The Sustain the Arts (stART) Fund is an initiative by the National Arts Council (NAC), supported by the private sector to boost the long-term sustainability of small arts organisations, and to nurture a culture of giving to the arts. The need is especially pronounced today due to the disruptions and implications that COVID-19 has brought to everyone, especially the arts and culture scene.

The stART Fund is managed as a sub-fund under the Support of the Arts Fund (SFAF), a registered charity with IPC status under the Charities Act. Hence, all donations to the stART Fund will be eligible for 250% tax deductions.

All donations of SGD $10 and above are eligible for tax exemption. This will be automatically processed by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) with your NRIC or UEN number. You may wish to note that the IRAS now automatically acknowledges the tax deductible status of your donations if the charity submits your identification number to IRAS on your behalf. This means that you will not need the tax deductible receipts when submitting your annual tax assessment forms. For more information, please refer to IRAS website: https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Other-Taxes/Charities/Donations-and-Tax-Deductions.

Should you still require a soft copy of the tax deductible receipt, please kindly send an email to: [email protected]

For more information regarding the stART Fund, please visit www.nac.gov.sg/start.

The stART fund helps arts groups which have limited resources to scale up and establish robust governance structures. It also aims to help them create and present quality programmes that contribute to the vibrancy of Singapore's arts and culture ecosystem. Such programmes include those with community impact that enable more people to enjoy the arts, enhance the arts experience through digital technology, and encourage audiences to reflect on and celebrate Singapore's cultural identity. With the stART Fund, we aim to catalyse giving and develop the organisational capabilities of these small arts groups, ensuring that they are better equipped to sustain their practice for the long-term.

NAC will work with private donors and rally the community to build a vibrant arts scene for Singapore that is sustainable for both the short and long-term. The fund aims to build up to $10million by March 2023 to support a greater number of arts groups in Singapore and encourage a diverse array of arts programming that serves wider community groups and audiences.

This pandemic has showed the impact arts can bring in providing a platform for connection and comfort. Ever resilient, the arts community has adapted to provide entertainment on new platforms and will continue to innovate their offerings to delight audience at home and around the world. With the continued efforts of our partners, together, we look forward to continue a culture of giving to the arts and emerge stronger as a nation.