Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society opens new campus in Bras Basah-Bugis arts district

PM Lawrence Wong (left) at the new campus of the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society on Oct 31.

ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Published Oct 31, 2026, 08:30 PM

Updated Oct 31, 2026, 08:30 PM

Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society opened its new campus at 250 and 252 Middle Road on Oct 31, marking 77 years of the non-profit arts group.

SIFAS has grown from six students in 1949 to over 1,800 members and students across 18 disciplines.

The move places SIFAS in Bras Basah-Bugis arts district, where PM Wong urged more collaboration and said strong roots help young people embrace new influences.

SINGAPORE - The new campus of the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS) was officially opened on Oct 31.

Located at 250 and 252 Middle Road, the opening also marks 77 years for the non-profit Indian cultural organisation.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who was the guest of honour at the event, said SIFAS has come a long way and has contributed much to Singapore’s cultural life.

He noted how its first classes in 1949 involved just six students meeting in a private home.

But more than seven decades later, SIFAS has grown into one of Singapore’s leading institutions for Indian classical music, dance and the visual arts.

It has over 1,800 members and students, with a curriculum spanning 18 disciplines.

In his speech, PM Wong mentioned notable alumni, including Sushma Soma , who brought Carnatic music to audiences in Singapore and abroad, and The Bala Boys, who began their formal musical training at SIFAS, before going on to develop their own distinctive sound.

Prior to its move to the Middle Road campus, SIFAS had been housed for over 30 years in the former Rangoon Primary School building at 2A Starlight Road in Farrer Park.

Its latest move brings it into the heart of the Bras Basah-Bugis arts and heritage district , alongside other arts schools, museums, performance spaces and institutions.

SIFAS president K V Rao said in SIFAS’ classrooms, one will find artists from all ages and races.

He said: “This, indeed, is Singapore’s story, told in rhythm and melody. Music can connect us without language.”

PM Wong urged SIFAS to collaborate with its new neighbours.

Using the new SIFAS-Bothra Theatre performance venue as an example, he said to imagine someone having a chance encounter with the Indian classical arts while walking by.

He said Singapore’s multiculturalism is distinctive, in that it does not seek to erase differences or blend everything into a single, uniform culture.

The world for young people today is very different, he added, and they grow up exposed to music, dance and culture from everywhere.

And while some may worry the young will then lose interest in their cultural traditions, PM Wong said the challenge is not to shield them from new influences, but to give them strong enough roots so they can engage confidently with the wider world.

He added that tradition and innovation are not opposites, and a living tradition must have both the discipline to preserve what is valuable and the imagination to take it further.

He said: “We are a meeting point of different cultures and traditions.

“Every community has its own heritage, but we also want Singaporeans to look beyond our own communities and take an interest in the cultures and traditions of others, and that is what makes Singaporean multiculturalism distinctive.”

10月31日，总理黄循财（左）参观了新加坡印度美术协会的新校区。

圣路易斯照片：阿里芬·贾马尔

发布于2026年10月31日晚上8:30

更新于2026年10月31日晚上8:30

新加坡印度美术协会于 10 月 31 日在美芝路 250 号和 252 号开设了新校区，标志着这个非营利艺术团体成立 77 周年。

SIFAS 从 1949 年的 6 名学生发展到如今拥有 1800 多名会员和学生，涵盖 18 个学科。

此举将新加坡国际电影艺术学院（SIFAS）安置在勿拉士峇沙-武吉士艺术区，黄英贤总理敦促加强合作，并表示强大的根基有助于年轻人接受新的影响。

新加坡——新加坡印度美术协会（SIFAS）新校区于10月31日正式开放。

该场所位于中路 250 号和 252 号，其开业也标志着这家非营利性印度文化组织成立 77 周年。

出席活动的贵宾——总理黄循财表示，新加坡国际电影艺术学院（SIFAS）已经取得了长足的进步，并为新加坡的文化生活做出了巨大贡献。

他指出，该机构于 1949 年首次开课，当时只有六名学生在一户私人住宅里上课。

但七十多年后，SIFAS 已发展成为新加坡领先的印度古典音乐、舞蹈和视觉艺术机构之一。

该学院拥有超过 1800 名成员和学生，课程涵盖 18 个学科。

黄总理在演讲中提到了一些杰出的校友，包括将卡纳提克音乐带给新加坡和海外观众的苏什玛·索玛，以及在新加坡国际音乐学院接受正规音乐训练，之后发展出自己独特音乐风格的巴拉男孩乐队。

在搬迁至中路校区之前，SIFAS 已在法拉公园星光路 2A 号的前仰光小学大楼内办公超过 30 年。

其最新举措将其带入了勿拉士峇沙-武吉士艺术和文化遗产区的中心地带，与其它艺术学校、博物馆、表演场所和机构为邻。

SIFAS 主席 KV Rao 表示，在 SIFAS 的课堂上，你会发现来自各个年龄段和种族的艺术家。

他说：“这的确是新加坡的故事，用韵律和旋律讲述。音乐可以超越语言的界限，将我们联系在一起。”

黄总理敦促新加坡国际金融协会（SIFAS）与其新邻居合作。

他以新建的 SIFAS-Bothra 剧院表演场地为例，说道，想象一下有人路过时偶然邂逅了印度古典艺术。

他表示，新加坡的多元文化主义独具特色，因为它并不试图消除差异，也不试图将所有事物融合为单一的、统一的文化。

他补充说，如今年轻人的世界与以往大不相同，他们从小就接触到来自世界各地的音乐、舞蹈和文化。

虽然有些人担心年轻人会因此对他们的文化传统失去兴趣，但黄英贤总理表示，挑战不在于保护他们免受新的影响，而在于给他们足够强大的根基，使他们能够自信地融入更广阔的世界。

他还补充说，传统与创新并非对立，一个鲜活的传统既要有保护珍贵事物的纪律，也要有将其发扬光大的想象力。

他说：“我们是不同文化和传统的交汇点。”

“每个社区都有自己的文化遗产，但我们也希望新加坡人能够放眼自身社区之外，对其他文化和传统产生兴趣，这正是新加坡多元文化主义的独特之处。”