【The Âtre 】：文化平權：藝術工作者們的嘗試與實驗

二零二三年十二月號 Issue 12 https://confident-bear-5zll1n.mystrikingly.com/

今年的11月26日，新加坡包容樂團「紫色交響樂團」應邀與柔佛大馬藝術學校聯合演出，在柔佛拉惹查麗蘇菲雅歌劇院演奏，這是「紫色交響樂團」的首場海外演奏。

「紫色交響樂團」由新加坡中區社區發展理事會於2015年成立，近百名樂團團員之中，半數以上的團員是有身心障礙的特需者，其他則是樂團義工。樂團的創團宗旨是希望通過音樂建立包容社會，讓特需音樂家也有機會提升他們的藝術造詣，繼續在藝術領域發光；同時，也為觀眾進行教育，讓觀眾看到他們的藝術才能，而非向他們投以異樣眼光。

近年來，新加坡致力提高對身心障礙者的關注，讓他們有機會欣賞、接觸、參與藝術。今年所制定的「2030年加強殘障服務總藍圖」，也重點關注「包容性藝術」與「文化遺產」領域，以打造「更具包容性」的社會。

除了官方機構，本地也有民間自發成立的團體，例如由失聰鋼琴家Ron Tan Zi Kai自2013成立的「Inclusive Arts Movement」，旨在為身心障礙者通過音樂獲得穩定收入，並且提供平台，讓主流社會和身心障礙者有機會一起合作。又例如劇場工作者邱子睿在2018年所發起的創意機構「展能有道」，旨在發掘具才華的身心障礙者，讓他們在舞台上一展所長。再例如自2021年發起的社會企業「Collective Perspectives」，通過影視、音樂、文字創作、雕刻等，為身心障礙者提供可持續性的就業機會。

無論是推動文化平權，或是打造包容社會，其根本目的，都是為了提高對社會「多元」的意識。新加坡非營利組織「新加坡特殊才藝藝術協會」（ART:DIS）的執行董事陳思惠就表示，希望能夠繼續努力：不希望只流於形式地讓特需者參與藝術活動，更應該讓主流舞台製作和展覽與他們一起進行創作。（注：《提升對殘障觀眾和藝術家的認知與支持》，陳思惠，2023年4月18日，聯合早報：https://www.zaobao.com.sg/forum/views/story20230418-1384307）這包括學習如何與殘障人士合作，瞭解他們的無障礙需求，並為他們提供學習機會，培養他們成為優秀的藝術從業者。

我們是進行文化平權？或是打造包容社會？或是創造機會平等，抑或是製造結果平等的社會？通過藝術，不同的藝術工作者們都在進行不同的嘗試與實驗，為社會展示不同的可能性。更重要的是，這麼做不應只是為了達到什麼「答案」—— 這應是一場藝術工作者與社會各個機構之間持續的交流與溝通。

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The Âtre Issue 12 (December 2023) https://www.the-atre.com/

Cultural Affirmation: The Artists' Attempts and Experiments

Written by Neo Hai Bin

On November 26 2023, The Purple Symphony (an inclusive orchestra in Singapore), was invited to perform at Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House in Johor Bahru. This was The Purple Symphony's first overseas performance.

The Purple Symphony was established in 2015, facilitated by Central Singapore Community Development Council. More than half of the near 100-strong members are musicians with special-needs, while the rest are volunteers of the orchestra. The orchestra aims to build an inclusive society through music, so that musicians with special needs can also have the opportunity to advance their artistic skills and continue to shine in the arts. It also aims to educate the audience, so that they can learn to see past their disabilities and witness their artistic talents.

In recent years, Singapore has made a concerted effort to raise awareness and provide opportunities for the physically and mentally challenged to appreciate, access and participate in the arts. The Enabling Masterplan 2030 sets out the vision for Singapore as an inclusive society in 2030, focusing on inclusive arts and cultural heritage, with the aim to create a "more inclusive" society.

Besides official organizations, there are also groups that were ground-up initiatives. For example, the Inclusive Arts Movement (I.AM), founded by pianist Ron Tan Zi Kai in 2013, empowers individuals with disabilities to earn a stable income through music. It also creates an inclusive workspace where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can thrive. Another example is theatre practitioner Grace Lee-Khoo's art organization "Access Path Productions". Founded in 2018, it allows people with disabilities to showcase their talents on stage. The Collective Perspectives, a social enterprise launched in 2021, provides sustainable employment opportunities for the physically and mentally challenged through film and television, music, writing, sculpture, and so on.

Whether it is to promote cultural affirmation or to build an inclusive society, the fundamental aim is to raise awareness of "diversity" in society. Angela Tan, Executive Director of ART:DIS (a non-profit organization in Singapore), said that she hopes to continue this effort: rather than engaging the special needs community in arts activities as a formality, she hope that mainstream stage productions and exhibitions can work together with them together. The mainstream community has to learn how to work with people with disabilities, understand their accessibility needs, and provide them with learning opportunities so that they can also have the ability to become professional arts practitioners.

Are we working on cultural affirmation? Or are we building inclusive societies? Do we create equal opportunities for all; or do we create a society of equal outcomes? Various artists in Singapore are making different attempts and experiments to demonstrate different possibilities. More importantly, this should not be done just for the sake of having one “answer" for the society - it should ideally be a continuous exchange and communication between artists and various organizations in the society.