Happy hours, inexpensive eats and shopping at the National Gallery Singapore

SINGAPORE — Shop for clothes, chow and chatter at a cafe and deposit your children for a fun activity. It may sound like a weekend at a mall, but this is also what visitors can expect with the National Gallery Singapore’s (NGS) ramped-up lifestyle offerings; a new concept that combines retail, food events and, of course, art.

Called Gallery & Co., the 8,800sqf space taking up the first level (facing The Padang) is the brainchild of a new collective called & Co., comprising familiar names in the design and food scene, such as restaurateur/hotelier Lok Lik Peng, and award-winning design agency Foreign Policy Design’s Yah-Leng Yu and Arthur Chin, who joined hands with Alwyn Chong of cosmetic and fragrance distribution firm Luxasia.

“This is a collaboration Singapore can be proud of,” said Chong. “It’s really enlightened of the National Gallery Singapore to outsource the retail concept (to another party).”

Chief executive officer of the NGS Chong Siak Ching explained that the decision to outsource was to better concentrate on its core expertise in exhibitions, research and art education. “We recognise what we’re good at. We want to focus on creating an amazing gallery experience. Merchandising — we’ll leave it to the experts,” she said, adding that vision, passion and ideas presented by & Co. was a key deciding factor in why the firm was selected.

The space designed by & Co. was conceived as an “evolving living space” and will see a bookstore and retail outlet, a self-service cafeteria, a cafe, an al fresco dining area, and scope for pop-up events and art installations. A kids’ corner to host children’s activities is also in the works. Chin revealed that there are also plans to have a small band to perform in the evening from 6pm to 8pm, and to run happy-hour drinks while visitors take in the view.

The food aspect is handled by Restaurant Ember’s executive chef Sufian Zain. Loh promised the menu is one that “your mother and grandmother will enjoy” while reflecting the South-east Asian influences and ongoing exhibitions. For instance, diners will find Indonesian flavours if there is an exhibition on Indonesian art taking place. Prices will start from S$5 for a cake and coffee; while a main course and drink will cost around S$10 to S$25. “We hope to cater to the majority of Singaporeans — it’s our core market for people to come over and over again,” said Loh.

A sneak peek into the merchandise specially produced for the NGS revealed an eclectic range, from notebooks to possibly sculptural items, and Yu teased that there are plenty of collaborations lined up with both international and Singaporean companies, such as Japanese solar watch-makers Smile Q&Q and local firm Matter, as well as exclusive fashion capsule collections.

Gallery & Co. officially opens on Nov 24.