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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Senior Programmes at the National Museum

01 Apr 2020 - 31 Dec 2020
Various Venues
Various Timings
Varies with Programmes

The National Museum is committed to supporting the health and well-being of seniors, including persons living with dementia, through meaningful and engaging programmes and resources that are based on the museum’s collection and galleries. These programmes and resources seek to provide opportunities for seniors to share their memories and personal experiences related to Singapore’s history and heritage, learn a new skill or knowledge through hands-on workshops, and have conversations with their care partners and other participants. Check this page regularly for updated programme details and resources.

Care partners of seniors with special needs (e.g. dementia, wheelchair user) might find the information on our Accessibility page helpful.

Email nhb_nm_programmes@nhb.gov.sg for enquiries.

If you enjoyed any of our digital resource(s), we would love to hear back from you and your senior(s) on how the experience was like using them. Click here or scan the QR code below to access our feedback form. 

Digital resources feedback form QR code
Moving Memories

Moving Memories Resource Kit [*New* Digital Resource]

First presented at the museum in 2017, the Moving Memories installation presents seven of Yip Yew Chong’s life-sized murals which seek to express the romance of “places and moments… that blend sights, sounds, smell and tastes”.

You can now enjoy Moving Memories online, anywhere and anytime. Accompanying this installation is a newly-launched Moving Memories Resource Kit that includes an activity guide and a suggested hands-on activity. This resource kit is created for senior organisations or care partners of persons with dementia to adapt and engage seniors in conversations. 

Please email nhb_nm_programmes@nhb.gov.sg to request for a digital copy of the accompanying Activity Guide. More information about the murals can be found here.

Moving Memories Colouring Activity
1 template to be released every Friday (15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun and 26 Jun 2020) 

Feeling inspired by the colourful murals in the Moving Memories video installation? You can now create your own mural-inspired art pieces and enjoy a conversation with loved ones and friends as you explore familiar heritage scenes and sights. Choose from seven mural scenes created by Yip Yew Chong from the Moving Memories installation and gather your colouring materials to get started. 

This activity is suitable for senior organisations or care partners of persons with dementia to adapt and engage seniors in hands-on activity and conversations. 

One colouring template will be made available for download online every Friday at 10am on 15 May 2020 onwards. Visit this space for new releases!

Download the colouring templates below: 

1. Kampung template | Download

2. Kopitiam template | Download

3. Barber template | Download

4. Putu Mayam Hawker template| To be released on 5 Jun 2020

5. Laksa Stall template | To be released on 12 Jun 2020

6. Satay Club template | To be released on 19 Jun 2020

7. Provision Shop template | To be released on 26 Jun 2020

Craft Activity

Resources Based on NMS’s William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings

A. Fruitful Encounters: A Guide for Engaging Seniors on the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings

Fruitful Encounters will introduce seniors to a small selection of fruits featured in the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings. This activity guide includes a suggested multi-sensorial approach to engage seniors as well as a fruit-based hands-on activity. This activity is suitable for senior organisations or care partners of persons with dementia to adapt and engage seniors in hands-on activity and conversations. 

Please email nhb_nm_programmes@nhb.gov.sg to request for a digital copy of the Fruitful Encounters activity guide. 

B. Craft-Based Activity Template

Get creative with familiar edible plants such as the candlenut and ginger in this interactive activity based on the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings! Designed for seniors to learn simple dot painting techniques to create their own masterpieces, this activity also includes conversation prompts for seniors and their families/care partners to share more about their memories and experiences of using these edible plants to create delicious dishes!

This activity is suitable for senior organisations or care partners of persons with dementia to adapt and engage seniors in hands-on activity and conversations.

Download the Craft-Based Activity Template here.

Please email nhb_nm_programmes@nhb.gov.sg if you would like to request for the template in JPEG format. 

Guided Tours

Monthly Senior-friendly Guided Tours
Every first Saturday of the month | 12.30pm – 1.30pm | $3 per senior participant (standard admission charges apply for non-Singaporeans / non-PRs)

Join the museum’s Care Facilitators on a conversational tour of our exhibitions! The tour is designed just for seniors, including persons with dementia and their accompanying care partner. It will explore a different theme every month and allow participants to handle objects related to the museum’s collection. Limited capacity based on first come, first served basis. Pre-registration is required.

Upcoming Dates

Architecture in Singapore
Sat, 4 Apr 2020 [CANCELLED]

Click here to view event page for registration.

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!