National Heritage Board | May & June 2024 Happenings!

This May and June, National Heritage Board (NHB) will be running an array of programmes and events for you and your family! 

So much is happening this May and June across the venues managed by the National Heritage Board! Here's a closer look at what you can expect in these two months:

Singapore HeritageFest 2024

Date: 1 to 26 May 2024

Discover the tales of our buildings and landmarks at the 21st edition of Singapore HeritageFest (SHF). This year's festival celebrates our nation's rich built heritage, as well as the 40th anniversary of Total Defence. Featuring tours, trails, exhibitions, and other exciting activities across the island, SHF 2024 promises an immersive and engaging exploration of Singapore's architectural treasures. Don't miss crowd favourites like the Homeground exhibition, Ride & Discover and the Hop-On and Hop-Off (HOHO) bus experience, which make our history and heritage rev up to life.

For more information, please visit the Singapore HeritageFest website.

Jalan Jalan Digital Companion Launch

Photo Credit: National Heritage Board

As part of Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) 2024, the National Heritage Board (NHB) will be launching a new digital companion called Jalan Jalan, which translates to “walking” in Malay. Over three heritage trails (Changi, Ang Mo Kio and Woodlands) with 48 heritage sites, Jalan Jalan will enrich the experience of visitors on these trails, who will enjoy more interactivity as they discover lesser-known facts of these well-loved areas of Singapore. From 1 May to 30 June 2024, visitors who use Jalan Jalan on any of our three heritage trails will be able to redeem exclusive rewards and stand a chance to win attractive prizes.

For more information and to access the app, please visit this link.

Monumental Hunt in the Civic District

Photo Credit: PSM

Date: TBC
Time: 9.30am to 12pm
Fee: $55 per participant | Register here

Set off on a fun-filled puzzle hunt in the Civic District! Inspired by escape rooms and treasure hunts, participants go on an immersive outdoor expedition featuring nine National Monuments in the area. Facilitated and guided by a game master, get ready to put on your thinking caps to decode the puzzles and discover fascinating facts about these historic buildings and sites along the way!

Note: This Monumental Hunt will be recurring and will usually take place every 3rd Saturday of the month. Participants are encouraged to check the website regularly for the confirmed dates.

Children’s Season 2024

Jointly presented by Children’s Museum Singapore and the Museum Roundtable, Children’s Season is an annual programme that brings cultural and educational experiences to spark wonder and curiosity in children and inspire them to learn about our collective heritage. The theme of Children’s Season 2024 is Innovation, where we hope to inspire and encourage children to be creative thinkers.

Food for Thought

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Former Ford Factory
Date: 25 May & 1 Jun 2024
Time: 11am & 2pm
Fee: $20 per child with 1 free accompanying adult (Tickets will be released on 9 May 2024)

How often do you think about food? Are we being thoughtful? Do we take food for granted?

Food for Thought is a poignant interactive theatrical experience set in post-war Singapore. Inspired by the ration cards used in 1946, join the Tan family and experience how they brave through hardships and strengthen their bond together as a family. During the programme, there will be role-playing opportunities through the game ‘Heart of Gold’, to engage children in exercising their options with creativity and morals as they make decisions on how to budget and allocate resources for themselves and their loved ones.

This is a signature programme under Children’s Season 2024 in collaboration between Children’s Museum Singapore and Former Ford Factory.

For more information, please visit this link or e-mail: NHB_CMSG_PRG@nhb.gov.sg.

Wrap Me Tight

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Asian Civilisation Museum
Date: 31 May & 21 Jun 2024
Time: 11am & 2pm
Fee: $20 per child with 1 free accompanying adult (Tickets will be released on 9 May 2024)

There is a special bond between Meera and her grandmother. One that contains many secrets and time spent playing together. In memory of her grandmother, Meera would explore the chest of dupattas (kain selendang) that grandma had left for her and make a sanctuary of play to honour her grandmother. Join Meera in this fun-filled creative play session, where participants will be led through an object improvisation game to think out of the box and transform the dupattas into objects for her sanctuary. During the session, participants will also be invited to do printmaking.

This is a signature programme under Children’s Season 2024 in collaboration between Children’s Museum Singapore and Asian Civilisations Museum.

For more information, please visit this link or e-mail: NHB_CMSG_PRG@nhb.gov.sg.

My Friend, Mr Pirate!

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Singapore Maritime Gallery
Date: 7 & 8 Jun 2024
Time: 11am & 2pm
Fee: $20 per child with 1 free accompanying adult (Tickets will be released on 9 May 2024)

Singapore Maritime Gallery has been hijacked by Mr Pirate while he tries to find his treasure! Join us as pirate crew with your very own special pirate wristbands as you embark on this adventure to learn about Singapore’s development into a proud maritime nation with Mr Pirate. Uncover clues hidden throughout the gallery to find the treasure and have a swashbuckling good time of song and dance!

This is a signature programme under Children’s Season 2024 in collaboration between Children’s Museum Singapore and Singapore Maritime Gallery.

For more information, please visit this link or e-mail: NHB_CMSG_PRG@nhb.gov.sg.

Oodles of Noodles

Venue: Children’s Museum Singapore
Date: 15 & 22 Jun 2024
Time: 11am & 4pm
Fee: $20 per child with 1 free accompanying adult (Tickets will be released on 9 May 2024)

Izzy has been pondering all week with no new ideas for her fusion laksa dish. Suddenly, she remembered the tune that grandma used to play with her.

Along the way, she discovers old treasure that give us a glimpse of Singapore’s hawker culture. Join Izzy on a sensorial journey through the Armenian Street as she searches for innovative recipe ideas!

Come touch, smell and even listen to the sounds and stories of our unique food heritage. Together with Izzy, let’s make our own Oodles of Noodles craft at the end of the food adventure.

This is a signature programme under Children’s Season 2024.

For more information, please visit this link or e-mail: NHB_CMSG_PRG@nhb.gov.sg.

Let’s Cook Up a Storm!

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Children’s Museum Singapore (Lewin Terrace)
Date:

• 1 Jun 2024: Curry Debal
• 8 Jun 2024: Pang Susie
• 15 Jun 2024: Kueh Kochi

Time: 3pm
Fee: Free (Pre-registration via Peatix required)

A great way of discovering culture is through food! Join us in learning about the Eurasian heritage through food and taste your mouth-watering creation at the end of the workshop!

Participants will learn from chef Mary Gomes Eurasian dishes such as Curry Debal (also known as Curry Devil), Pang Susie (a savoury bun) and Kueh Kochi (a chewy kueh) on each of the respective dates.

This workshop is a partnership programme under Children’s Season 2024 by Eurasian Heritage Gallery.

Train Upcycling; Giving Old Trains New Life!

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Children’s Museum Singapore
Date: 30 May & 6 Jun 2024
Time: 3pm
Fee: Free (Pre-registration via Peatix required, Tickets will be released on 9 May 2024)

Join us for a hands-on workshop where you will learn the art of train upcycling. In this workshop, our train engineers will share about how train parts from decommissioned trains are upcycled or repurposed for other used. You will also get to experiment with these train parts and brainstorm innovative ideas on how to transform them for other purposes!

This workshop is a partnership programme under Children’s Season 2024, conducted by Singapore Mobility Gallery.

For more information, please visit this link or e-mail: NHB_CMSG_PRG@nhb.gov.sg.

Travelling Art Cart: Art Across Time

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Children’s Museum Singapore
Date: 14 & 15 Jun 2024
Time: Whole Day
Fee: Free (This free self-guided drop-in activity is only for visitors who already have their tickets to visit Children’s Museum Singapore, Tickets will be released on 9 May 2024)

Step back in time with the Travelling Art Cart and explore ‘Here They Come!’ by Koeh Sia Yong from the National Collection. Transport to the vibrant streets of 1950s and 1960s Singapore, where unlicensed hawkers were commonplace. Join us and be engaged in self-guided interactive, family-friendly activities where children can roleplay as hawkers, imagining the bustling scenes depicted in the artwork.

This free self-guided drop-in activity is a partnership programme under Children’s Season 2024 by National Gallery of Singapore.

For more information, please visit this link or e-mail: NHB_CMSG_PRG@nhb.gov.sg.

Let’s Go on a Food Trail at Armenian Street

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Children’s Museum Singapore
Date: 

• 25, 30 & 31 May 2024
• 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 & 22 Jun 2024 (Thu, Fri & Sat)

Time: 11am & 4pm
Fee: $8 per child, with 1 free accompanying adult

Join WonderBot and Noodsly in this self-guided trail as they embark on an exciting exploration along the Armenian Street and find out how spices are used in local dishes. Pop in to the businesses along the Armenian Street and discover about food, stories and cultures in these spaces!

Don’t forget to redeem a token from our friendly staff at the Ticketing Counter upon completion.

For further enquiries, please e-mail: NHB_CMSG_PRG@nhb.gov.sg.

Children’s Season 2024 Stamp Booklet Activity

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Date: 25 May to 23 Jun 2024

Hello little explorer! Are you ready to embark on a journey of discovery at the various museums in Singapore?

This June school holidays, join us for some museum hopping fun as a family! Pick up a copy of the Children’s Season 2024 Stamp Booklet at any of the participating museums and collect uniquely stamp chop prints as you participate in a simple activity at each museum. Aim to collect as many stamps as possible to redeem exclusive Children’s Season 2024 prizes!

There are 3 tiers of collectors:

• Museum Starter: 5 stamps
• Museum Explorer: 10 stamps
• Museum Enthusiast: 15 stamps

List of participating museums:

• Asian Civilisations Museum
• ArtScience Museum
• Children’s Museum Singapore
• Eurasian Heritage Gallery
• Former Ford Factory
• Fort Siloso
• Indian Heritage Centre
• Intan @ T-Play
• KidsSTOP, Science Centre Singapore
• MOE Heritage Centre
• National Gallery Singapore
• National Library Singapore
• National Museum of Singapore
• NEWater Visitor Centre
• Peranakan Museum
• Singapore Art Museum
• Singapore Discovery Centre
• Singapore Maritime Gallery
• Singapore Mobility Gallery
• Singapore Navy Museum
• Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall

Visit this link to find out each museum’s admission details before your visit. For further enquiries, please e-mail: NHB_CMSG_PRG@nhb.gov.sg.

Other Programmes by Children’s Museum Singapore

Foothill Stories – A Roving Performance with Craft Components

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Various (Participants will go to Children’s Museum Singapore, The Peranakan Museum and Lewin Terrace)
Date: 4, 5, 11 & 12 May 2024
Time:

• 11am to 12pm (Programme), 12pm to 12.45pm (Free exploration in museum)
• 2pm to 3pm (Programme), 3pm to 3.45pm (Free exploration in museum)

Fee: $18 per pax | Register here (via the “Programmes” tab) – tickets will only be released at a later date

The year is 1912. At the foot of Fort Canning Hill lies two primary schools. Tao Nan School has just opened on Armenian Street, offering modern education in Chinese. Standing opposite was a Methodist school for boys, also known as Anglo-Chinese School. What were these schools like? What has changed across the years and what has remained?

Take a walk with us to Children’s Museum Singapore and The Peranakan Museum, which were once schools that served the community. Let’s travel back in time and unravel their history together in this roving performance through shoebox puppetry and visual mapping, followed by a hands-on craft session.

Mask-a-rade: Build Your Own Heritage Mask! (Drop-In Activity)

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Lewin Terrace (Meeting Point at Children’s Museum Singapore)
Date & Time: 

• 2, 3, 9 & 10 May 2024: 9am to 10.45am & 11am to 12.45pm
• 4, 5, 11 & 12 May 2024: 9am to 10.45am & 4pm to 5.45pm

Fee: Fee: Free (Museum Admission fee is separate and not included)

Inspired by our iconic heritage buildings, “Mask-a-rade’ is a creative free-play drop-in activity where children experiment with vibrant colours and playful patterns to build their very own whimsical masks.

Join us as you and your little ones have a fun-filled time mixing and matching different façade elements to create your very own wearable masks!

Note: As this is a free drop-in activity, materials are while stocks last.

For visitors interested to visit the museum, please pre-book your museum admission tickets online.

Colouring Fun at Stamp Parade: WonderBot and the Heritage Buildings

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Children’s Museum Singapore – Permanent Gallery (Level 1)
Date: 1 to 5, 7 to 12, 14 to 19 & 21 to 24 May 2024
Time: 9am to 10.45am | 11am to 12.45pm | 2pm to 3.45pm | 4pm to 5.45pm
Fee: Free

Ever wondered about the heritage buildings in Singapore? Children’s Museum Singapore is housed in one! Join in for a fun colouring time with your little one at the Stamp Parade interactive within the Museum’s permanent exhibition, A Voyage Back in Time, as you see your special edition WonderBot Heritage Building stamp series come alive!

Note: As this is a free drop-in activity, materials are while stocks last and limited to museum visitors only.

For more information, please visit this link.

Programmes by the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC)

Katha & Kali - Interactive in special exhibition

Photo Credit: Indian Heritage Centre

Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Date: now to 15 Sep 2024
Fee: Free

Step into the world of Kathakali at our digital interactive exhibition. Discover the different characters that are commonly found in a Kathakali performance; learn a mudra or hand gesture demonstrated by these characters; transform into your favourite Kathakali character; snap a picture of yourself and send the saved image to your email! Don’t forget to post your picture on your social media account and tag us @Indianheritage_sg!

For more information, please visit the IHC website. 

Ente Veedu, My Home: Malayalees in Singapore

Venue: Indian Heritage Centre

Date: now to 15 Sep 2024
Time: 10am to 6pm
Fee: Free admission for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents

The Indian Heritage Centre’s sixth special exhibition and third community co-curated exhibition celebrates the Singapore Malayalee community. The tangible and intangible aspects of the rich history and heritage of the Malayalees will be showcased through a display of artefacts and stories, along with a variety of programmes offered in collaboration with the community.

For more information, please visit the IHC website. 

Young explorer Special Exhibition guide on SMARTIFY

Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Date: now to 15 Sep 2024
Fee: Free

Empower your child's cultural journey with the Indian Heritage Centre’s child-friendly exhibition guide for the special exhibition Ente Veedu, My Home: Malayalees in Singapore. This guide is designed to make cultural exploration accessible and engaging for young learners and to make it an enriching experience for families. Download the SMARTIFY app and embark on an enriching adventure in Malayalee heritage together!

For more information, please visit this link. 

Children’s Season at Indian Heritage Centre

Photo Credit: Indian Heritage Centre

Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Date: 25 May to 23 Jun 2024 (Tue to Sun)
Time: 10am to 6pm
Fee:

• 25 to 26 May 2024
• Free admission for all
• 28 May to 23 Jun 2024
• Singaporeans and PRs: Free
• Foreigners: $8/pax

Embark on an enriching journey as we present a vibrant array of interactive experiences and engaging activities this June school holidays.

Join us for a delightful blend of immersive storytelling sessions, hands-on workshops, craft activities, and much more. Stay tuned for more details closer to the programme date here.

For more information, please visit the IHC website and Peatix.

Programmes by the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC)

MHC x LTA Collaboration - Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri from MHC

Venue: Various MRT stations, trains & buses
Date: now to 7 May 2024

Soak in the Hari Raya vibes when you travel on public transport this festive season! Catch our colourful Hari Raya-themed designs on various trains and buses from 27 March 2024 onwards.

In collaboration with Land Transport Authority.

My First Wayang Kulit Show

Photo Credit: Malay Heritage Centre

Explore the wonders of wayang kulit together with Laila in this interactive online game! Get a chance to be a little dalang (puppeteer), put up your first Ramayana performance and get a chance to learn what goes on behind the screen in a wayang kulit show.

Access this online game here for free.

Tales from the Nusantara Storytelling Video Series

Photo Credit: Malay Heritage Centre

Staying home during the school holidays can be a lot of fun with our storytelling series showcasing folktales from the Nusantara (Malay world)! Check out our YouTube Channel for pre-recorded storytelling videos that you can tune in at home or in school.

Activity sheets in both Malay and English are available for download for selected videos.

View the series for free at here.

I am a Little Jewellery Designer

Photo Credit: Malay Heritage Centre

Did you know that a diamond village called “Kampong Intan” used to exist in Singapore? It was bustling with diamond traders and jewellery designers!

Join our friends Laila and Oreo in this interactive video game where you can harvest your own intan (diamond), polish it and set it in a beautiful piece of jewellery. Your creation will also be available for download as an image file to keep forever.

Pssst.. redeem a specially designed sticker at the MHC if you flash your creation- while stocks last!

Access this online game here for free.

Changi Chapel and Museum

Photo Credit: Changi Chapel and Museum

Photo Credit: Changi Chapel and Museum

Address: 1000 Upper Changi Road North, Singapore 507707
Opening Hours: 9.30am to 5.30pm, Tue to Sun (Closed every Mon except Public Holidays, Last admission at 5pm)
Fee: Free admission for Citizens & PRs

The Changi Chapel and Museum tells the story of the prisoners of war and civilians interned in Changi prison camp during the Japanese Occupation. Managed by the National Museum of Singapore, the Changi Museum was revamped and reopened in May 2021. The revamped museum features new content and artefacts, including stories and personal objects collected from families of former internees, presented in an intimate and engaging format. The museum’s narrative is centred on remembrance and reflection, encouraging visitors to contemplate both the hardships that the internees underwent, as well as their courage and resilience in the face of difficulties.

Reflections at Bukit Chandu

Photo Credit: Reflections at Bukit Chandu

Photo Credit: Reflections at Bukit Chandu

Address: 31-K Pepys Road, Singapore 118458
Opening Hours: 9.30am to 5pm, Tue to Sun (Closed every Mon except Public Holidays, Last admission at 4.30pm)
Fee: Free admission for Citizens & PRs 

Reflections at Bukit Chandu is a World War Two interpretative centre that commemorates the battle of Pasir Panjang and the men of the Malay Regiment who fought in it, as well as the history of Bukit Chandu itself. Housed in a bungalow that is closely connected to the site’s history, the interpretative centre uses immersive experiences and contextual artefacts to present a multi-faceted look at Bukit Chandu and Pasir Panjang, while inviting visitors to reflect on our nation’s wartime experience and the brave sacrifice of the soldiers.