Dig deep into Singapore Art Museum’s line up of events as (one of the two) museum building close for their major revamp. Here’s what’s happening in April 2018!
So you’ve probably heard that the Singapore Art Museum’s (SAM) been partially closed for redevelopment in the past year or so. While the Honeycombers team’s been anticipating its reopening in a few years’ time, we’ve all been partying our woes away at SAM Late Nights and checking out the iconic establishment’s other shindigs at SAM at 8Q, the museum’s annexe building. The good news? For the month of April, SAM’s planned a slew of activities that’ll pique the interest of any history, archaeology, and art buff. Here are three not-to-be-missed highlights:
Discover the buildings’ history at live digs
Fun fact: The Singapore Art Museum currently occupies two heritage buildings – the former St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) along Bras Basah Road and the former Catholic High School, located along Queen Street. Did you also know that the 160-year-old former SJI building was the site of the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore, and that the larger Bras Basah grounds was actually the largest convict prison settlement in the British Empire? Consider our minds blown!
Psst… if you’re intrigued by the museum’s history, check out the live digs where you can watch archaeologists at work. There are also meet-and-greet sessions with the archaeology team and an exhibition at SAM Curve which details the work and processes behind archaeology. Who knows what secrets you’ll get to see being unearthed?
Live Dig: Don’t Feed the Archaeologists; 11-15, and 18-22 April 2018; 10am-5pm; SAM Front Lawn and SAM Curve (entrance near Queen Street).
Go on free guided tours… and meet real archaeologists
Get all your burning questions about archaeology answered at the free tours, where guides will take you through the archaeological pits and exhibitions. Indiana Jones’ wannabes, here’s your chance to meet the archaeological team as they’ll be sharing more about their experience, with fascinating trivia and fun anecdotes.
Guided tours; 6-22 April 2018 (excluding Saturdays); 11am-12pm and 4pm-5.30pm; SAM Curve.
Meet and Greet An Archaeologist; 14 and 21 April 2018; 10am-12pm and 4pm-5.30pm; SAM Curve.
Geek out at talks by experts
To dig deeper (pun intended), you can also attend any of the free specialist talks at SAM. On 14 April, Dr John Kwok will examine the interplay between history in archaeology (which essentially means interpreting Singapore’s past using archaeological information). If, like us, you’re curious about SAM’s impending transformation, attend the 21 April session led by Dr. Imran Tajudeen, Assistant Professor at the NUS Department of Architecture as he discusses the redevelopment of the SAM building, as well as old and new plans for the Bras Basah precinct.
Specialist talks; 14 and 21 April 2018; 2pm-3.30pm; SAM Glass Hall.
Join a theatrical tour like no other
If you’ve always wanted to discover what 160-year-old secrets lurk behind SAM’s closed doors, here’s your chance. Join an immersive theatrical tour for a final chance to explore the building before the revamp. Here, actors doubling up as guides will take on the personas of the people (and ghosts… eek!) who have inhabited the building, while presenting true stories shared by SJI old boys and older museum staff – revealing their personal experiences as you explore restricted areas at SAM. Are you game? Wait no more and book your tickets now!
EXCAVATIONS Theatrical Tours at SAM; 12 – 15 April 2018; 7.30pm-9pm and 9.30pm-11pm; Singapore Art Museum.
That’s not all – the folks at SAM will continue to host exhibitions and activities through the year (and beyond), so you’ll always be able to get your art and culture fix while the SAM buildings gets spruced up and ready in a few years’ time.
Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Road, p. 6589 9550
This article is sponsored by Singapore Art Museum