SINGAPORE, 31 January 2025 – 888 guests gathered to usher in the Year of the Snake at the Spring Reception 2025, an annual celebration jointly organised by Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) and Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA). This year marks the 11th anniversary of collaboration between the two organisations in hosting this festive event.
The occasion was attended by Guest-of-Honour Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was joined by distinguished members of the Cabinet and Parliament, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing, and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong. Also in attendance were representatives from the diplomatic corps, Chinese community leaders, members of Chinese clan associations, as well as representatives from local Chinese arts and cultural groups, and other ethnic communities. Guests were treated to a vibrant performance showcasing local Chinese arts and culture, and exchanged warm Chinese New Year greetings to mark the festive occasion. The Life Art Society added to the celebration with live calligraphy demonstration, creating vibrant traditional couplets and New Year paintings for guests, enhancing the festive atmosphere. (For more information about the performances and the arts and cultural groups, please refer to Annex A.)
In his speech, Mr Ng Siew Quan, Chairman of SCCC highlighted the Centre’s 2024 achievements which included a sold-out SING. 浪 concert, the launch of Culturepaedia, and a record-breaking attendance of 42,217 for the Centre’s Mid-Autumn Family FUN 2024. He also announced SCCC’s newly inked three-year partnership (2026 to 2028) with Land Transport Authority to decorate trains, buses and MRT stations during the Chinese New Year period, and the Centre’s collaboration with National Arts Council to organise its first Chinese Opera Festival in June-July 2025.
In his speech, Thomas Chua, President of SFCCA, emphasized the Federation’s ongoing commitment to further supporting the development of clan associations, ensuring that they remain vibrant and relevant in an evolving environment. To this end, SFCCA is working closely with Singapore University of Social Sciences to develop a tailored training programme aimed at enhancing the overall capabilities of the clans so as to attract more new members. Further details will be shared in the second half of the year.
President Chua also announced that SFCCA has raised the cap for its “Clan Associations Cultural Activities Fund” to S$7,500. Additionally, joint projects involving multiple clans will have a higher chance of receiving funding support as a move to encourage resource sharing and maximise the social impact of these cultural initiatives. This year marks the 40th anniversary of SFCCA, and in celebration of this milestone, the Federation will organise a Fundraising Gala Dinner in the second half of the year to raise funds for these initiatives and for the renovation of its building in Toa Payoh.
