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The National Museum of Singapore's collection originated in the 19th century with the establishment of the Raffles Library and Museum. Today, we continue to build upon this collection to encompass a broader social history of Singapore and major moments in our nation’s recent history – including the milestones and events of everyday life.
Here are our current open calls.
In conjunction with the Play:Date – Unlocking Cabinets of Play showcase, this edition of the Collecting Contemporary Singapore public call focuses on play experiences from the 1980s to the present. We encourage Singaporeans to donate their play-related items to the National Collection and share their stories about these items.
2024's theme for Collecting Contemporary Singapore focuses on plastic and sustainability, in conjunction with our Plastic: Remaking Our World exhibition. Plastics have shaped our daily lives like no other material: from packaging to footwear, from household goods to furniture, from automobiles to architecture. At the same time, sustainability is a key contemporary issue that informs the way we live. We invite you to contribute your uniquely Singaporean plastic objects as well as items related to sustainability movements in Singapore.
In this Open Call, the National Museum crowdsourced objects from residents in Singapore for our Life in Singapore galleries, and to broaden our national collection. The Life in Singapore galleries present snapshots of everyday life in Singapore throughout the different eras in Singapore’s history. These galleries closed in 2023 for a refresh and will re-open in 2026 with new artefacts and stories from their respective eras.
The second theme under the Collecting Contemporary Singapore series looked at technology. The National Museum invited residents in Singapore to share their technological objects from the 2000s onwards up to the present day, along with their related experiences and stories of the objects that have shaped their lives in the areas of work, communications, home living and play.
How will COVID-19 be remembered? The National Museum of Singapore launched a COVID-19 collection drive from 22 May 2020 to 30 June 2021 to call for individuals, communities and organisations to contribute materials that document experiences of the pandemic in Singapore.
Sections
24 June 2024
Enjoy free admission to the National Museum of Singapore for our Play:Date opening weekend from 6–7 July 2024.
14 June 2024
Story of the Forest will close early at 6pm on 4, 6 and 13 July 2024.
01 January 2024
Parts of the National Museum of Singapore are undergoing restoration and upgrading works.
26 February 2024
We remain open with exhibitions, programmes as well as dining and retail offerings.