Get ready to embark on a year-long journey of cultural exploration with the National Heritage Board of Singapore in 2024. With an extensive lineup of family-friendly events, there promises to be something for every member of your clan, from the curious toddler to the history-loving grandparent.
Here’s your month-by-month guide to the cultural highlights of 2024.
Source: National Heritage Board – Pride in our Past, Legacy for our Future
January – Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 Event/s
Plastic: Remaking Our World
Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 kickstarts the year with an exhibition that explores the past, present, and future of plastic. This travelling exhibition, making its Asian debut at the National Museum of Singapore, examines the rise of plastic in the 20th century, its environmental impact, and potential sustainable solutions.
February – Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 Event/s
Battle for Singapore
In February, Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 commemorates the 82nd anniversary of the Fall of Singapore. With a series of public events, including guided tours, talks, exhibitions, and film screenings, we remember Singapore’s experiences during WWII. Special curated visits to sites of historical significance will throw light on lesser-known stories and places of Singapore during the war era.
March – Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 Event/s
Changi Heritage Trail
March brings the exciting launch of the 24th heritage trail by Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 – the Changi Heritage Trail. Notably, uncover the kampong, leisure, and military heritage of the area, and get engaged with the new digital exploration feature, Jejak Warisan.
The Stewards of Intangible Cultural Heritage Award
Subsequently, The Stewards of Intangible Cultural Heritage Award recognises practitioners dedicated to promoting and transmitting their practices. Remarkably, witness the celebration of these individuals who have made significant contributions to their fields.
April – Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 Event/s
Fukusa: Japanese Gift Covers from the Chris Hall Collection
In April, Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 presents an exhibition that intriguingly explores the age-old practice of gifting in Japan. Specifically, the exhibition showcases a collection of fukusa – silk covers used for presenting gifts, reflecting the themes of craft, trade and exchange, and gifting across cultures.
Heritage Activation Nodes: Katong-Joo Chiat
Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 culminates in April with the thrilling launch of its Heritage Activation Nodes (HAN) initiative. Starting with a weekend festival in Katong-Joo Chiat, this initiative offers a range of workshops and highlight programmes ingeniously designed to celebrate the heritage of individual precincts.
May – Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 Event/s
Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) 2024
Get ready to dive into Singapore’s rich history at the 21st edition of the Singapore HeritageFest from 1 to 26 May 2024. This year’s festival enthusiastically celebrates our nation’s architectural treasures and marks the 40th anniversary of Total Defence.
Notably, the festival offers an array of workshops, trails, tours, exhibitions, and crowd favourites such as the Homeground exhibition, Ride & Discover, and the Hop-On and Hop-Off (HOHO) bus experience.
My First Love Travelling Exhibition
May also brings the “My First Love” travelling exhibition, which fascinatingly documents Singapore’s youth culture through the decades. The exhibition features a collection of crowdsourced photographs and stories and will travel around Singapore’s public libraries, integrated hubs, and shopping malls.
Into the Hawkerverse at Children’s Museum Singapore
From 25 May 2024, the Children’s Museum Singapore’s special exhibition, “Into the Hawkerverse”, aims to introduce Singapore’s hawker culture to children.
Uniquely, the exhibition uses play, activity, and object-based learning to deepen children’s understanding and appreciation of Hawker Culture.
Children’s Season 2024
Children’s Season returns from 25 May to 23 June 2024 with the theme of Innovation. The festival aims to inspire and encourage children to be creative thinkers and includes a children’s panel for the first time.
Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco
The Asian Civilisations Museum will host “Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco” from 31 May to 15 September 2024. This exhibition reunites a set of 84 hand-carved model pagodas made in Shanghai that travelled to San Francisco for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915.
June – Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 Event/s
#SGFASHIONNOW: Runway Singapore
In June, the Asian Civilisations Museum presents “#SGFASHIONNOW: Runway Singapore”, celebrating contemporary Singapore fashion. This exhibition explores themes of craftsmanship, innovation in tradition, and urban style and will be the largest showcase in the series, featuring 27 fashion designers.
The Causeway: A Century of Connection Travelling Exhibition
June also brings “The Causeway: A Century of Connection” travelling exhibition, commemorating the centennial of the opening of the Causeway. The exhibition will feature a collection of images, objects, and community stories highlighting the Causeway’s history.
July – Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 Event/s
Celebrate Harmony with the Heritage Institutions
Join us this month to celebrate harmony as we experience various cultures through programs, free drop-in activities, and live performances that showcase our multicultural roots.
Youth Heritage Blueprint
The first Youth Heritage Blueprint will be launched in July 2024. Led by NHB’s Youth Panel, the blueprint will capture youth insights and perspectives, offering recommendations on how to keep young people engaged and involved in museums and heritage.
Hoarding Pop-Up Experience – Play:Date – Unlocking Cabinets of Play
The National Museum will use construction hoardings to launch an immersive pop-up experience amid its restoration works. Visitors are invited to rediscover their inner child and reopen those long-forgotten cabinets to discover toys that will ignite nostalgia, unlock happy memories, and bridge generations through play.
August – Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 Event/s
Singapore Night Festival (SNF) 2024
From 23 August to 7 September 2024, the Singapore Night Festival explores the concept of play and childhood in the historical Bras Basah.Bugis precinct. This year marks a significant expansion, stretching from a two-weekend format to a three-weekend extravaganza.
September – Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 Event/s
Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2024
The Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival expounds on the story and traditions behind one of the world’s oldest cultural festivals. The Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall celebrates the festival with a line-up of live performances, cultural workshops, storytelling sessions, and more.
October – Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 Event/s
Batik Nyonyas: A Lineage of Female Entrepreneurs from Indonesia
This exhibition at the Peranakan Museum honours a gift of 100 batiks made by three generations of batik makers from Pekalongan, Java. It examines their lives and careers, revealing how batik production has shaped and expressed the lives of women in Indonesia.
November – Singapore’s National Heritage Board 2024 Event/s
Amazônia: An Exhibition of Photographs by Sebastião Salgado
This exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore spotlights the ecologies and communities of the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest. The exhibition is a powerful call to protect what has been called the “lung of the world.”
December
Tiny Island, Many Stories Travelling Exhibition
Singapore may be a tiny island, but we are rich with heritage and stories. This travelling exhibition offers a glimpse into the island’s history, unravelling the diverse and vibrant narratives that form a rich tapestry of perspectives, essential for understanding the history, culture, and values of the Nusantara (Malay World).
Mark Your Calendars for These 2024 Events at NHB
Source: National Heritage Board — BLACK
Prepare for a journey through 2024 with the National Heritage Board of the country’s captivating events. Packed with laughter, emotion, and enlightenment, these family-friendly activities promise an unforgettable experience.
Additionally, they offer precious opportunities for families to bond and create lasting memories while exploring Singapore’s rich heritage.
But remember, these events are not just about discovery and learning. They’re also about cherishing family time. So, parents, get ready for a year brimming with experiences that will undoubtedly fortify family ties and deepen your appreciation for Singapore’s colorful heritage.
Source: National Heritage Board
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