During my tenure at Esplanade for an extensive period, the prevailing sentiment among employees, including myself, was dissatisfaction, leading to my decision to depart. Evaluating a job often involves three crucial aspects:
1. **Financial Compensation:** The challenging landscape of the arts industry in recent years has resulted in remuneration issues. Even senior positions at Esplanade offer salaries inferior to entry-level positions in other sectors. This, however, is a systemic challenge within the arts and shouldn't be solely attributed to Esplanade.
2. **Work-Life Balance:** Regrettably, Esplanade struggled with work-life balance. The schedules—5.5 days for those on shifts and 6 days for full-time technicians—impacted the overall well-being of employees, a sentiment echoed in other reviews.
3. **Passion for the Arts:** Working in the arts often entails accepting lower pay in exchange for passion. Esplanade, as the national arts center, aims to cater to a wider audience. Yet, in this pursuit, the essence of art, its freedom, attitude, and depth, seemed to diminish. The relentless focus on audience metrics seemed to eclipse the intrinsic value of artworks, neglecting the core principles that drive the artistic spirit.
To foster an environment where the public can find solace and inspiration, prioritizing employee contentment becomes pivotal. The passion for art among employees shouldn't be overshadowed by an overemphasis on audience numbers. While aiming to become a 'people's center,' Esplanade inadvertently distanced itself from nurturing the true essence of art, inadvertently turning into a showcase rather than a sanctuary for artistic expression.
