Tommy Koh is a Singapore renaissance man who has contributed greatly to the island’s development and cultural growth. As Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large, he has made his mark in international diplomacy, law and the arts. He served as the founding chairman of the National Arts Council, making contributions to arts education in schools, generating a greater public appreciation of the arts and encouraged increased support of the arts through cultural philanthropy. A champion of arts and culture, Koh also served as chairman of the National Heritage Board, promoting Singapore heritage, history and arts through outreach and in the museums.

Born in Singapore in 1937, Tommy Koh had his first experiences of the arts through his parents. His father’s library of books and magazines were a rich source of knowledge and pleasure for Koh, who was also allowed to purchase books at his father’s expense at City Bookstore. His mother was an actress and dancer from Shanghai whose friends from the arts circle would drop by every weekend, resulting in Koh gaining an early experience and education in the performing arts.

Koh studied at Raffles Institution, and then went on to study law at the University of Malaya (Singapore) (now National University of Singapore). Graduating with a first class LLB honours degree, he served a year-long law pupilage with former Singapore Chief Minister David Marshall before returning to join the University of Singapore’s law faculty as a lecturer in 1962. Koh also began collecting paintings that year—his first purchase an artwork by Wee Beng Chong—and also started an art club in the university to promote art appreciation.

Koh went on to become the dean of the law faculty at the university and also Singapore’s permanent representative for the United Nations in 1968, beginning a notable career as international diplomat.

As a Singapore ambassador, he spent two decades living in New York City and Washington D.C.. Koh discovered the artistically and culturally vibrant societies of both cities, experiencing it for himself as he became a regular attendee of arts exhibitions and performances. In Washington D.C., he became a patron of the National Symphony Orchestra, and kept close ties with the Washington Ballet, of which Singapore ballet icon Goh Choo San was resident choreographer. Koh began to envision a Singapore as a culture-loving society with a lively arts scene.

Returning to Singapore, he continued his service with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also became a director at the Institute of Policy Studies. At the start of the ’90s, Koh was asked by George Yeo, who was the Minister of Information and the Arts, to be the chairman of the soon-to-be established National Arts Council. Remembering his artistically enriching years in the USA, Koh agreed and went on to serve as founding chairman of the National Arts Council from 1991 to 1996.

As a pioneering champion of the arts, Koh launched many initiatives that benefited arts development in Singapore. To nurture and grow arts audiences in Singapore, the National Arts Council Arts Education programme brought the arts into schools and allowed students to understand and appreciate the arts better. Similarly, the Council made the arts more accessible to the general public with performances in places such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens and in various community centres around Singapore. Koh also launched the Festival of Asian Performing Arts in 1993.

For Singapore artists, Koh pushed for state support of the arts, initiating grants and scholarships that young artists could use towards their training overseas. Under his helm, the Council also launched the Arts Housing Scheme, providing affordable spaces for artists and arts groups at the Waterloo Street Arts Belt and One-Two-Six Cairnhill Arts Centre. Koh also initiated meet-ups with Singapore artists every week over tea, where he would get to know and understand their needs and challenges.

Importantly, Koh also championed cultural philanthropy among corporations, foundations and wealthy individuals. His efforts gave eminence to the support of the arts by private corporations and individuals, and paved the way for an increased willingness to fund and support arts events.

The development of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay began while Koh was in office at the National Arts Council, and he played a part of the process as a member of the steering committee, which was chaired first by Deputy Prime Minister Ong Teng Cheong and then Minister Yeo. During this period, Koh, together with his team, met representatives from the Singapore arts community regularly to get opinions on what shape and form the new arts centre would take. Subsequently, Koh served on the board of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay from 2000 to 2007.

In 2002, Koh began serving as the chairman of the National Heritage Board. During his 10-year term at the Board, Singapore history, heritage and the arts were made more accessible to students and the public through initiatives such as the Heritage Festival, which led to greater numbers of people visiting the various museums. Always a keen supporter of Singapore artists, Koh also made it a point to promote and showcase the work of Singapore artists—both pioneer and young—in the museums.

An avid reader, Koh has also making his own contribution to reading and Singapore literature by encouraging the National Library Board to start the Read! Singapore initiative in 2005. Under the yearly initiative, the library recommends literary works in the four official languages of Singapore. As a result, many Singapore authors have benefited and continue to benefit from Read! Singapore’s efforts over the years.

Through it all, Koh continued in his other roles as a diplomat and ambassador of Singapore, frequently tasked to negotiate sensitive international matters and act as the country’s representative. For his contributions in his various capacities, Koh has received recognition through numerous awards, including the Bintang Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Star) in 1971, the Distinguished Service to Arts Education award by LASALLE College of the Arts in 2000, and the Darjah Utama Nila Utama (Order for Nila Utama) (First Class) in 2008.

Today, Koh continues serving in his many roles in various organisations, including as Ambassador-At-Large for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Special Advisor for the Institute of Policy Studies and Chairman of the Centre of International Law at the National University of Singapore. He dedicates his spare time to music, reading and his grandchildren.