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Istana opens to public this Saturday to celebrate National Day

SINGAPORE — To celebrate the upcoming National Day, the Istana grounds will be open to the public this Saturday (July 30) from 8.30am to 6pm, with the annual Istana Art Event as the day’s highlight.

A woman poses for a photo during the Istana Open House on Nov 10, 2015. TODAY file photo

A woman poses for a photo during the Istana Open House on Nov 10, 2015. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — To celebrate the upcoming National Day, the Istana grounds will be open to the public this Saturday (July 30) from 8.30am to 6pm, with the annual Istana Art Event as the day’s highlight.

Entry to the grounds is free for Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents. All other visitors are required to pay an entrance fee of S$2 per person.

Co-organised by the National Gallery Singapore and the National Heritage Board and in collaboration with the President’s Office, this year’s Art Event will feature an On-the-Spot art competition. Children aged 3 to 12 can enter to win cash prizes of up to S$200 by submitting their artworks on the theme of “Building Our Singapore of Tomorrow”.

At 16 stations, visitors can take part in activities such as playing classical games of yesteryear, designing paper vintage robots, making hand-held fans inspired by sea creatures, and dressing up as a samsui woman or with Shakespeare-inspired props – all at no cost.

There will also be performances by Bendemeer Primary School and Queenstown Secondary School, Saint Andrew’s Junior College Concert Bands, and the SAF Music and Drama Company, as well as game stalls run by Raffles Girls School students.

Members of the public can also choose to sign up for the Nature Guided Walk at the Istana, a collaboration between the President’s Office and the National Parks Board, which will showcase the Istana’s flora, fauna and biodiversity.A guided tour of the Istana main building will be led by volunteers from the Preservation of Sites and Monuments division of the National Heritage Board; it includes views of selected function rooms and the gifts presented to the President and the Prime Minister by foreign dignitaries. The guided tours each cost S$4 for adults and S$2 for children aged 4 to 12.

Visitors can also opt for a self-guided tour using the Istana Garden Walk mobile application, which includes a guide to discovering 10 types of plant species and other features.

 

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this report referred to the National Gallery Singapore as National Art Gallery. The President's Office has clarified that the Art Event is co-organised by the National Gallery Singapore and the National Heritage Board, in collaboration with the President's Office. 

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