Following the announcements by SAM and Esplanade on their redevelopment plans, the Stamford Arts Centre on Waterloo Street is set to follow suit.
The 97-year-old building will begin refurbishment works in May and all the art groups housed there, including The Theatre Practice, The Singapore Lyric Opera and Dance Horizon Troupe have already relocated to new spaces. Come June 2017, an open call will be made to welcome 8-10 new art groups at Stamford Arts Centre with preference given to traditional arts groups. When asked what defines traditional arts, Arts House Limited CEO Sarah Martin shared that they are art forms that typically emerged from cultural roots that tie people together.
The general facade of the building will be conserved when it reopens in mid 2018 because of its historic significance. The building was home to many schools since its construction in 1920, from being used as a Japanese school to having been Gan Eng Seng School. It was also Stamford Girls’ School before being last called Stamford Primary School. Stamford Arts Centre came into being in 1988.
Redevelopment plans will focus on the building’s interior, including the addition of a multi-purpose hall, lifts, connecting walkways, more green decor and night lighting. It will also welcome more commercial uses such as cafes for those who need a cuppa or two.
