JOINT NEWS RELEASE BETWEEN NEA, NHB AND FMAS 

Singapore, 16 December 2020 – Hawker Culture in Singapore has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 15^th session of the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) that was held online. The IGC announced the successful inscription of Hawker Culture in Singapore on the Representative List on 16 December 2020 at approximately 10.09pm (UTC +08:00). The 24-member committee adopted the recommendation by the Evaluation Body to inscribe Hawker Culture in Singapore on the Representative List, and this was witnessed by representatives of 117 States Parties and accredited non-governmental organisations to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Culture Heritage.

2         Singapore’ nomination of Hawker Culture fulfilled all five evaluation criteria used by the IGC and Singapore was commended for the active involvement of various communities in the nomination process and preparing a nomination file that highlights an intangible cultural heritage that is thriving in a highly urbanised and culturally diverse environment. With the positive recommendations from the Evaluation Body, the IGC chaired by H.E. Ms Olivia Grange (Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport of Jamaica), proceeded to declare Hawker Culture in Singapore inscribed on the Representative List. Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Second Minister for Law, and Chairman of the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO, delivered a statement on behalf of Singapore. (Please see Annex B for the transcript of Minister Edwin Tong’s remarks). Hawker Culture is Singapore’s first inscription on the Representative List, and it joins more than 460 elements on the List.

3          Minister Tong said, “We are incredibly honoured that Singapore’s Hawker Culture has been officially recognised by UNESCO and shared with the world today. Hawker Culture holds a special place in the hearts of Singaporeans from all walks of life, and is a living heritage that reflects our everyday experience and identity as a multicultural society. The nomination journey has also brought Singaporeans closer together and instilled a greater sense of pride for our Hawker Culture. But the journey doesn’t end here. We will continue to recognise and celebrate the knowledge and cultural practices of the hawker trade, and ensure that future generations of Singaporeans can continue to appreciate, enjoy and cherish our Hawker Culture.”

4          In response to the news, Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, said, “This is a milestone in Singapore’s history and wonderful news coming at the close of this trying year for all Singaporeans. Our Hawker Culture is well-loved by all Singaporeans and we are proud to have it recognised by UNESCO as an intangible culture heritage. Our successful inscription is a tribute to our hawkers, who are at the core of our Hawker Culture, and whom we will continue to support to sustain their hawker trade. We must do our part to ensure that our community dining rooms remain popular and vibrant dining destinations. Let us continue to visit our hawker centres often and support all our hawkers, both the veterans and new. As we go into phase 3 and continue to guard against COVID-19, let us all do our part to maintain the hygienic and safe dining environment at our hawker centres, by returning used crockery and trays, and keeping the tables clean.”   

5          Mr Yeo Hiang Meng, President of The Federation of Merchants’ Associations, Singapore (FMAS), said, “The recognition of Hawker Culture is great news for all Singaporeans, especially our hawkers. It will help to increase awareness of Singapore’s Hawker Culture on an international scale, which is something all Singaporeans would be very proud of. For our hawkers, it is a recognition of their dedication to perfecting their craft and their contribution to Singapore’s rich food heritage. FMAS will continue to work with the authorities to look into ways to rejuvenate and sustain the hawker trade, and safeguard our Hawker Culture.”

6          Since the announcement of Singapore’s intention to nominate Hawker Culture in Singapore for UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, there have been numerous initiatives by the public and private sectors as well as community groups and individuals to show their support for hawkers and their love for Hawker Culture (see Annex C for examples of these initiatives). To mark the culmination of these on-going efforts to appreciate our hawkers and celebrate Singapore’s successful inscription of Hawker Culture in Singapore, the SG HawkerFest will be launched on 26 December 2020.

7          Taking place across three weekends from 26 December 2020 to 11 January 2021, the SG HawkerFest will allow members of the public to rediscover Singapore’s vibrant Hawker Culture and express their wishes for Singapore’s future hawker centres. Through a web application which features an online treasure hunt, participants can complete quizzes at their own time and convenience, as well as share ideas on the infrastructure and features that they hope to see in hawker centres of the future. They will be awarded virtual badges for completed quizzes that can be exchanged for dining vouchers redeemable from a list of 29 participating hawker centres located islandwide. Other celebratory activities of the SG HawkerFest include a digital video series, a webinar on Singapore’s Hawker Culture and the Hawkers’ Seminar – which is a ground-up platform by the hawker community to come together to exchange ideas, celebrate hawkers’ achievements, and contribute to ongoing efforts to sustain the hawker trade. More details of the SG HawkerFest will be released on https://go.gov.sg/sghawkerfest at its launch.

8          For more information, please refer to:

• Annex A: List of 24 IGC Members
• Annex B: Transcript of Minister Edwin Tong’s Remarks
• Annex C: Support from the public and private sector
• Annex D: Extract of the Evaluation Body’s Recommendation on Hawker Culture in Singapore
• Annex E: Timeline of Singapore’s UNESCO Inscription Journey for Hawker Culture
• Annex F: About the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
• Webpage (https://go.gov.sg/hawker-culture-in-singapore): Video of Minister Edwin Tong’s Remarks and Interviews with hawkers

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ANNEX A

LIST OF 24 INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE (IGC) MEMBERS

1.          Azerbaijan

2.          Botswana

3.          Brazil

4.          Cameroon

5.          China

6.          Côte d’Ivoire

7.          Czechia

8.          Djibouti

9.          Jamaica

10.        Japan

11.        Kazakhstan

12.        Kuwait

13.        Morocco

14.        Netherlands

15.        Panama

16.        Peru

17.        Poland

18.        Republic of Korea

19.        Rwanda

20.        Saudi Arabia

21.        Sri Lanka

22.        Sweden

23.        Switzerland

24.        Togo

ANNEX B

TRANSCRIPT OF REMARKS BY MR EDWIN TONG, MINISTER FOR CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND YOUTH & SECOND MINISTER FOR LAW FOR THE 15TH SESSION OF THE UNESCO INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETNG, 16/17 DECEMBER 2020

1.         Singapore is tremendously honoured to have our Hawker Culture as our very first inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

2.         I wish to thank the Evaluation Body for your favourable recommendation as well as the Inter-Governmental Committee for your support and endorsement of the inscription.

3.         Singapore’s Hawker Culture is a source of pride for Singapore and all Singaporeans. It reflects our living heritage and multiculturalism, and is an integral part of the daily lives of everyone in Singapore regardless of age, race or background. I thank all our hawkers and all Singaporeans for their overwhelming support of this nomination.

4.         Today’s successful inscription reminds us of the values of resilience, adaptability and unity, which have become even more important in the fight against COVID-19.

5.         We pledge to do our part to safeguard our intangible cultural heritage, as well as contribute to the dialogue and collaboration in line with the spirit of the Convention. Thank you once again to UNESCO for this recognition.

ANNEX C

SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR

For the nomination of Hawker Culture in Singapore to be successful, strong support from the community is crucial. As of 27 March 2019, when the nomination documents were submitted, more than 850,000 pledges of support and over 31,000 messages have been registered across various platforms including a website (Oursgheritage.sg), a travelling exhibition and mobile pledging stations – all in support of Hawker Culture in Singapore to be inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List. A social media movement, #OurHawkerCulture, invited Singaporeans to express support for the nomination by submitting personal stories and photographs of their experiences of Hawker Culture in Singapore through Facebook and Instagram (@SGHawkerCulture), generating over 810,000 “likes” and “comments”.

Over 200 letters of support for the nomination have also been received from hawkers’ associations, schools, community groups, NGOs and private organisations across different sectors ranging from food and hospitality, to education.

Corporations, organisations, community groups and individuals have stepped forward to work on projects on Hawker Culture to raise greater awareness of its importance in Singapore, and contribute towards its safeguarding. Examples include Eat Shop Play, a digital platform to share information and stories of hawker stalls and centres island wide. 

Youths have also enthusiastically rallied to demonstrate their love for Hawker Culture through artistic expressions – writing poems and letters, drawing commonly observed scenes at hawker centres, and even filming a short video which shares the importance of Hawker Culture to Singapore. Listed below are some examples of corporate, community and individual support for the nomination.

Corporate Supporters

Online Hawker Game by Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre 
Singaporeans love to eat, and our hawker food and hawker culture are a big part of our daily lives. The Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) developed an online game series to celebrate our local Chinese culture through some of our favourite hawker dishes, based on the content of their permanent exhibition “Singapo(ren): Discovering Chinese Singaporean Culture”.

Through interactive role-play, viewers will get a taste of being a hawker and learn how the interaction of different cultural influences and dialect groups have created chicken rice, bak kut teh, kaya toast and Nanyang coffee.

Each of the three games will be released weekly from today onwards at SCCC’s Facebook page, Instagram page and www.singaporeccc.org.sg. The permanent exhibition is also open daily and is free to all members of the public.

Support from Changi Airport Group
Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd (CAG) pledged its support for Singapore’s nomination of ‘Hawker Culture in Singapore’ to be included in UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage through the provision of complimentary media spaces at various locations at Singapore Changi Airport’s terminals. These spaces were used to raise greater awareness of Singapore’s well-loved Hawker Culture amongst Singapore residents and visitors to our shores.

Google Maps’ documentation of Singapore’s Hawker Culture
Google and National Heritage Board (NHB), National Environment Agency (NEA) and The Federation Of Merchants' Associations, Singapore (FMAS) announced in July 2019 a joint initiative to document 114 beloved hawker centres in Singapore on Google Maps to make them discoverable to anyone searching for their favourite hawker stalls. This was done through immersive 360-degree imagery of Singapore’s Hawker Culture using Google Maps’ Street View that visitors can browse to explore each hawker centre. As of early 2020, Google My Businesses listings of an additional 6,000 hawker stalls across the 114 hawker centres have been added. The listings include information about each stall such as its name, stall number, and photos that people can easily access through an online search. Stall owners can also claim their Google My Business listings and use it to interact with customers, as well as upload photos of their food. 

Community and individuals

#ThankYouHawkers Art Project
Local artists Yip Yew Chong (@yipyewchong), Lee Xin Li (@xinli29288), Joy Ho (@feever_dreem) and Raihana Abdul Rahman (@araikreva) drew upon heart-warming stories and memories from Singapore for inspiration for their artworks, which showcase their take on Singapore’s hawker culture. Whether it is the rich and varied food offerings and familiar spaces, found at our hawker centres, or the common practices and the people that are undeniably part of our hawker culture; these artworks will be on display at hawker centres across the island from 18 December 2020 to 14 February 2021.

To find out more about the artworks: https://www.oursgheritage.gov.sg/thank-you-hawkers-art-project/

#ThankYouHawkers Art Competition
Organised by the National Heritage Board, the Thank You Hawkers Art Competition 2020 invited Singaporeans to contribute artworks as a tribute to our hawker heroes. A total of 274 vibrant artworks were received. The artworks of the top three winners across four categories will be on display at hawker centres across the island from 18 December 2020 to 14 February 2021.

To find out more about the winning artworks: https://www.oursgheritage.gov.sg/thankyouhawkersartcompetitionwinners1/

DigiMuse Presents: Hawker Culture Edition

As part of a nationwide open call for digital creations on Hawker Culture, six local creatives were selected to develop an array of ideas celebrating the people, place and food that make up Hawker Culture in Singapore. 

1. Hawker Boss by FTTG Media

Hawker Boss documents the life stories of dedicated hawkers in Singapore through a continuous series of short films.

This project was birthed from a place of passion for Singapore's Hawker Culture. In 5 minutes, we get to know our hawkers intimately as they share their stories of dedication. While listening to their stories, we see the process of cooking Singapore's favourite dishes from start to finish.

2. Instagram Filter by In The Wild

Welcome to NHB Hawker Centre where a three-course meal awaits. Chomp to the falling ingredients to form a complete dish and challenge your friends to see who's “steady” enough to eat three full courses and who goes hungry!

3. Thank You Hawkers Augmented Reality Filter by Gowaaa

Show your love and appreciation for Singapore’s hawkers by taking a photo with a message delivered by an animated version of the iconic hawker centre table!

4. "A to Z" Makan Tour by Ron Low Photography

The “A to Z” Makan Tour is a series of photo stories depicting Singapore's hawker culture by photographer Ron Low. From traditional and popular multicultural hawker food, to historical and fun facts behind hawker centres, as well as behind-the-scenes stories about hawkers, this photo series brings one on a tour to appreciate Singapore's hawker culture - the people, place and food, and celebrates this unique culture and integral part of our heritage.

5. DEEP SOUND MAP: HAWKERS by Vanessa & Yaim

DEEP SOUND MAP: HAWKERS is an audio-based project by Vanessa Ng and Chia Yaim Chong that seeks to recreate and celebrate the everyday sounds of Singapore, starting with the familiar and iconic sounds of the hawker centre. The experience is delivered through a series of three audio tracks, each an immersive sound map distinct in texture - from an early morning roadside coffee to a rushed lunch hour in the heart of the lion city.

6. NOMSH by Junior Art Lab

Combining adorable animals with witty hawker themed wordplay and puns, NOMSH is a collection of 10 lovable characters with your favourite hawker delights – from delectable desserts such as ‘Chendol’ and ‘Ice Kacang’ to our delicious drinks such as ‘The Tarik’ and ‘Milo Dinosaur’.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic Student Showcase 
Students from the Diploma in Mass Communications, Ngee Ann Polytechnic were challenged to explore how youths in Singapore viewed and perceived Hawker Culture in Singapore. From podcasts to mini-documentaries, find out what they discovered on their own Hawker Culture journey.

Chope.Buy.Eat by Tew Gun Rui

Combining his love for board games and Hawker Culture, 11-year old Tew Gun Rui created Chope.Buy.Eat, a quickfire card game where players get to learn about the wide variety of multicultural food dishes found in our hawker centres while having fun.

ANNEX D

EXTRACT OF THE EVALUATION BODY’S RECOMMENDATION ON

HAWKER CULTURE IN SINGAPORE

Examination of nominations for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/LHE-20-15.COM-8.b-EN.docx)

DECISION 15.COM 8.b.6     

The Committee

1.         Takes note that Singapore has nominated Hawker culture in Singapore: community dining and culinary practices in a multicultural urban context (no. 01568) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

          Hawker culture in Singapore: community dining and culinary practices in a multicultural urban context is present throughout Singapore. Hawkers prepare a variety of food (‘hawker food’) for people who dine and mingle at hawker centres. These centres serve as ‘community dining rooms’ where people from diverse backgrounds gather and share the experience of dining over breakfast, lunch and dinner. Activities such as chess-playing, busking and art-jamming also take place. Evolved from street food culture, hawker centres have become markers of Singapore as a multicultural city-state, comprising Chinese, Malay, Indian and other cultures. Hawkers take inspiration from the confluence of these cultures, adapting dishes to local tastes and contexts. Today, hawker centres across Singapore continue serving the needs of diverse communities in residential, recreational and work districts. Some of the oldest hawkers started their practice in the 1960s. Many specialize in a particular dish, refined over many years, and transmit their recipes, knowledge and skills to younger family members or apprentices. Community organizations, non-governmental organizations and educational institutions play a significant role in promoting and sustaining hawker culture through training programmes, events and documentation projects. As a social space that embraces people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, hawker centres play a crucial role in enhancing community interactions and strengthening the social fabric.

2.         Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

R.1:   An integral way of life in Singapore, hawker culture provides a sense of identity and continuity for people across the generations and in a context of urbanization and development. The bearers and practitioners of hawker culture include hawkers, associated groups and people in Singapore who dine and mingle at hawker centers. The knowledge and skills of culinary practices associated with hawker culture are transmitted both non-formally and formally. The multicultural nature of hawker culture respects the cultural traits and norms of different communities and promotes the awareness and appreciation of different religious and cultural practices. It plays a crucial social role in enhancing community interactions, fostering an inclusive society irrespective of the diverse social, religious and ethnic backgrounds of its people.

R.2:   The inscription of the element will inspire local community groups and individuals to find out more about the different types of intangible cultural heritage practices surrounding their daily lives, and to initiate projects and activities that can contribute to their safeguarding. At the international level, the inscription of the element will reinforce the visibility and prevalence of intangible cultural heritage in urban contexts. In a world of ever-expanding urban migration and globalization, it could serve as an example of how intangible cultural heritage can thrive in a highly urbanized environment, as well as contributing to multiple targets of the sustainable development goals (for instance in relation to urban planning, enhancing social cohesion, fostering food security and sustaining livelihoods).

R.3:   Nowadays, the culture of hawker centers exhibits significant vitality. Various stakeholders are actively involved in promoting and enhancing the element and the future safeguarding measures were proposed with the active involvement of the communities, groups and individuals concerned. These measures focus on the following axes: transmission and education, research and documentation, policies and administrative measures, awareness-raising and communication and international engagement. The State Party and other actors concerned are committed to supporting actions related to these areas of safeguarding. The excessive and uncontrolled marketing of the element has been identified as a potential unintended consequence of the inscription. In order to avoid this, it is proposed that various organizations monitor the hawker centers constantly.

R.4:   The communities, groups and individuals concerned were involved in every stage of the nomination process, with an equitable gender balance. The Nomination Committee, which included hawkers’ and non-governmental organizations’ representatives, consulted various stakeholders. The nomination was shared with the public and has generated awareness among various communities since August 2018. On 19 March 2019, over 850,000 people – both men and women from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds, including overseas Singaporeans – indicated their support and consent through various means: the website, a travel exhibition, letters of consent, and video consent.

R.5:   The element was included in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Singapore in 2018. The inventory is updated once a year by the National Heritage Board (NHB) and is developed with the involvement of community groups, researchers and the public. Focus group discussions were held to seek views on elements that could be included in the inventory. These were followed by further research and verification by the NHB, with a final review by the Heritage Advisory Panel of experts, which advises on tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

3.         Decides to inscribe Hawker culture in Singapore, community dining and culinary practices in a multicultural urban context on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;

4.         Commends the State Party for its first inscription;

5.         Further commends the State Party for devising creative ways to encourage the active participation of the communities concerned in the nomination process, from the very outset;

6.         Also commends the State Party for preparing a nomination file related to an element of intangible cultural heritage that is thriving in a highly urbanized and culturally diverse environment and for developing safeguarding measures that effectively foster dialogue, creativity and sustainability.

Report of the Evaluation Body on its work in 2020 (https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/LHE-20-15.COM-8-EN.docx)

Good examples. The Evaluation Body is pleased to recommend the following nominations from this cycle as good examples:

i.             Representative List – Overall files

‘Hawker culture in Singapore, community dining and culinary practices in a multicultural urban context’, nominated by Singapore, is a well-prepared nomination file which reflects the spirit of the Convention in many ways in terms of its celebration of intangible cultural heritage, diversity, dialogue and sustainability. The file presents exemplary working methods regarding participation, inclusion and the involvement of a wide variety of actors, as well as safeguarding approaches that foster a viable approach to the practice of intangible cultural heritage.

ANNEX E

FACTSHEET ON THE INSCRIPTION JOURNEY

1          Timeline of Singapore’s UNESCO inscription journey for Hawker Culture

ANNEX F

ABOUT UNESCO REPRESENTATIVE LIST OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY 

The UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity comprises the diverse cultural practices and expressions of humanity, and seeks to raise awareness of the importance of such practices and expressions, encourage dialogue that respects cultural diversity, as well as give due recognition to the practices and expressions of communities worldwide.

The successful listing of an element on UNESCO’s Representative List by a country does not imply that this element belongs to, originates from, or exists only in the submitting country. Since the development of the Representative List in 2008, a total of 463 intangible cultural heritage elements have been inscribed as of December 2019.

Some of the intangible cultural heritage elements on UNESCO’s Representative List include Mak Yong theatre (Malaysia, 2008), Gastronomic Meal of the French (France, 2010), Indonesian Angklung (Indonesia, 2010), Chinese Shadow Puppetry (China, 2011), Kimjang, or the making and sharing of Kimchi (South Korea, 2013), Washoku (Japan, 2013), Bagpipe Culture (Slovakia, 2015) and Yoga (India, 2016).