Our Story

Our vision, mission, values and what keeps us going as a performing arts centre for everyone.

An architectural icon with distinctive twin shells, Esplanade was opened in 2002 and has grown into one of world’s busiest arts centres. Each year, we present over 4,000 activities that engage and inspire more than 3.7 million patrons.

Vision

Mission

Values

Our core business is the arts

Customer-first: We value our customers and will take responsibility to ensure that their needs are satisfied. We will deliver what we promise and exceed expectations.

Action-oriented: We believe in being proactive and resourceful, adopting a "can do" attitude at all times. We aim to do things right the first time, yet not forgetting to seek new ways to do things better.

Take ownership and risk: We take pride and ownership in what we do and will lead by example. We will constantly seek new ideas and have the courage to take risks. In pushing our limits, we will accept that failures are part of the learning process.

Prudence: Our resources are scarce and precious. We will always be responsible with them, exercising financial prudence and leveraging every opportunity to stretch our every dollar.

Keep processes simple and seamless: They should not hinder our work but help us achieve our results.

A culture of learning: We will invest in our staff. Continuous learning and self-improvement will be a natural part of our culture.

One team: We recognise that everyone matters and that all roles are important. Kindness, warmth, integrity and humility are our fundamental values. As a team we will:

Always support and respect each other
Never abandon our team mates in times of need
Agree to allow disagreement; we respect all views
Always take a time-out, in good and bad times
Keep communication channels open at all levels and at all times
Celebrate all wins
Put passion and fun in everything we do

Image of artist Yung Raja performing at Esplanade to a crowd.

Audience & Artist Development

As Singapore's national performing arts centre, Esplanade is guided by our social mission to entertain, engage, educate and inspire through the arts. Our calendar of events span cultures, languages and genres, out of which 70% are presented free for all to enjoy. We regularly present world-renowned companies and artists to complement Esplanade’s own diverse offerings for audiences.

Image of performance at Esplanade Concert Hall.

Our Affiliations

Esplanade works in close partnership with local, regional and international artists to develop artistic capabilities, push artistic boundaries and engage audiences. The centre supports the creation of artistic content by commissioning and producing new Singapore and Asian work for the international stage.

Image of seniors in the audience watching a performance at Esplanade.

Access & Inclusivity

Esplanade is proud to be the first dementia-friendly arts venue in Singapore. We are a touchpoint for resources and information on dementia-related services and all of us at Esplanade are also equipped to help. Our premises are wheelchair-friendly, accommodate special seating requirements where possible, and we offer ticket concessions for persons with disabilities

Did you know?

Esplanade sits entirely on reclaimed land. If you were to travel back to the 1960s to where the centre stands today, you would end up in the refreshing waters of the Singapore Straits.