NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD ANNUAL REPORT Heritage In Focus ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018 NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD Published, produced & designed by STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & DIGITAL DIVISION of National Heritage Board • www.nhb.gov.sg Sultan Mosque near the arch entrance of Muscat Street Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) players near Chinatown Complex Mobile ice cream vendor along the Singapore River Our SG Heritage Plan Heritage in Focus Our SG Heritage Plan was officially launched by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu on 7 April 2018 at the Singapore Heritage Festival 2018 at Jurong Town Hall. The launch followed two years of engagement and consultations with National Heritage Board’s (NHB) partners, stakeholders and members of the public, to review our achievements; identify areas of improvement; and seek feedback through interviews, focus groups and public engagement. Together, we worked to co-develop forward-looking strategies and initiatives for the future of Singapore’s heritage and museum sector. As the first master plan for the sector, Our SG Heritage Plan sets forth NHB’s vision for a culturally vibrant nation through four pillars: Our Places, which refer to the preservation and appreciation of Singapore’s historic buildings, structures, sites and precincts; Our Cultures, which celebrate our intangible cultural heritage; Our Treasures, which refer to the artworks and artefacts in our National Collection, and the museums and institutions that house them; and Our Communities, which encompass the groups and individuals who promote and celebrate Singapore’s heritage. Our SG Heritage Plan gives a broad overview of the current situation, takes stock of what has already been done, and outlines the way forward. For us at NHB, the plan is a demonstration of our commitment to, and aspirations for, the heritage and museum sector. Implemented over the next five years (2018 to 2022), environmental changes, unforeseen circumstances and other challenges will mean that tweaks and refinements will be made. The launch of the plan, therefore, is just the beginning of the work that has to be done. Our SG Heritage Plan brings our heritage into focus, which is the theme of this year’s Annual Report. Our shared heritage is a legacy that we have been entrusted with, and we have a duty as stewards to value and celebrate it to the best of our ability. The plan is a means to achieve this, with clearly defined goals and objectives. It sharpens our resolve, and zeroes in on what is necessary and important to achieve our mission and vision as NHB. Our Vision » Pride in Our Past, Legacy for Our Future Our Mission » To Preserve and Celebrate Our Shared Heritage Interior of the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Little India CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD “Hence, the cultural “investment” that Our SG Heritage Plan is making, through the unrolling of its different strategies and initiatives, is critical to ensure that our rich and diverse legacy is protected for future generations.” Our Places, Our Cultures, Our Treasures and Our of technology in the heritage sector, and several Communities – these are the four pillars of Our SG watershed moments in our journey as a nation, Heritage Plan, which will guide the work of Singapore’s including SG50 in 2015. I feel privileged to have been heritage and museum sector over the next five years. part of the NHB team through all of this. Most of all, I This plan is the result of much hard work including am very happy to have been able to work with the great dialogues and consultations with fellow Singaporeans. team at NHB; you will be hard-pressed to find a more It represents a major milestone in our heritage journey. passionate, dedicated group of people than you will in Being the first master plan of its kind. It unifies the NHB family. different agencies, groups and communities to work I know that I will be leaving NHB in the very good together towards a single goal: securing the future of hands of Ms Yeoh Chee Yan. She is very familiar with our heritage for the generations that will come after us. our work, as the former Permanent Secretary for In my time as Chairman to NHB, seeing the plan MCCY, and her experience and intimate knowledge come to fruition has been one of my proudest and of both the public service and the cultural sector will most memorable moments. It was that we had a certainly enhance NHB’s role as heritage custodian. clear heritage plan for our future. Amidst today’s I would like to express my deep gratitude to increasingly complex and divided world, the plan my fellow board members, our partners, patrons, demonstrates how heritage can be a unifying docents, volunteers and staff. You have enriched my force in challenging and polarising times. It is also time with NHB greatly, and I am humbled by your important to plan ahead and make wise decisions passion and commitment to our mission and vision. about the resources that we have. Hence, the cultural I am confident that NHB will continue to grow from “investment” that Our SG Heritage Plan is making, strength to strength as the work continues, with fellow through the unrolling of its different strategies and Singaporeans, to secure a legacy for our future. You initiatives, is critical to ensure that our rich and can be certain of my unwavering support. diverse legacy is protected for future generations. This will be my last message as Chairman of NHB as I am stepping down after seven fulfilling years. I am proud of what we have managed to achieve together, and honoured to have been able to play a part in the momentous events that NHB has been involved in. MR ONG YEW HUAT The past few years have seen a remarkable surge CHAIRMAN in interest in heritage matters, the rapid growth NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD A hawker preparing meals at one of the over 110 hawker centres located in Singapore CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S MESSAGE Our SG Heritage Plan brings together areas we have done well in, This is my first message as Chief upon to show their support for Hawker Work on Our Places went beyond Executive of NHB, and while I am familiar Culture. So please pledge your support at preservation to ensuring necessary and so we can build on these, while identifying gaps we can plug, to with NHB’s work, having served on the oursgheritage.sg! crucial work is done behind-the scenes, deepen the impact of our work. To put it simply, Our SG Heritage board from 2009 to 2015, it is quite Work on Our Places, Our Treasures and such as the care and restoration of our a different experience working every Our Communities also continues. In the National Monuments. The National Plan helps sharpen our focus on Singapore’s heritage, and day in the thick of the action. I have past year, our museums and institutions Monuments Fund provides restoration provides a clear roadmap for its future. been impressed by the attitude and – Our Treasures – continued to celebrate and maintenance support for our commitment of my colleagues as we our Singapore story, and demonstrate National Monuments. This is important work together to reach our goals for the our connections to the world. The to ensure that these icons of our built heritage sector. Asian Civilisations Museum staged its heritage continue to stand the test of While Our SG Heritage Plan was largest exhibition to date, Joseon Korea: time. Promoting awareness of the spaces launched on 7 April 2018, the work Court Treasures and City Life, which around us is also important and we have actually started two years ago. Many told the tale of Korea’s last dynasty, stepped up efforts with more heritage have asked us, why the need for a plan, one which had a profound influence on trails, such as the new Tampines Heritage and why now? I think the answer is clear the modern Korea we know today. To Trail and Our Tampines Gallery. These when we consider the rapid pace at commemorate the 75th anniversary initiatives are an indication of how we which the heritage sector has grown in of the Fall of Singapore, the National have grown in celebrating and honouring the past few years, and the increasing Museum of Singapore staged a special our built heritage. interest Singaporeans have shown in our international exhibition titled Witness I would like to express my thanks to museums and heritage. to War: Remembering 1942, featuring Mr Ong Yew Huat for his seven years Our SG Heritage Plan brings together artefacts from both our National as Chairman of NHB. We will miss his areas we have done well in, so we can Collection and our overseas museum wisdom and passion for our work, and his build on these, while identifying gaps partners. To celebrate the special invaluable guidance and advice. He has we can plug, to deepen the impact relationship we share with Brunei, the contributed much to the heritage and of our work. To put it simply, Our SG Singapore Philatelic Museum presented culture sector in Singapore, and I am sure Heritage Plan helps sharpen our focus on Abode of Peace & The Lion City: A that his support will continue. Singapore’s heritage, and provides a clear Brunei-Singapore Exhibition, which I would also like to welcome Ms Yeoh roadmap for its future. For this reason, commemorated the 50th anniversary Chee Yan as our new Chairperson. I have we thought it only apt that this year’s of the Currency Interchangeability had the opportunity to work and interact Annual Report should be centred on Agreement.