Five Minutes with Ong Sian Hwa (The Star Performing Arts Centre)
Get to know more about The Star Performing Arts Centre (The StarPAC) in Singapore through the eyes of Ong Sian Hwa, Deputy Managing Director of The StarPAC!
The Star Performing Arts Centre (The StarPAC) is a multi-venue centre that is home to Singapore’s first 5000-seat Performing Arts Theatre – tell us more about what makes the centre unique and memorable for its audiences and artists that come through!
Here are just a few things that makes The Star PAC special; it’s the only performing arts venue that sits above a retail mall offering patrons and visitors a unique pre and post event experience. We also have a special VIP Lobby where artists and VIP guests can drive directly into and access the venue via an exclusive reception area. Anyone that has attended a live performance at the Star Theatre will also appreciate the great audio-visual experience offered by the cutting-edge stage technology of the auditorium tailor-made for world-class pop concerts, musicals, pop orchestras, and large-scale meetings. Last but not the least, our team is committed to our mission to make every event memorable for the audience, performers and organisers.
Plenty of different acts have performed on the Star Theatre’s stage – what was one performance you have watched that struck a deep impression and why?
Steinway Artist, Joja Wendt LIVE IN SINGAPORE on 30 Oct 2021. Being able to attend a live performance as a family and part of a larger audience after an unprecedented long period of pandemic restrictions (19 months) is special. It was a memorable and uplifting experience which is what live entertainment and StarPAC are all about.
Tell us what were the key challenges that The StarPAC faced during the pandemic and how did the centre reinvent itself to manage these challenges?
The Star PAC faced her biggest challenge since opening as she could not hold any mass live performances or events during the pandemic. We had to find our footing quickly and modify the existing venues of The Star Gallery; a multi-function hall and The Star Loft; a rooftop function space to support livestream sessions, online events and recording sessions. We also currently collaborate with Wala Café to organise small concerts for 200 to 250 pax to support our local artists. These were some of the new things we had to do.
The utmost concern is how to keep the jobs of our colleagues and staff amid the pandemic when our main revenue stream was obstructed. Our staff continue to be engaged with training, learning new skills and trying new methods of working eg. remote production. Keeping on top of the changing guidelines and restrictions by the authorities and working to keep the venue safe again for staff, patrons and visitors remain our top priority as we slowly resume live events at The StarPAC.
Many arts centres in Singapore are non-profit institutions that receive support and funding from the Government. What do you think is the role of a commercial/private arts centre like The StarPAC in the overall local Performing Arts Landscape?
Being a commercial/private arts centre certainly puts The Star PAC in a unique position in the overall local Performing Arts landscape. Besides supporting the events of our parent organisation, The Star PAC has also established a name for herself as a well-loved venue for pop concerts of famous and popular artists, corporate and meeting events for both the commercial and government sectors and a premium venue for private events including product launches, wedding solemnisations and birthday parties in the past 9 years of operations. The satisfaction and high returning rate of new and existing hirers are a great motivation for the team to continue to provide an alternative and ideal venue for both local and overseas events.
We’re excited to be able to welcome our members in Singapore this October for the AAPPAC Conference – what’s one unique place you’d recommend our members to visit in Singapore?
Gardens by the Bay. The diverse collection of over 1.5 million plants amidst its iconic architecture is amazing.
Describe what Singaporean Culture is to you in three words!
Multi-ethnic, multi-religions, diverse festivals
My Wife’s Masters Graduation in 2021 – Art Therapist, Sculptor, Art Educator Inspiration to my kids and I. Courage to learn and try new things!