The 8Q SAM is a contemporary art space with fresh, multi-disciplinary, interactive and community oriented programming. It serves as a place where the public can directly experience the work and ideas of local artists in relation to its aesthetic and social content. Visitors have the opportunity to experience the diversity of contemporary art practices ranging from painting and sculpture, to installation, new media, performance art & sound, photography and film & video.
The best part of the exhibition is that entry fee is only $1.50 for students and senior citizens and there is no particular target audience. The art pieces can relate to anyone.
The exhibition, which features works by artists such as Chong Li-chuan, Jahan Loh, Donna Ong, Grace Tan, Tan Kai Syng and Jason Wee, was mainly publicized through the Singapore Art Museum, which has posters and fliers of 8Q at its site and also hosted advertisements in their website. Fliers were also available at the Esplanade.
The event is publicized via the Life! section of The Straits Times and press releases by the National Heritage Board, SingArt and Youth.sg.
The links of the press releases are as follows http://www.nhb.gov.sg/WWW/pr/aug08/8Q%20sam.pdf, http://www.singart.com/8qsam/press_release_8q.html
http://www.youth.sg/content/view/5838/51/
The media, in terms of The Straits Times had a strong impact on the event coverage as newspapers are an expensive but sure way of reaching audiences. The second form of printed media was the 8 Days weekly magazine. The magazine has a loyal following and writes ups about the latest happenings in the local arts scene. The online press releases were also useful for art enthusiasts who get their daily updates via the net. Last but not least, advertisements were featured on the local television channels Arts Central and Channel News Asia. Channel News Asia also hosted the news on its website http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/368442/1/.html.
One way of further attracting media coverage is to get local celebrities to endorse the event.
If I were to take on the role of manager for 8Q, I would send fliers to schools so as to further inform the school children, and also to give them free passes as certain days. This is vital as the youths are the future of our arts scene hence it is important they are exposed to the 8Q exhibition. I would also put directional signs in the building so that audiences would not waste time on trying to find their way around, like the way i did. All in all, the event was still a success. I enjoyed every minute I spent in the exhibition, especially :phunkstudio’s adaptation of school life in the classroom.
