Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) has lined up an array of programmes, catered to both the young and not-so-young.
*Update (27 April): Updated with May happenings
Located by the Singapore River is the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), Singapore’s national museum of Asian antiquities and decorative art and the only museum in Asia devoted to exploring the rich artistic heritage of Asia.
It regularly hosts programmes and exhibitions to inspire both the young and old. Here's what you and your family can look forward to in April and May 2023:
All programmes are free unless otherwise stated.
New Programmes
Drive Through Armenian Street
Photo Credit: Peranakan Museum
Venue: Peranakan Museum
Date: 13 to 14 May 2023
Time: 10am to 7pm
Fee: Free admission to the museum and most activities
Get fast and furious at the Peranakan Museum for this year’s Singapore HeritageFest. Race down the Armenian Street Park and view a showcase of classic cars then explore the galleries through exciting drama performances and tours for this weekend only!
Down the River Along the Streets of ACM
Photo Credit: Asian Civilisations Museum
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum
Date: 27 to 28 May 2023
Time: 10am to 7pm
Fee: Free admission
Journey through time along the iconic Singapore River for this year’s Singapore HeritageFest. Hop on a bumboat or embark on walking tours to witness the transformation of the river and its surroundings. Catch interactive storytelling sessions and performances to experience the sights and sounds of the river during its heyday.
Andrew Gn: Fashioning Singapore and the World
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum
Date: 27 May to 17 Sep 2023
Time: Sat to Thu, 10am to 7pm | Fri, 10am to 9pm
Fee: Free Admission
Andrew Gn: Fashioning Singapore and the World continues ACM efforts to advance the appreciation of “Asia in Fashion”, highlighting cross-cultural dress and style. This exhibition presents the fashion journey of Singaporean designer Andrew Gn, and celebrates his major gift back home. One of Singapore’s most prolific fashion designers, Andrew Gn is known for creations that are refined, maximalist, with a cross-cultural aesthetic that is exemplary of innovation in tradition. The legacy and impact of his creations have also been embraced by global royalty, celebrities, and society alike.
Through five sections and over 100 representative works, the exhibition explores his roots in Asia, expressions of Asian and Western art and history through his creations, as well as the intricate craftsmanship and global sartorial influence.
ACM Adventures: Masak Masak
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum
Date: 30 Apr 2023
Time: 11am to 3pm
Fee: Free Admission
Food, glorious food! Experience the culinary traditions of Asia through storytelling and drama performances. Create your own miniature dishes!
ACM Adventures: Sail the Seas
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum
Date: 28 May 2023
Time: 11am to 3pm
Fee: Free Admission
Hello, explorer! Are you ready to set sail? Move along to drama performance and listen to a story about adventures at sea. Get creative in a craft activity inspired by boats found in our galleries!
Ongoing Programmes
Reopening of Peranakan Museum
Photo Credit: Peranakan Museum
Venue: 39 Armenian Street, Peranakan Museum
Date: from 17 Feb 2023
Time: 10am to 7pm (Sat to Thu) I 10am to 9pm (Fri)
The Peranakan Museum presents the cross-cultural art of Peranakan communities in Southeast Asia. Installed in the former Tao Nan School, built in 1912, it holds one of the world's finest public collections of Peranakan objects. Three floors explore Peranakan life through themes related to origins, home, and style as aspects of identity. Community interviews, recorded demonstrations, art commissions, and other contemporary expressions of Peranakan culture provide a multi-faceted experience for visitors, encouraging them to ask themselves: “what is Peranakan?”
ACM and Anima Mundi: Chinese Christian art from the Vatican Museums
Venue: Christian Art Gallery, Level 2, Asian Civilisations Museum
Date: Ongoing
Time: 10am to 7pm (Sat to Thu) I 10am to 9pm (Fri)
Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum welcomes a selection of Chinese Christian art from the Vatican Museums in Rome, in its latest rotation of the Christian Art Gallery. Drawn from the Anima Mundi (meaning "Soul of the World"), these are little-known treasures of Christian art made in Asia. The public will be able to view up-close how the Catholic Church was able to integrate traditional Asian elements into its art. These intricate objects reveal the ingenuity of Asian artisans and craftsmen, who were able to adapt their work to incorporate foreign aesthetics and ideas that made them more appealing to local audiences. The artistic and cultural exchanges expressed through these works demonstrate how art can foster meaningful dialogue among religions and cultures.
ACM and Anima Mundi: Chinese Christian art from the Vatican Museums is a part of ACM's year-long series of programmes and gallery rotations in commemoration of its 25th anniversary, dedicated to the cross-cultural connections and shared heritage of Singapore and the region. Objects in this collaboration will be available for public viewing for a period of one year.
Textile Masters to the World: The global desire for Indian cloth
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum, Level 3, Fashion and Textiles Gallery
Opening Hours: Sat to Thu, 10am to 7pm | Fri, 10am to 9pm
Fee: Free Admission
Asians Civilisations Museum presents Textile Masters to the World: The global desire for Indian cloth with a selection of exquisite garments and textiles at its Fashion and Textiles Gallery. Featuring 27 pieces from the National Collection and loans, the exhibition spotlights the historic global impact of textile production in India, and its role as evidence of trade and cultural exchange between India and regions such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe from the fourteenth to nineteenth century. From fashion and furnishing, to gift exchange and heirlooms, visitors can marvel at the artistry and craftsmanship of early textile masters, and discover how Indian textiles influenced local designs, materials and fashions wherever they were traded.
ACM & Friends Fun Pack
Venue: Online, ACM Website
Download and use this fun activity kit, specially designed for children and adults across all learning abilities, and have an enjoyable time learning about the ACM collection through play.
Activities You Can Do Everyday
Venue: Online, ACM Website
Enjoy everyday activities from the comfort of your home. Explore, discover, and have fun with trails and videos for everyone.
Audio Description Tours
Venue: Online, ACM Website
Listen to descriptions of key objects in the ACM collection from the comfort of your home.
Photo Credits: Asian Civilisations Museum
Regular Programmes
Let's Learn About...Bronze!
Photo Credits: Asian Civilisations Museum (unless otherwise stated)
Venue: Online, ACM Website
Date: from 3 Mar 2023
Fee: Free Admission
This March, LET’S LEARN ABOUT…Bronze!
What is bronze?
“Bronze” isn’t just the name of a medal given to people in third place. It’s also a versatile metal (a mixture of copper and tin) that has been used across different cultures to make useful objects for thousands of years.
Naturally a yellowish brown, it turns green as it is exposed to oxygen over time, giving old bronze objects what is called a “patina”. In the ancient past, bronze objects were mostly owned by the wealthy and powerful because they were both beautiful and functional.
Properties and uses
Bronze is harder and stronger than copper and does not break easily. It is also resistant to rust, unlike iron, which later replaced the use of bronze in many parts of the world because it was stronger, lighter, and cheaper to produce.
About 3000 years ago in ancient China, bronze was used to make vessels for storing food and wine offered to the ancestors, as well as to make statues and weapons.
Do you see bronze objects in your daily life? Besides medals and trophies, instruments such as cymbals and bells are made of bronze, as are some guitar and piano strings.
For more information, please visit the ACM website.
