Be a Manager

I took a trip down to 8Q SAM (Singapore Art Museum) to explore the current ongoing inaugural exhibition of the 8Q-Rate: School.

8Q SAM is a contemporary art space where the public can directly experience the work and ideas, which includes painting and sculpture, installation, film and video, photography, new media, performance art and sound art from living artists. It is also a place for contemplation, stimulation and discussion about contemporary art and culture, as well as serving as a forum especially for students.

The objective of this event was to evoke individual’s memories as a student. The exhibition showcases artworks from eight young contemporary Singaporean artists: Donna Ong, Tan Kai Syng, Jason Wee, :Phunk Studio, Jahan Loh, Grace Tan, Ahmad Abu Bakar and Chong Li-Chuan, who have worked with eight curators. The artists crafted their art pieces based on the theme “school”, relating back to the location of 8Q that once housed the Catholic High School. Each artwork represents different areas from different parts of the school that allows you to reminisce your past as a student.

The target audience would most likely be adult aged 30 and older. Adults in this age group normally would have already forgotten or miss their life as a student. Thus, through this exhibition, they would be able to recollect their old memories as a student. Also, it targets anyone, especially students who are interested in contemporary art.

The event was publicized through the various mediums:
• Press releases
SingArt:
http://www.singart.com/8qsam/press_release_8q.html
• The Straits Times
• 8 Days magazine
• Various Websites
8Q SAM:
http://www.singart.com/8qsam/school_8q.html
SAM:
http://www.singart.com/current_exhibitions.php
Channel News Asia:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/368442/1/.html
Youth Singapore:
http://www.youth.sg/content/view/5838/51/

Media coverage in the press releases and various websites had the strongest impact among the other mediums. The Internet is an easy accessible tool in which viewers will be able to know about all the ongoing exhibitions just with one search. In this way, the 8Q advertisements or press releases found on the Internet would have more likely to be seen by more viewers than those in the Straits Times and 8 Days magazine.

I feel that this event is unsuccessful because it does not seem to be attracting a large number of visitors. On the day that I was there, there were only about four other visitors viewing the exhibition. When asked about the number of people visiting per day, the receptionist said he was more than happy to have us here to chat with him, as he does not normally get small talks from the visitors since the opening launch of 8Q SAM.

If I were to be the manger overseeing this project, firstly, I would brainstorm on more ways to advertise my exhibition, so that I could reach out to greater number of visitors. Instead of just advertising on The Straits Times and the Internet, I would print out posters and fliers to place them in secondary schools, tertiary schools, art schools, as well as shopping centers. These posters and fliers will have to be colourful and creative that is eye catching.
Secondly, I would improve on the directions in the building. More specific signs would be place from one exhibit to another. This allows viewers to able to move smoothly from one exhibit to another, without having to search for the direction to the next exhibit.
Lastly, an exhibition tour guide would be useful for guiding the visitors through the exhibition and on hand to answer their questions.