The Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that ten stations have been added to the list of subway stations where busking is allowed, bringing the total number up to 15.
On Monday, the LTA published a post on Facebook announcing that from October 12 buskers could perform in 10 more MRT stations in the city centre and the heartlands. Initially, there were only five stations in the pilot programme – Bukit Batok, City Hall, Eunos, Jurong East and Raffles Place. The trial, which ran from July last year to February, was said to have yielded “positive commuter feedback”, The Straits Times reported.
More Performances to Accompany Your Journeys!How would you like to be entertained on the go? How about being serenaded by live performances of creative and passionate people while commuting on the rail network? Watch the video below to see undergraduates Ang Cheng Wei and Er Young Yee busking at the East-West Line (#EWL) of Bugis #MRT station! Starting from today, buskers have 10 more MRT stations (in addition to the initial pilot programme of 5 stations), both in the city centre and the heartlands, as performance venues. This means that you can now enjoy busking performances at 15 MRT stations, including stations at Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Boon Lay, Bugis, Buona Vista, City Hall, Dhoby Ghaut, Jurong East, Orchard, Outram Park, Paya Lebar, Raffles Place, Serangoon, Tampines and Woodlands! Other than providing entertainment for your senses, this busking initiative provides a platform for local performers to showcase their talent. Hence, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is collaborating with the National Arts Council (NAC) to invite more interested buskers to perform at our MRT stations. Buskers can perform on weekdays from 7.30am to 11.30am and 5.30pm to 9.30pm, and on weekends and public holidays from 10am to 9pm.More details on the scheme can be found here: https://www.nac.gov.sg/grants-schemes/schemes/busking-scheme
Posted by Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving on Monday, October 12, 2015
“Other than providing entertainment for your senses, this busking initiative provides a platform for local performers to showcase their talent,” the LTA said on Facebook. “Hence, the LTA is collaborating with the National Arts Council (NAC) to invite more interested buskers to perform at our MRT stations.”
Many Singaporeans welcomed the initiative, saying that it showed that Singapore was slowly catching up with places like New York where busking in the subway was commonplace, and suggested more spaces should be opened up to buskers.
Busking in Singapore is governed by the Busking Scheme, which says that performers need a letter of endorsement under the Exemption Order to the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act. Performers are required to submit an application form and undergo an audition before they are allowed to busk. There are also restrictions on when busking performances are allowed in the stations.
The LTA also announced on Monday five more stations at which free WiFi will be available. Currently, free WiFi is available at 33 MRT Stations, and “by 2020, commuters will be able to access WiFi at all MRT and LRT station platforms, as well as at bus interchanges and terminals,” the LTA said.
In September, a High Court judge in Hong Kong overturned a verdict that found a busker guilty of playing an instrument without a police permit. The performer was originally handed a fine of HK$1,200 for playing music outside Hung Hom MTR Rail Station, but the judge said that he had a Basic Law right to engage in cultural activities.
