Are you planning a visit to the Gallery Children’s Biennale with your little one? We’ve got you covered with a simple guide to make it a fun and stress-free day out for the whole family.
The fourth edition of the Gallery Children’s Biennale by National Gallery Singapore is here, and it’s filled with excitement and creativity. This year, the program showcases 11 artworks created by local and international artists, all centered around the theme of “Let’s Make a Better Place”.
The Gallery Children’s Biennale is a free experience that welcomes families, including foreigners, to explore and discover how each artwork is connected to the theme’s core values: care, respect, imagination, and collaboration.
Tips on Planning Your Visit with a Toddler
Before heading to the Gallery Children’s Biennale, a bit of pre-planning is necessary when you have a toddler in tow. Here are a few tips to ensure a smooth visit:
1. Visit during your child’s longest awake time
Given the numerous large-scale artworks and activities at the Biennale, it’s best to plan your visit during your toddler’s longest awake time. This way, they can fully enjoy and engage with the experience.
2. Eat something before you leave
It’s essential to keep your toddler’s hunger at bay. Make sure to provide a healthy meal or snacks before entering the Gallery. A hungry child won’t fully appreciate the Biennale.
Things To Do in Gallery Children’s Biennale
1. Grab a Copy of My Biennale Buddy
My Biennale Buddy is the ultimate guide to the Gallery’s Children’s Biennale. This useful pamphlet includes a map that will help you traverse the event as well as information about each artwork and its artist. It is a useful tool for explaining the meaning of the artworks and how they symbolise the Biennale’s key ideals to your child.
Also, after viewing each artwork with your child, you can earn stamps and claim a free goodie from the Visitors Services Counter at the end of your stay.
My Biennale Buddy is available for a nominal donation (suggested amount: £2) at the Gallery.
2. Visit the Must-See Toddler-Friendly Artworks
While all the artworks are kid-friendly, some are specially designed to captivate toddlers. Here are a few notable pieces to check out:
We Move This City by Chiang Yu Xiang: Let your toddler’s imagination run wild as they create their own futuristic vehicles using soft blocks crafted by the artist.
Location: City Hall Wing, Level 1, City Hall Foyer.
Image from National Gallery Singapore
HUTAN by LittleCr3atures x Jevon Chandra x Lynette Quek: Immerse your family in this interactive space inspired by the Tree of Life and Southeast Asian forests. Pay attention to the video projections, lights, and sounds, and encourage your toddler to explore their surroundings. They can also interact with the rattan soundmakers in the artwork.
Location: Supreme Court Wing, Level B1, Koh Seow Chuan Concourse Gallery
Can you see the forest for the trees? by Izziyana Suhaimi: Witness the vibrant embroidered structures made from repurposed textiles and recycled materials. Your child can also learn weaving knots and create their own artworks using recycled materials.
Image from National Gallery Singapore
Location: City Hall Wing, Level B1, The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium Anteroom
Compound by Tawatchai Puntusawasdi: Let your child explore the colorful steel and wooden lines of this artwork and ask them to interpret the shapes and forms from different angles.
Location: City Hall Wing, Level 1, Padang Atrium
SAMA-SAMA by Fadilah Karim: Step into a cozy space where you and your little one can build a fort together. Engage their creativity by drawing on the fort’s walls and enjoy the delightful drawings of flowers and animals that surround you.
Location: City Hall Wing, Level 1, Opposite Keppel Centre for Art Education
3. Enjoy Various Activities for Toddlers
Image from National Gallery Singapore
Apart from the artworks, the Gallery offers various toddler-friendly activities to keep them engaged and learning. Check out the Biennale website’s calendar of events for activities you can register to join, such as Music & Movement workshops.
4. Dine in These Toddler-Friendly Restaurants
The Gallery has a variety of family-friendly restaurants and cafés where you and your child can have a quick bite or a big meal. Try The Great Mischief’s Catalan-inspired dishes, National Kitchen by Violet Oon’s hallmark Singaporean cuisine (with a plant-based menu), or Courtyard Café & Lounge’s Straits Asian cuisine and snacks.
5. Accessible Nursing and Baby-Changing Facilities
To ensure your convenience, the Gallery offers nursing and baby-changing facilities at various locations throughout the premises. Here’s a list of the facilities available:
- Inside the Keppel Centre for Art Education (equipped with hot and cold water)
- Near Lift Lobby A and Auditorium Foyer on Level B1
- Adjacent to the Courtyard Café on Level 1 (equipped with hot and cold water)
- Next to Lift Lobby A and B on Levels 2-4 (equipped with hot and cold water)
Rest assured that these amenities are readily accessible to cater to the needs of you and your little one during your visit.
Enjoy Your Visit to Gallery Children’s Biennale!
The Gallery Children’s Biennale is open to all visitors, regardless of age and nationality, free of charge. The exhibition runs until 31st March 2024, and the Gallery welcomes you every day from 10am to 7pm. For more information, head to the Biennale’s website and prepare for an exciting exploration with your toddler.
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