Former National Museum director Lee Chor Lin appointed to ArtScience Museum’s advisory board

SINGAPORE — Ms Lee Chor Lin, formerly the director of the National Museum of Singapore and chief executive officer (CEO) of Arts House Limited, has been appointed as one of three new members to the ArtScience Museum’s International Advisory Board.

She assumed the appointment last month and said that she is glad “to have the opportunity to work with a diverse group of international professionals” involved in the museum, which is located at Marina Bay Sands. The board was set up in 2011 to develop the museum’s content.

Ms Lee, 54, an independent curator, made news last September when it was announced that she was resigning from Arts House Limited after serving just three years. The non-profit organisation handles the Singapore International Festival of Arts as well as three arts centres owned by the National Arts Council.

Asked about her plans, she told TODAY: ”I continue to enjoy having my time as my own, pursuing different projects, serving on various boards, writing my newspaper column and looking after family.”

Apart from Ms Lee, Mr Seb Chan, chief experience officer of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne, and Ms Sabrina Smith, director of community engagement at the Earth Observatory of Singapore, also joined the ArtScience Museum’s advisory board.

Ms Honor Harger, the museum’s executive director, said in a press release Friday (June 23) announcing the appointments: “We are pleased to welcome three very highly regarded individuals in their fields to our International Advisory Board. Their global experience and diverse expertise in curatorial work, digital media and communication will add depth to the board, and ensure that the museum continues to remain on the cutting edge in the fields of art, science and technology.”

Last year, Ms Lee’s resignation from Arts House Limited was among some high-profile leadership changes at arts institutions here. After her departure, Ms Sarah Martin — previously with the Singapore Grand Prix — took over the reins.

At the Singapore Art Museum, its director Susie Lingham and its CEO Leng Tshua left their posts within months of each other. Dr Lingham was there for just three years while Mr Leng served less than a year. Their positions remain unfilled.

Last October as well, National Arts Council’s CEO Kathy Lai stepped down to head to another government agency, International Enterprise Singapore. The vacated post was filled in March this year by Mrs Rosa Daniel, 53, former CEO of the National Heritage Board.

This year, under Arts House Limited, the Singapore International Festival of Arts also saw a leadership change. Singapore Repertory Theatre’s artistic director Gaurav Kripalani, 45, replaced TheatreWorks’ artistic director Ong Keng Sen, 53, last month to oversee the festival’s editions from 2018 to 2020 — a move that received online criticism from the arts community, who are wary of Mr Kripalani’s penchant for mainstream arts.