SINGAPORE – The former site of the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), the old St Joseph’s Institution building in Bras Basah, could soon house a new Singapore Design Museum.
Minister of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) Edwin Tong said in Parliament on March 10 that the National Heritage Board (NHB) has begun feasibility studies at the 160-year-old building – the first official announcement for the civic district national monument since it was vacated in 2019 for a $90 million revamp.
If found suitable, it will host an addition to Singapore’s arts and heritage institutional circuit that spotlights Singapore designers and design firms, including those related to architecture and urban planning.
The initiative comes amid increasing global success for Singapore designers. Mr Tong cited during the debate on his ministry’s budget the successes of fashion designer Andrew Gn, Singapore-based jewellery brand State Property Fine Jewellery – with pieces worn by Michelle Obama and Lady Gaga – and homegrown architecture firm Woha, describing the field as one with “untapped potential”.
He said, without indicating any monetary amount allocated to the museum: “A Singapore Design Museum would increase public understanding and appreciation of the importance of good design...and boost the growth of Singapore’s design sector, which can also be an additional engine in our arts economy.”
Collating design activities into a museum can create a “centre of gravity” for creatives and a laboratory for practitioners, with knock-on benefits to businesses. “Good design makes our lives better, and can also be a key driver of innovation, value creation and international branding for Singapore businesses.”
Mr Tong’s announcement puts a stop to [speculation surrounding the national monument building,](https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/sam-to-stay-at-tanjong-pagar-distripark-for-now-plans-pending-for-old-st-joseph-institution-building) which SAM was meant to return to after a temporary move to Tanjong Pagar Distripark.
The Straits Times understands NHB studies will take at least a couple of years, extending the vacant period at the civic district building to nearly eight years.
In the meantime, SAM has been providing basic maintenance works for its former site, MCCY told ST separately. It is also working on further conservation works to be carried out to keep the colonial building in shape.
The new Design Museum is likely to use as its foundation a design collection that has in recent years been developed by the NHB, SAM, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, National Library Board and DesignSingapore, containing objects and works by Singaporean designers and architects as well as those from the South-east Asian and Asian regions.
Highlights of this currently includes a conservation proposal in W Architects’ archive adapting Boat Quay shophouses and a dress with decorative buttons referencing Peranakan jewelled brooches, called kerosang, by designer Andrew Gn.
The new Design Museum will contend in the design and fashion space with the ACM and the ArtScience Museum.
Mr Tong said more details of the museum will be shared in time.
From Aug 2025, those in the heartland can also look forward to five public art commissions by the National Arts Council (NAC), as part of a new systematic scheme to familiarise more people with the vocabularies of contemporary art.
The artists and exact locations have not been confirmed, but director of visual arts at NAC, Tay Tong, told ST these will be in towns like Bishan, Toa Payoh and Punggol. The scheme running for the next three years extends the display period of art in these envisioned “township markers” to beyond 12 months so that they can be more than a transient presence.
There will be also be workshops with residents, public art activations and talks at these envisioned “township markers”.
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