Museum Roundtable 25: Celebrating the Silver Jubilee of the Museums in Singapore

The Museum Roundtable will be launching a travelling exhibition  featuring artefacts from various museums and galleries in Singapore!

Venue: Multiple venue as the exhibition travels
Dates: 2 Dec 2021 - 26 Jan 2022 (exact schedule below)
Admission: Free

Museum Roundtable 25: Celebrating the Silver Jubilee of the Museums in Singapore tells the story of the Museum Roundtable (MR), and features artefacts from various museums and galleries in Singapore, in a culmination of its year-long 25th anniversary celebrations.

The Museum Roundtable

The MR was established in 1996 as part of the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) efforts to develop a vibrant and diverse museum landscape in Singapore, and to position museums as unique cultural destinations.

It started with 10 founding members and has grown to comprise 62 public and private museums, galleries and heritage institutions, spanning seven diverse categories: Art, Culture and Community, Defence, Healthcare, Lifestyles and Collectibles, National History, and Science and Innovation.

Why we appreciate the MR - It is also through the MR that we have been introduced to new museums and have grown to love their signature events such as the yearly Hongbao Campaigns (we know many families who travel from museum to museum to collect the different Hongbaos), Battle for Singapore (where we visited some really interesting places) and Children's Season (we really miss the physical events that usually happens in the June holidays). Many of you may have also visited MR Member Museums or taken part in events organised by MR without realising it too!  

Museum Roundtable 25: Celebrating the Silver Jubilee of the Museums in Singapore

Presented by NHB in collaboration with 26 MR members, the travelling exhibition kicks off at Raffles City Singapore, and will make its rounds around Singapore to Junction 8 and Westgate malls, before concluding at the National Museum of Singapore. The travelling exhibition is part of the MR’s efforts to encourage more Singaporeans and tourists to explore local museums and galleries, and will shine a spotlight on the evolution of MR since its formation, its signature initiatives, and key achievements over the years.

Visitors will also be able to receive coupons for special discounts and free gifts at participating museums in Singapore, during the weekends, while stocks last.

Giant Gumball Machines

The traveling exhibition will feature 11 artefacts from participating museums and galleries, as well as memorabilia from past MR programmes, including commemorative pins from one of the earliest MR signature programmes, Battle for Singapore.

The museums' collections are presented in colourful, giant gumball machines which gives it a very playful feel. While exploring the exhibition, it felt like we were looking for a surprise as we peeked into each gumball machine! 

In particular, families should look out for MS 393 Robot Lilliput, from MINT Museum of Toys, a tin replica modelled after the first tin toy robot that was mass-produced by the Kuramochi Shoten Company in Japan circa 1939,

and the Dear Mr Policeman Textbook, from the Police Heritage Centre, a series of textbooks launched in 1987 to equip upper primary and lower secondary school students with information about crime prevention measures, general knowledge about SPF, as well as crime and its consequences.

Prizes Onsite & Online

In addition to enjoying the specially-curated collection of highlights from the participating museums, members of the public who visit the exhibition during the weekends will stand a chance to receive special MR 25th Anniversary Coupons, while stocks last.

The coupons provide free gifts, one-for-one admissions, and discounts at participating museums.

The MR is also holding two online contests in December 2021 and January 2022 on the I Love Museums Facebook page where visitors will stand a chance to win special anniversary edition prizes.

Traveling Dates & Venues

Museum Roundtable 25: Celebrating the Silver Jubilee of the Museums in Singapore will be on display at Raffles City Singapore shopping centre from today until 15 December, before travelling to different locations across the island. The full schedule is listed below:

• 2 December – 15 December 2021: Raffles City Singapore
• 16 December – 27 December 2021: Junction 8
• 28 December 2021 – 10 January 2022: Westgate
• 11 January – 26 January 2022: National Museum of Singapore