December 27, 2022
35 for EMCC35 | Sim Wan Hui
In this instalment of our #35forEMCC35 series, we spotlight Sim Wan Hui, a veteran in Singapore’s arts administration scene. She is presently Director of Venue Programming at Arts House Limited (AHL), where she works with a small dynamic team to manage Our Cultural Medallion Story at The Arts House and organise programmes for AHL. Wan Hui’s arts administration journey began in the early 1990s at NUS. As a young graduate from the NUS Arts Faculty, Wan Hui was the first full-time arts administrator supporting EMCC. She recounts her days as a member of this pioneer staff team, which saw the birth of NUS Centre For the Arts in July 1993.
What was your first role as an NUS staff?
I graduated from the NUS Arts Faculty in 1990, and was the first full-time arts administrator supporting EMCC in the early 1990s, reporting to Dr Tong Chee Kiong and Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo. I was there for about 8 years, during which Campus Concerts became part of the new Centre For the Arts (CFA).
CFA is turning 30 in 2023. You were involved in the official launch of CFA in 1993. What do you remember about the launch?
The Opening Show announcing the launch of CFA was at Lecture Theatre 13/NUS Theatrette. The Guest of Honour was the late President Wee Kim Wee and the launch featured performances by various NUS arts groups, followed by a week-long festival. There was a strong sense of excitement over the growing interest in our emerging artists and arts development on campus, including the plan to build the new University Cultural Centre (UCC).
How were you involved in the EMCC series? Any memorable projects or people that you met?
I was a young administrator supporting the EMCC series behind the scenes, e.g. on procurement which included sourcing for the nicest range of coloured paper so that the EMCC crew could photocopy eye-catching flyers to distribute by hand to promote the EMCC shows. These being pre-social media days, we walked all over the campus to put up EMCC posters on bulletin boards.
I also became acquainted with The Straits Times (ST) staff in charge of event listings, as we sent regular information about EMCC shows by fax and I would follow up by calling the ST staff to promote them, when I could get through the phone line!
The EMCC platform has always presented a diverse range of shows on NUS campus. I remember watching Gurmit Singh, Selena Tan, Zaini Tahir and Rosita Ng perform as young artists. The Necessary Stage, founded by NUS alumni and Cultural Medallion (CM) recipients, Alvin Tan and Haresh Sharma was newly established at the time, and staged works on campus too. I also treasure the memory of having watched Mama Looking for Her Cat by The Theatre Practice in the packed NUS Theatrette. This multilingual play was a significant work by the late Kuo Pao Kun who is a CM recipient and pioneer of Singapore theatre.
What is your current job and job title, and what does it entail?
Over the 3 decades, I have had the privilege of working mainly at CFA, National Arts Council and National Heritage Board. I am presently Director of Venue Programming at Arts House Limited (AHL). I work with a small dynamic team to manage Our Cultural Medallion Story at The Arts House. This showcase is commissioned by NAC to introduce the Cultural Medallion, the highest award for artists in Singapore, and the CM recipients to our wider Singapore community and visitors. I also oversee programming matters at AHL.
Through the years, have you met EMCC Crew who graduated from NUS and joined the arts industry? Could you share about these chance meetings, and it feels to be reunited?
Yes I have worked with many talented EMCC alumni over the years, too many to name in fact. The EMCC Crew was well regarded in the arts industry, especially during the 1990s when formal training in arts production was not readily available. The EMCC Crew was valued for their practical experience and for their strong sense of commitment and dedication. For their efforts, the EMCC Crew was the only cultural activity group to win the Commonwealth Youth Award in 1992!
What has your experience with EMCC taught you about yourself or being an arts manager/administrator?
To always do your best, continue to hone your skills and grow your experience, and treasure the friends you make along the way.
What hopes do you have for EMCC’s programming or EMCC Crew?
I hope that being an EMCC Crew can be credited as a practical module that is open to all students in NUS as it offers valuable life skills such as creative thinking, effective communications and teamwork; problem solving and adapting with agility, etc.
About #35forEMCC35
NUS Centre For the Arts is proud to commemorate 35 years of ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) through our #35forEMCC35 series. Spotlighting 35 individuals from past and present editions of EMCC, the series showcases how EMCC has complemented these individuals’ academic and professional lives, and their hopes for EMCC in the years to come.