National Gallery Singapore shares the highlights of its first year with an immersive party

SINGAPORE — There is a lot to look forward to these two weekends, with the National Gallery Singapore pulling out all the stops for its first-anniversary celebrations.

The massive bash, dubbed the Gallery Light to Night Festival, aims to explore the intersection between art and technology in an accessible and fun manner by holding activities for visitors of all ages and interests.

Visitors can enjoy interactive art installations, an art and design market, riveting roving acts and live music sessions. There will also be events taking place outside the museum, spilling onto the Padang with St Andrew’s and Fullerton Road closed during both weekends from 4pm 
till midnight.

Celebrating this one-year mark is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the 12 months that have passed by for the Gallery. Built to the tune of S$532 million, the National Gallery is Singapore’s most-anticipated arts venue since the opening of The Esplanade in 2002, with hopes of becoming the country’s pride 
and joy.

Admittedly, it is still too early to decide if the Gallery has indeed reached that goal, as Chong Siak Ching, chief executive officer (CEO), National Gallery Singapore pointed out: “The Gallery has only been open for one year. Our peer museums have hundreds of years in history and experience. While we have had a good start, we still have a lot to learn and improve upon.”

A YEAR OF ART

Reflecting on the past year, she said: “It has been a hectic, yet immensely fulfilling one for the Gallery because of the encouraging reception so far. We have seen more than 1.5 million visitors walk through our doors within just a year, be it to enjoy our exhibitions or take part in the 
wide array of programmes.”

One of the memorable moments she recalls from last year was the Share the Hope Carnival, which took place in November during the Gallery’s opening weekend. “We had just launched the Gallery after years of hard work and meticulous preparations, and it was gratifying to see more than 170,000 visitors join us in celebration and having a great time at the Gallery. Several visitors told me that they are so proud that Singapore has chosen to transform two of its most historic monuments into a space for the enjoyment of the arts by the public.”

Suenne Megan Tan, director (Audience Development and Engagement), agreed. “The enthusiasm of so many visitors from all walks of life, including families and friends, Singaporeans and tourists alike, who came to celebrate the opening of the Gallery has been truly 
heartening.”

For Tan, a noteworthy event during the past year was Common Grounds, the Gallery’s open house held in June.

“It is particularly rewarding when you see multi-generational families — grandparents, parents and children — spending quality time together in the Gallery, enjoying the guided tours of our exhibitions, art workshops and music 
performances.”

These tours, which were also conducted in sign language and dialects such as Hokkien and Cantonese, allowed the Gallery to reach out to many first-time visitors. “I’m glad we were able to introduce South-east Asian art to them through these special tours. The success of the first weekend of Common Grounds prompted us to celebrate with an encore edition in July, where many enjoyed a myriad of activities including life-sized 3D-painting backdrops and a pop-up street scene of Chinatown, complete with market stalls, inspired by the Gallery’s art,” 
said Tan.

WHAT’S AHEAD

She went on to share that the Gallery would continue to engage with audiences through a wide range of inter-disciplinary art programmes. For example, the upcoming Gallery Light to Night Festival will provide “different entry points for visitors to connect with art, from vibrant facade projections to interactive art installations and lively performances”.

“Through the Gallery Light to Night Festival, we hope to provide opportunities for visitors to learn about art, discover new ideas, interact through play, and learn to make connections between art and everyday life; to give visitors more reasons to make visiting the Gallery a regular part of their culture and lifestyle,” Tan added.

Chong agreed, adding: “We are continuously reaching out to wider audience segments, covering art lovers, those who are new to or even apprehensive of engaging with the arts, ranging from the young to the seniors, and not forgetting the millennials. For this group of experience seekers, the night programmes of the Gallery Light to Night Festival are designed for them to connect with art through a multi-sensorial experience filled with music, lights and dance.”

“We’re excited for the public and community to join us once again this year to celebrate our one-year anniversary,” she added.

The Gallery Light to Night Festival runs till 3am on Nov 25 and 26; Dec 2 and 3. Admission to the Festival is free. Activities are generally free, with the exception of selected tours and film screenings. St Andrew’s and Fullerton Roads will be closed during the two weekends from 4pm till midnight.