National Museum of Singapore

Original Building

Building, 1887

The front block of the museum building dates back to 1887. It features an elegant neo-Palladian design, a European style of architecture characterised by a highly symmetrical façade and the use of pediments above windows.

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Voices of Singapore banner resized
Voices of Singapore banner resized

Voices of Singapore

Ongoing
Level 2,
Voices of Singapore Gallery
Daily from 10am – 7pm
Last admission at 6.30pm.
Free admission for Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and visitors aged 6 years and below
The Singaporean identity is inherently plural. In the 1970s, race, culture and language were formalised and enshrined into categories that were at once distinct and discrete. By the mid-1980s, these characterisations were debated and articulated in many different ways by Singapore’s artistic practitioners, who created original works that emphasised expressions of national identity and belonging.

 

voices of singapore

In the process, they shaped a vibrant society that could accommodate multiple voices and communities – a legacy that continues to inspire us today.

Through cultural artefacts that include music, performances, television and theatre, this gallery explores how Singaporeans forged a unique voice for themselves. The gallery’s back room features a recreation of a vintage drive-in theatre, where you can recline in seats fashioned in the form of mini cars and pick-up trucks, and watch a specially commissioned film installation that celebrates the many forms of leisure that Singaporeans enjoyed in the past.

Family Time

Visit our permanent galleries with your little ones and play spot-the-artefact! Our colourful Early Learning Resources introduce pre-schoolers to our artefacts according to the themes of Numbers, Colours, and ABCs. Available at $8 per set from the Museum Label shop. For more children's activity booklets, click here.

Museum guide

Download our museum guide (English, Chinese, Bahasa Melayu, Tamil) to find out about the many treasures in our various galleries. In this guide, you will also find the floor plan for easier navigation. Enjoy your visit!