• Opening Hours:

    Sun–Thu, Public Holidays: 10am–7pm Fri–Sat, Eve of Public Holidays: 10am–10pm
  • Enquiry Hotline:

    6271 7000

It’s taken 10 years and much planning to create the National Gallery Singapore, which today, is home to one of the world’s largest public collections of South East Asian paintings. The $536m reconstruction combined Singapore’s former City Hall and the Supreme Court through the sensitive use of steel and glass to create 1 unique space. You can still see entire chambers from the Supreme Court and the facades of both buildings as these have been preserved as part of the design process.

Keppel Centre for Art Education

If you are visiting with children, the museum has an entire space devoted to the use of art to stimulate creativity and curiosity in kids. Filled with interactive displays, work rooms and collaborative workshops with South East Asian artists, there’s plenty for kids to do. Some of the highlights are:

Art Playscape

Titled “The Enchanted Tree House”, this is a beautifully imagined area filled with illustrations which encourage young visitors to enter a magical forest, explore an illustrated sea and navigate a river. 

Singapore Cityscape

Just after the Art Playscape hangs the Singapore Cityscape rendered in pen and ink by world renowned savant Stephen Wiltshire. After a 60 minute helicopter ride over Singapore, he drew the 4m by 1m skyline from memory. 

Into the Woods

Kids of all ages will love this interactive activity. Design your own fantasy animal and watch it “walk” across a life size screen. Enter your email address and a template of the animal your child has designed will be sent to you so that you can print it and turn it into a 3D figure at home. 

The Galleries

The museum has 2 permanent galleries – the DBS Singapore Gallery and the UOB South East Asia Gallery. In addition to the permanent galleries, there are also a series of exhibition spaces which feature changing works of art. 

Guided Tours

Guided tours are available free of charge and are run daily at the museum. Register at the information counter at B1 for English or Mandarin tours. 

Dining

There are plenty of dining options at the National Gallery. 8 different dining concepts allow you to try anything from local Nonya cuisine to contemporary and European gourmet offerings.

Photo Credit: Mark爱生活 via Compfight cc