The Projector’s closure: why government aid is not the answer
State backing would compromise the cinema’s defining independence – and fail to solve the problem of viability
[SINGAPORE] The Projector’s abrupt closure has shaken the arts scene, even prompting calls for a government bail-out. Yet such support would arguably dilute the cinema’s raison d’etre – and may not be justified, given market trends.
The indie cinema, a mainstay of the local arts scene for over a decade, announced on Tuesday (Aug 19) that it would wind up due to rising operational costs and falling attendance.
The decision came just weeks after it had said it would “return to (its) roots” at Golden Mile Tower, following the closure of its Cineleisure branch.
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