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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GILLMAN BARRACKS STEPS UP PROGRAMMING FOR 2015
SINGAPORE, 23 January 2015 – At Singapore Art Week 2015, Gillman Barracks –
Singapore’s contemporary art enclave – announced key developments for 2015 to step
up programming with a quality exhibition line-up by its tenants, the introduction of
creative and art-related businesses and a boost in art offerings.
Quality exhibition line-up in the region’s destination for contemporary art
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Since September 2012, Gillman Barracks’ 17 international galleries and the NTU
Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) Singapore have collectively staged over 220 quality
shows, featuring some of the world’s finest contemporary art and emerging as the
region’s destination for contemporary art. The galleries and the NTU CCA Singapore
have exhibited established and emerging local and South East Asian artists to an
international audience, while also connecting internationally acclaimed names to a
regional audience.
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As Singapore’s contemporary art enclave, Gillman Barracks plays host to a
quarter of the key events taking place during Singapore Art Week 2015. This includes
the world premiere of Gilbert & George’s UTOPIAN PICTURES (ARNDT) and solo
exhibitions presented for the first time in the region by artists such as Ding Yi
(ShanghART Gallery) and Justin Mortimer (Future Perfect). In addition, South East
Asian and Singaporean artists such as Manuel Ocampo (The Drawing Room),
Maryanto (Yeo Workshop) and Wong Lip Chin (Michael Janssen Singapore) are also
showcased alongside international names.
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The galleries have also lined up a list of exciting shows for the rest of the year,
including artists such as Albert Yonathan (Mizuma Gallery), Donald Sultan (Sundaram
Tagore Gallery), Frank Holliday (Partners & Mucciaccia) and a series of young
Singaporean artists including President’s Young Talent Award winner Grace Tan (FOST
Gallery).
Creative and art-related businesses to enhance visitor experience
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Next month, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new creative and art-related
business development in Gillman Barracks will be issued. Interested creative,
hospitality, lifestyle companies; property developers and architecture firms are invited
to submit creative proposals to design, build and manage this development at an
existing carpark; up to a maximum Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 2,000 sq m.
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Proposals will be evaluated based on their architectural merit and an attractive
mix of tenants or concepts that complement existing tenants. The development would
also run regular programming and foster collaborations with Gillman Barracks’ tenants.
By first quarter of 2015, there will be a total of 7 restaurants, cafes and bars in the
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development which will further enhance the Gillman Barracks visitor experience,
offering lifestyle options in addition to the quality contemporary art in the galleries.
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Ms Kow Ree Na, Director, Lifestyle Programme Office, Singapore Economic
Development Board (EDB) said, “Gillman Barracks has grown from strength to strength
as the region’s destination for contemporary art. Going forward, we will continue to
develop its visual arts core and introduce complementary concepts to provide visitors
with a compelling and all-encompassing experience.”
Boost in enclave’s art offerings to cater to a variety of audiences
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Gillman Barracks’ newest addition is Platform Projects, a not-for-profit
organisation in Singapore dedicated to supporting contemporary art and its awareness
through independent and internationally focused art projects and commissions.
Platform has launched The Lohia Mentorship Series, a public sculpture commission
that gives a mid-career Singaporean artist the opportunity to be mentored by
internationally acclaimed Indian artist Jitish Kallat over a period of seven months,
culminating in a public sculpture housed at Gillman Barracks. Ms Shareen Khattar, CoFounder of Platform Projects said, “As an organisation that connects collectors and
patrons to artists, we are excited to join the Gillman Barracks community and use it as
our base to animate the contemporary art landscape in Singapore and beyond.”
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Led by Founding Director Professor Ute Meta Bauer, the NTU Contemporary
Art Centre (CCA) Singapore - a research centre focused on Exhibitions, Residencies and
Research - has also launched its Artist Resource Platform. The Platform aims at
providing local and visiting art industry professionals entry points to the work and
practice of local artists, independent art spaces and the NTU CCA Singapore’s Artistsin-Residence, while providing insights to the contemporary art ecosystem in Singapore.
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In other developments, NAC’s Open Call for an Arts Space at Gillman Barracks
has closed and the agencies are in the process of selecting the non-profit group to join
the enclave in the second quarter of 2015. The organisation will introduce more local
art content to Gilman Barracks and collaborate with other on-site tenants and
members of the local art community to further outreach and create meaningful
engagement.
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Mr Paul Tan, Deputy Chief Executive of the National Art Council (NAC) said,
“Gillman Barracks is a focal point of the visual arts scene in Singapore and there is a
wealth of art content and expertise within it. We hope to share this with art
professionals, enthusiasts and novices alike through these new initiatives that we have
embarked on and supported, and hope that audiences will be continuously engaged
and inspired by Gillman Barracks.”
***THE END***
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms CHING Bao Lin
Senior Officer, Lifestyle Programme Office
Singapore Economic Development Board
Tel: (65) 6832-6354
Email: ching_bao_lin@edb.gov.sg
Ms Jocelyn LIM
Senior Officer, Marketing & Communications
Singapore Economic Development Board
Tel: (65) 6832-6307
Email: jocelyn_lim@edb.gov.sg
Ms Pamela THAM
Assistant Director, Corporate
Communications and Marketing Services
National Arts Council
Tel: (65) 6346-9470
Email: pamela_tham@nac.gov.sg
Ms Sant KAUR
Deputy Director,
Corporate Communications Dept
JTC Corporation
Tel: (65) 6883-3064
Email: Sant_KAUR@jtc.gov.sg
About Gillman Barracks
Located on a 6.4 hectare site and set amidst lush tropical greenery, Gillman Barracks is
Singapore’s contemporary art enclave. It is home to 17 international art galleries, the
NTU Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) Singapore, Platform Projects and 7 restaurants,
cafes and bars; which are all housed in conserved colonial barracks. The tenants
feature diverse and ever-changing exhibitions by internationally acclaimed and
emerging artists, from the region and beyond. Gillman Barracks is jointly developed by
the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the JTC Corporation (JTC) and the
National Arts Council (NAC).
For more information, please visit
www.gillmanbarracks.com.
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