JANUARY— MARCH 2015 GUIDE TO HERITAGE HAPPENINGS AND MUSEUMS IN SINGAPORE About the National Heritage Board Telephone: 1800 225 5642 The National Heritage Board (NHB) was formed on 1 August 1993. _ As the custodian of Singapore’s heritage, NHB is responsible for Address: telling the Singapore story, sharing the Singaporean experience 61 Stamford Road, and imparting our Singapore spirit. #03-08 Stamford Court, Singapore 178892 NHB’s mission is to preserve and celebrate the shared heritage of _ our diverse communities, for the purpose of education, nation- Websites: building and cultural understanding. It manages the national www.nhb.gov.sg museums and heritage institutions, and sets policies relating to www.museums.com.sg heritage sites, monuments and the national collection. Through _ the national collection, NHB curates heritage programmes and Facebook: presents exhibitions to connect the past, present and future facebook.com/ILoveMuseums generations of Singaporeans. NHB is now a statutory board _ under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Please visit Twitter: www.nhb.gov.sg for more information. twitter.com/yesterdaysg _ Blog: Yesterday.sg Snapshot of National Heritage Board museums and heritage institutions The National Heritage Board Asian Civilisations Museum (NHB) manages the following Indian Heritage Centre (Opening in 2015) national museums and Malay Heritage Centre heritage institutions: National Museum of Singapore Peranakan Museum Re!ections at Bukit Chandu Singapore Philatelic Museum Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) enjoy free* admission to the national museums and heritage institutions. *Selected special exhibitions are chargeable. Please approach museums’ front desks for more information. Front Cover: Buddha’s descent from the Trayastrimsha Heaven Produced by Gandhara, 3rd or 4th century, Schist, height 52 cm Back cover: Visitors at the Independent Singapore section of the SINGAPURA: 700 Years exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore. Disclaimer: All rights reserved. Materials in this publication may not be reproduced in part or in whole without written consent of National Heritage Board (NHB), the publisher. Information is correct at the time of printing. Copyright 2015. events NOW FEBRUARY Ancient Religions ACM/p.2 Let’s Play! Traditional Malay Games PLAY @ National Museum 3, 10, 17 & 24 Feb 2015 MHC/p.5 of Singapore Open daily NMS/p.7 Saturdays@ACM 7 Feb 2015 ACM/p.3 RETURN TO SENDER – An Exhibition Straits Family Sundays 21 January–1 July 2015 SPM/p.10 8 Feb 2015 TPM/p.8 Auspicious Designs: Counting Sheep, Batik for Peranakan Altars Dreaming Goats Till 25 Jan 2015 TPM/p.8 16 Feb–27 Sep 2015 SPM/p.10 Beginning of the Becoming: Lunar New Year 2015 @ WQY Batak Sculpture 19 Feb–5 Mar 2015 SYSNMH/p.11 From Northern Sumatra Till 29 Mar 2015 ACM/p.2 Under the Banyan Tree: Open Air Cinema Budi Daya 28 Feb 2015 NMS/p.6 Special Exhibition Till 29 Mar 2015 MHC/p.4 A Lighter Side of History 28 Feb 2015 NMS/p.6 Zhongshan Warship & Its Treasures Till 19 Apr 2015 SYSNMH/p.11 MARCH SINGAPURA: 700 Years Let’s Play! CONTENTS Till 10 Aug 2015 NMS/p.6 Traditional Malay Games 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 Mar 2015 MHC/p.5 WHAT’S ON Saturdays@ACM JANUARY 7 Mar 2015 ACM/p.3 2 Let’s Play! Traditional Malay Games Straits Family Sundays 20 & 27 Jan 2015 MHC/p.5 8 Mar 2015 TPM/p.8 MUSEUM MERCHANDISE A Lighter Side of History Under the Banyan Tree: 31 Jan 2015 NMS/p.6 Open Air Cinema 28 Mar 2015 NMS/p.6 14 Under the Banyan Tree: Open Air Cinema A Lighter Side of History FOOD STOPS 31 Jan 2015 NMS/p.7 28 Mar 2015 NMS/p.6 16 MUSEUMS INFORMATION 18 2 // WHAT’S ON AT ASIAN CIVILISATIONS MUSEUM Ancient Religions Beginning of the Becoming: Batak Sculpture from Northern Sumatra Now till 29 March 2015 The Ancient Religions Gallery will trace the spread of religions from India to China, Sri Lanka, and This exhibition explores the extraordinary Southeast Asia. The exhibition will demonstrate sculptures of the Batak peoples of northern how the cultures of Gandhara, Kushan, Tang Sumatra. The Batak live in the mountain heartlands China, and Srivijaya gave new expression to these centred around Lake Toba, a striking environment systems of belief. that nurtured an intriguing culture rooted in ancient Southeast Asian traditions. Multi-armed Avalokiteshvara Dali kingdom (Yunnan province, China), around 10th century, Gilded bronze, height 34.8 cm www.acm.org.sg 3 Saturdays @ ACM Lunchtime Concerts 7 February & 7 March 2015 at ACM From 1pm-5pm March 2015 12.30PM – 1.30PM Be captivated by fascinating performing arts, go on a voyage across Asia with our incredible Featuring talented young musicians from the Yong storytellers, or make and take home your own Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, the !rst series of masterpiece. Reserve a date with us on the !rst lunchtime concerts for 2015 return in March with Saturday of each month, and make it an adventure exciting classical and jazz music from winds, strings, for the whole family. brass and woodwinds. www.acm.org.sg 4 // WHAT’S ON AT MALAY HERITAGE CENTRE Budi Daya Performance Supperclub Budi Daya In conjunction with Singapore Art Week Special Exhibition 24 January 2015 Now till 29 March 2015 From 7pm Showcasing artefacts alongside contemporary Join curator-led tours of Budi Daya exhibition; art, Budi Daya explores the value and meaning encounter the strange and spectacular Buddhist of ‘culture’ from the Malay perspective. This Bug and Si Kabayan; take part in a workshop or multi-layered, multi-sensorial exhibition features a communal feast based on ancient recipes from artefacts drawn from the National Collection the Langkasuka kingdom, or relive the heydays of and private loans as well as new commissions, NADA, ‘digitalogue’ electronic music forerunners. performances and existing works by artists from the Asean region. *Limited spaces available for The Langkasuka Cookbook Workshop and/or Feast. Please register. www.malayheritage.org.sg 5 Galleries Alive! Guided Tour of Let’s Play! Traditional Traditional Malay Music Malay Heritage Centre Malay Games and Wayang Kulit Tuesday–Friday: 11am 20 & 27 January Thursdays only (via booking) Thursday–Sunday: 12pm & 3pm 3,10,17 & 24 February 10am–10.45am or 3,10,17 & 24 March 3.00pm– 3.45pm Join our free guided tours of 10am–10.45am & 3pm–3.45pm MHC’s permanent galleries and Watch the Malay Heritage learn more about Kampong Play and learn about traditional Centre’s permanent galleries Gelam as well as its signi!cance Malay games such as capteh, main come alive with live performances to the Malay community from our lereng, congkak, batu seremban of traditional music or enjoy a museum docents. and many more! wayang kulit performance. 2 weeks advance booking for Group bookings only. 3 weeks groups of more than 20pax. advance booking. www.malayheritage.org.sg 6 // WHAT’S ON AT NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE Singapura: 700 Years A Lighter Side of History Now till 10 August 2015 31 January, 28 February & 28 March 2015 Various Timings Experience Singapore’s transformation through the ages from a !shing village to the pride of an In the !rst quarter of the new year, A Lighter empire, before !nally achieving the status of being Side of History presents a series of lifestyle an independent nation-state. This immersive related programmes, including themes exhibition brings you through a riveting exploration such as our local food heritage, as well as a of Singapore’s history. theatre programme for senior audiences. The well received Historia SG lectures will also Admission charges apply for international visitors. return as a highlight of the programme series once every quarter. Don’t forget to mark Free guided tours on the exhibition are provided in your calendars and keep a look out for the English, Mandarin, Japanese and French. upcoming programmes! www.nationalmuseum.sg 7 PLAY @ National Museum of Singapore Under the Banyan Tree: 10am–6pm, daily Open Air Cinema 31 January, 28 February & 28 March 2015 PLAY @ National Museum of Singapore (NMS) 8pm is the !rst dedicated area for young children to take their !rst steps towards museum-going with Bring your picnic baskets, mats and join us as interactive exhibits and special activities that we celebrate the magic of cinema with outdoor encourage learning through play. screenings of classic and iconic !lms! Plant Power! Saturday, 31 January & Sunday, 15 March 2015 My Favourite 70’s Show Saturday, 14 February & 14 March 2015 www.nationalmuseum.sg 8 // WHAT’S ON AT PERANAKAN MUSEUM Auspicious Designs: Straits Family Batik for Peranakan Altars Sundays Now till 25 January 2015 11 January, 8 February ,@QBGŜOLŒOL Colourful and imaginative, batik altar cloths blend traditions and in#uences, showing how Peranakans Join us on the second Sunday of every month. adapted and improvised. Called tok wi, altar cloths Cra" something to take home with you, or go on decorate the fronts of Peranakan altars during a special, themed tour of the galleries. Dress up important ceremonies, and re#ect the strong ritual with the whole family in a batik shirt or sarong elements of Chinese Peranakan life in Southeast Asia. kebaya. See the handling collection up close or relax with a good book in our reading corner. Admission charges apply for international visitors Altar cloth: lions, Java, mid-20th century, Cotton (drawn batik), 108 x 121.2 cm, Gi" of Matthew and Alice Yapp www.peranakanmuseum.sg 9 // TOURS OF MONUMENTS Victoria Theatre and Victoria Istana Open House Tours Concert Hall: A Monument to Friday, 20 February 2015 Our History Heritage Gallery From 9am to 3pm Opens end January 2015 Victoria Concert Hall, 3rd Level Attend one of the 45-minute guided tour of the Istana building led by Preservation of Sites and Visit the newly-restored Victoria Theatre and Monuments (PSM) volunteers.