Singapore Art Museum, Singapore

Singapore Art Museum, Singapore

The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is situated in the Downtown Core area of Singapore. It holds the distinction of being Singapore's first museum entirely dedicated to contemporary visual arts. SAM boasts a highly regarded public collection, featuring artworks by local, Southeast Asian, and East Asian artists that are considered among the most significant globally. The museum frequently collaborates with international art institutions to jointly curate contemporary art exhibitions.

SAM showcases art across various venues, including the Tanjong Pagar Distripark, its historic buildings, and other partner locations throughout Singapore. The historic buildings are situated on two adjacent sites. The primary building, constructed in 1955, was formerly Saint Joseph's Institution on Bras Basah Road, while the second building, known as 'SAM at 8Q,' was formerly Catholic High School on Queen Street.

SAM's approach involves presenting pieces from the National Collection alongside changing exhibitions to provide a comprehensive and diverse experience of contemporary Asian art. Beginning in 2001, the museum started acquiring artworks and accepting donations from the region, featuring contributions from prominent regional contemporary artists like Cheo Chai-Hiang, Dinh Q. Lê, Natee Utarit, Nge Lay, Suzann Victor, and Titarubi.

The museum regularly organizes contemporary art exhibitions and events. Since 2010, SAM has shifted its focus towards contemporary art practices from Southeast Asia. More recently, in 2020, the museum hosted "Time Passes," an exhibition showcasing the works of 13 emerging Singaporean artists. In 2021, they presented "The Gift," an exhibition featuring artists from the region, including Dolorosa Sinaga, Ho Tzu Nyen, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Salleh Japar, Tang Da Wu, and others.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Singapore. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Singapore Art Museum on Map

Sight Name: Singapore Art Museum
Sight Location: Singapore, Singapore (See walking tours in Singapore)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in Singapore, Singapore

Create Your Own Walk in Singapore

Create Your Own Walk in Singapore

Creating your own self-guided walk in Singapore is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Singapore Introduction Walking Tour

Singapore Introduction Walking Tour

Malay legend has it that a long time ago the Sumatran prince, who sought shelter from a storm, ended up on the island of Temasek where he saw a strange animal believed to be a lion. He then founded a city there and named it Singapura which in Sanskrit means the “Lion City”. In the 14th century, Singapura found itself “between a rock and a hard place” when the neighboring realms of Thailand...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Colonial District Walking Tour

Colonial District Walking Tour

Singapore emerged as the British India Company's trading post in Southeast Asia in the early 19th century. The Colonial District of Singapore, also known as the Civic District, is a historical gem reflecting the island nation's colonial past. Spread across the banks of the Singapore River, the European-style buildings in the area attest to that period.

One prominent landmark here is...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Chinatown Walking Tour

Chinatown Walking Tour

Ethnic Chinese make up the majority of the Singaporean population. Therefore, it's no wonder that Chinatown is one of the top tourist destinations in the city. This vibrant and culturally rich neighborhood is steeped in history and tradition and is home to several iconic landmarks.

Undoubtedly, the most prominent of them is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum, housing a sacred relic...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles

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