
• Ministry of Education (MOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for NAC-Arts Education Programme (NAC-AEP), Artist-in-School Scheme, and preschool arts initiatives. MOE curriculum goals inform arts education framework.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Arts Council England: UK national arts funding body distributing Lottery and government funds to artists and organisations, with a portfolio of grant schemes, museums and creative education programmes. Closest functional peer to NAC in terms of statutory arts development mandate, grantmaking portfolio, and national audience-development scope.
• National Endowment for the Arts: US federal independent agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the arts through grants to nonprofit organisations, partnerships with state arts agencies, and public engagement initiatives. Directly comparable as a government-mandated arts development and grantmaking body operating at national scale.
• Canada Council for the Arts: Canadian federal Crown corporation providing grants and services to professional artists and arts organisations across disciplines. Comparable as a federally-mandated arts funding body with similar grant categories (creation, production, dissemination) and sector capability programmes.
• Creative Australia (formerly Australia Council for the Arts): Australian Government's principal arts funding and advisory body, delivering grants and capability programmes to artists and arts organisations. Highly comparable statutory function, multi-tier grant architecture, and emphasis on cultural infrastructure for a mid-sized population.
• Hong Kong Arts Development Council: Statutory body in Hong Kong that plans, promotes and funds the development of the arts through grants, research, and advocacy. The closest Asia-Pacific regional peer to NAC given similar statutory mandate, compact market, and emphasis on arts education in schools.
• Arts Council Ireland: Irish Government agency for developing the arts, providing grants to artists, arts organisations, and venues, and supporting public engagement with the arts. Directly comparable as a national statutory arts funder operating in a small-population market.
• Korea Arts Management Service: South Korean government-affiliated organisation that supports the performing and visual arts through management support, training, and international exchange programmes. Comparable as an Asia-Pacific government arts body with capability development and internationalisation missions aligned to NAC's mandate.
• Japan Arts Council / Japan Foundation: Japanese government arts funding and international cultural exchange body, supporting performing arts, exhibitions, and cultural cooperation. Comparable as an Asian statutory arts funder with a strong internationalisation mandate that mirrors NAC's hosting of ISPA 2026.

Others

• Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Singapore: NAC's parent ministry that sets cultural policy, funds NAC, and oversees broader community and youth portfolios. Not a peer but the structural counterpart that determines NAC's funding envelope and policy direction.
• Singapore Tourism Board: Statutory board under the same Singapore government family that markets Singapore as a destination and funds tourism-adjacent experiences. Thematically adjacent to NAC because both promote Singapore's cultural identity and audience development through flagship events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NACsgVideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/NACSingapore
• LinkedInsg.linkedin.com/company/national-arts-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/nacsingapore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Arts Council