Tag: Heritage

Can We Truly Market the Arts?

April 23, 2009 • Blog • no comments


Art or sheer marketing brilliance? (Damien Hirst’s £50 million For The Love of God courtesy of Secretly Ironic)

There is an underlying tension in the field of cultural management where one has to balance between giving customers what they want and preserving artistic integrity.  This is especially prevalent in what we term as the ‘high arts’ like classical music, ballet, theatre and museums.

Against the ever growing competition from lifestyle activities coupled with the ever shrinking discretionary time of today’s consumers, it appears suicidal for art organisations to hold their ground for the sake of their art.  Considered by many to be a discretionary expense (compared to purchasing groceries, fuel and homes), cultural activities have never faced such tremendous competition as the present age.

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Stunning Sukhothai – Thailand’s Ancient Kingdom

April 25, 2008 • Blog • 4 comments

As part of an official trip for the Networking of ASEAN Cultural Heritage (NACH), I had the pleasure of visiting Sukhothai, the old historic kingdom of Thailand, sometime in end January this year. Existing from 1238 to 1438, Sukhothai is the first kingdom of Siam, and its old capital is now a historic park which has been gazetted by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It has a number of fine monuments which showcase the beginnings of Thai architecture and can be considered one of the cradles of Thai civilisation.

Ruled by King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, who created the Thai alphabet, Sukhothai once stretched all the way from Martaban in Myanmar to Luang Prabang (Laos) and down south to the Malay Peninsula. Its influence was larger than that of modern Thailand, and the kingdom appeared to have absorbed the styles of Khmer, Thai and Sri Lankan cultures as seen in its temples and pagodas.

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A blissful retreat nestled amidst charming organic farms, the Sukothai Heritage Resort is a great respite from the urban jungle.

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Mysterious Myanmar – Land of Living Heritage

April 6, 2008 • Blog • 7 comments

Also known as the Golden Land, Myanmar is one of Southeast Asia’s largest and probably least well explored country. Culturally rich and vibrant, it is the only country in our region where the traditional sarong is still worn daily as a modern attire. Due to its relative isolation and insulation from the modern world, Myanmar retains much of its heritage, traditional practices and charming way of life. It is definitely a charming cultural destination worthy of a visit by those who yearn for a unique and enriching experience.

Here’s a photo essay of my observations during a trip there in end January this year. Apologies that this took two months to conceive!

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Aung San Bogyoke Market, a famous shopping area at Yangon full of crafts, jewellery, textiles and other traditional wares.

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Win Nikon Cameras with Explore Singapore!

November 19, 2007 • Blog • no comments

Are you an avid photoblogger? Have an interest in Singapore’s unique and fascinating heritage? Why not satisfy both passions and have a chance to bring home a brand new Nikon camera!

Take part in NHB’s first photoblogging contest and participate in Explore Singapore! Simply follow these easy steps:

1) Attend an Explore Singapore! event. Take lots of pictures.

2) Blog about it on your blog (remember to post the pictures!)

3) Visit the Explore Singapore! Heritage In Pictures webpage. Register your blog post URL there.

4) If approved, your blog post will be posted on the contest listings page.

5) Check back regularly to see if your entry is up. If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.

6) Get your friends to check out your entry by putting this Brag Badge on your blog.

Celebrity photographer Dominic Khoo of www.whatisthesight.com will select the winners, who will receive an exclusive National Heritage Board winners’ certificate to be placed on their blogs.

Registration is open from 10 November 2007 to 31 December 2007 so hurry! Oh and do tell all your friends about it too.

A Blast from the Past

July 28, 2007 • Blog • 6 comments

Just returned from the Sound Stories Concert, a celebration of old-time bands from the past at Zouk – the icon of cool in Singapore. Held in conjunction with the Singapore HeritageFest, the bash brought back many vintage acts like Max Surin (of Tokyo Square fame), Matthew and the Mandarins, Vernon Cornelius, Jive Talkin’, and Robert Fernando.

Hosted by the ever effable Brian Richmond, the concert certainly rocks (especially for the…umm… young at heart). As I swayed to the beat of some of the numbers, I realised too that – gasp – I am getting on in years too! This, plus my latest inclination towards listening to Gold 90 FM.

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Our party began at Singapore’s number one nightspot of the year. Of course, as it was only about 9 pm when we went in, the regular party-goers hadn’t quite gathered yet.

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Get High on Heritage!

July 18, 2007 • Blog • 21 comments

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Back again for the fourth year in a row, the highly popular Singapore HeritageFest 2007 (SHF 2007) is a key event on our cultural calendar. Happening 18 to 29 July at Suntec City Tropics Atrium and multiple venues around Singapore, the theme of this year’s celebration – “What’s Your Story?” – looks at getting everybody to think about the memories, stories, traditions and cultures that make us Singaporeans.

Last year’s extravaganza attracted more than 1.1 million participants. With so many things to see, do and experience, there are no reasons why this year’s event can’t match that. For newbies to heritage, I recommend you to check out the 10 things that you can do at the festival.

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Museums Are Alive!

May 19, 2007 • Blog • 2 comments

I don’t normally plug my own events but I am making an exception this time around.
International Museum Day 2007 or IMD’07 was launched yesterday by MICA‘s Minister at the National Museum of Singapore. It is going to be a blast from the past with more than 80 activities across 24 museums for everybody! I am sure many of you would have seen the media coverage across all the dailies. Here are some highlights just to whet your appetites.
Indulge in a culinary adventure with HungryGoWhere‘s Eastern Surprise Food Trail, or dine amongst toys at the MINT Museum of Toys. Gain a fresh perspective of our history with Singapore’s first museum tours or embrace a whole day of Koreana – includling lip smacking kimchi – at the Singapore Philatelic Museum.
Keen to invest in art? Why not attend the Art Market talk at the Singapore Art Museum and hear from prominent gallery owners as they share their secrets on art collecting. Lovers of architecture and street scapes can attend various talks on heritage buildings and design at the Singapore City Gallery or go on a tour of the National Museum’s architectural highlights.
School holidays just around the corner? Don’t know what to do with your hyper-energetic kids? Well, for a start, you can learn about healthy living at HealthZone, have fun at the Water Wally colouring corner at the Newater Visitors Centre, or learn about various currencies around the world at the Singapore Discovery Centre.
Cultural explorers can choose their own adventures too. You can hop on free bus tours along six different routes, compete against the clock at Memories at Old Ford Factory and Reflections at Bukit Chandu in a Heritage C-Race (“Amazing Race” style), embark on the Great Changi Challenge at the Changi Museum, or walk the colourful and charming streets of Keong Saik Road from the Singapore City Gallery.
With so much to see, hear, taste, feel or do, there really is no excuse to stay home this weekend. Or over the next week or so.
For more information, click here.