Artists worry as Goodman Arts Centre hikes short term rentals by 60 per cent

Artists at Goodman Arts Centre's project studios say they are facing a 60 per cent rent increase, adding financial strain amid rising costs for self-employed arts practitioners. Read more at straitstimes.com.

SINGAPORE – Artists renting project studios at Goodman Arts Centre have been informed of a 60 per cent rent hike by venue manager Arts House Group (AHG), a move that self-employed arts practitioners at the subsidised arts housing enclave say puts them in a tighter financial spot amid rising costs.

In a reply to The Straits Times’ queries on March 10, AHG said the hike will be implemented in three phases from Dec 2026 till Dec 2027. It justified the hike as rents “have remained unchanged and at a very low rate for 14 years”, adding that the venue operator had absorbed rising operating and maintenance costs through the Covid-19 period.

“An adjustment is needed to reflect current operating realities and ensure these spaces can be properly maintained,” the statement said.

While AHG said that the hike rates vary depending on the space, tenants who spoke to The Straits Times (ST) said they have been informed of a 60 per cent hike in the past week. Artist Ye Ruoshi who currently rents for $1,016 monthly was told in March that her studio would cost about $1,800 monthly by July 2027, although she was told that the first hike was planned for July 2026.

According to the AHG website, Goodman houses 24 project studio units for short-term use, with leases ranging between one to 12 months. It lists rental costs ranging from $390 a month for a 37 sq m unit to $780 a month for a 78 sq m unit, although artists report a higher monthly bill with utilities and other costs not included.

Ye, a self-employed and full-time artist, said the news comes at a time when other costs like rental of exhibition spaces have gone up and collectors are spending more cautiously with the global unrest. The mother of four children, who was also recently diagnosed with a chronic illness, said she has no choice but to accept the reality of the hike: “When it rains, it pours. We have to do multiple jobs in order to cover the rent now – in a way it hinders our creativity. A lot of people think being an artist is glamorous, but we are suffering.”