News Releases
Istana Open House on 1 May 2016
28 April 2016
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The Istana grounds will be open to the public on Sunday, 1 May 2016, from 8.30am to 6.00pm, in celebration of Labour Day.
Programme highlights
Visitors to this year’s Labour Day Istana Open House will be entertained by dance performances by PA Talents and performances by Xinmin Secondary School Concert Band and Maris Stella High School Military Band. They can also take part in activities such as face painting and instant photographs. There will be a display of snakes by the Singapore Zoo. The programme line-up is listed in Annex A.
One of the highlights of this Istana Open House will be the “Everyday a Learning Day” activity booths, where visitors will be able to try many hands-on learning activities and make items such as toy cars using everyday materials and clay. The “Everyday a Learning Day” activity is a collaboration of the President’s Office with the Lifelong Learning Council. More information can be found in Annex B.
Members of the public can choose to sign up for the Nature Guided Walk at the Istana, a collaboration between the President’s Office and the National Parks Board (NParks) which will showcase the Istana’s flora, fauna and biodiversity, or take a guided tour of the Istana main building led by volunteers from the Preservation of Sites and Monuments division of the National Heritage Board and view selected function rooms and display of gifts presented to the President and the Prime Minister by foreign dignitaries.
Visitors can also choose to do a self-guided tour with the help of the “Istana Garden Walk” mobile application, which includes features such as a self-guided Plants Trail to discover 10 types of beautiful plant species in the Istana Gardens and maps of Places of Interest and Plants Trails.
Admission Details
Entry to the Istana grounds is free for Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents. All others visitors are required to pay an entrance fee of $2 per person. Entry to the Istana grounds is via the main gate at Orchard Road. The nearest MRT station is Dhoby Ghaut.
Additional fees as specified in Annexes C and D will be applied for the guided tours. Istana souvenirs will also be on sale during the Open House. Proceeds from the sale of souvenirs and all entrance fees collected will be donated to charity.
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
28 APRIL 2016
ANNEX A
MAIN HIGHLIGHTS FOR LABOUR DAY ISTANA OPEN HOUSE ON SUNDAY, 1 MAY 2016
Time | Activity | Venue |
8.30 a.m. – 5.15 p.m. | Instant Portraits by Cognizant Outreach | Gun Terrace |
8.30 a.m. – 5.15 p.m. | Face Painting by Cosmoprof Academy | Centre Gate |
8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. | Sales of Istana merchandise by NCSS | Centre Gate |
10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. | Istana Garden Walk Mobile Phone Application Booth by NParks | Centre Gate |
8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. | “Everyday A Learning Day” Activity Booths by Lifelong Learning Council | Near Centre Gate |
8.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. | Display of Snakes by Singapore Zoo | Centre Gate |
9.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. | Istana Main Building Guided Tour by National Heritage Board | Ticketing Booth near Ceremonial Plaza |
10.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m. and 12 noon – 1.00 p.m. | Performance by Xinmin Secondary School Concert Band | Main Tent |
10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. | Nature Guided Walk organised by NParks | Ticketing Booth near Ceremonial Plaza |
3.45 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. | Dance performances by PA Talents, WANNA Studio | Ceremonial Plaza |
4.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. | Performance by Maris Stella High School Military Band | Main Tent |
ANNEX B
ABOUT “EVERYDAY A LEARNING DAY”
The “Everyday A Learning Day” initiative at the May Day Istana Open House is a collaboration between the Lifelong Learning Council, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), the President’s Office and Science Centre. This initiative aims to promote the importance of lifelong learning to Istana Open House visitors. Housed under a tent on Istana grounds, there will be 2 key activities for parents and kids as well as individuals: (a) Tinkerama (b) Pledge-To-Learn & SkillsFuture Credit Booths.
A. Tinkerama
An initiative mooted by the Lifelong Learning Council – and supported by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency – Tinkerama seeks to spark an interest in learning by allowing individuals to tinker and experiment on a variety of topics which include sciences and the arts. Through Tinkerama, we hope to encourage individuals to be linked up to other learning opportunities and industry information.
Tinkerama at Istana Open House is an activity in which parents-kids can tinker to create and make stuff that will form a model Happy City they envisage for Singapore. The theme ‘Happy City: Everyday A Learning Day’ hopes to promote the SGFuture message of Singapore as a Learning People, constantly learning throughout life as we dream and create our happy future together.
There are eight booths for parents-kids to participate in the making of objects such as cars, nature, people and buildings. (See Table 1). Through the activities, parents-kids can (a) stretch imaginations by using everyday materials to learn more about science and (b) appreciate that learning together can be fun.
Through partnership with Science Centre, more than 40 volunteers from community and makers groups as well as partnering organisations will be at the Open House to support the activities.
B. Pledge-to-Learn & SkillsFuture Marketplace
This initiative aims to inspire and engage individuals and groups (families/friends) to pledge and commit hours to learn something they truly are passionate about for personal or professional growth (See Table 2).
Through the Pledge-to-Learn initiative, individuals are encouraged to take that first step towards making a commitment to learn, and take charge of their own learning journey by setting a goal and fulfilling that goal.
SkillsFuture Marketplace will educate individuals on how they can effectively use SkillsFuture Credit to support their lifelong learning efforts.
About Lifelong Learning Council
The Lifelong Learning Council is a community-led council that was appointed by the Minister of Manpower, and supported by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency. The LLC aims to inspire and lead community efforts to promote lifelong learning. The LLC also spearheads community partnership by integrating efforts across communities, employers, unions, education and training providers, trade associations and the Government, to make learning more pervasive. The efforts of the LLC will support and align with the SkillsFuture movement.
The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) provides secretariat support as well as the budget required for the projects proposed by the Council.
About Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA)
The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) enhances the competitiveness of our workforce by encouraging workers to learn for life and advance with skills. In today's economy, most jobs require not just knowledge, but also skills. WDA collaborates with employers, industry associations, the Union and training organisations, to develop and strengthen the Continuing Education and Training system that is skills-based, open and accessible, as a mainstream pathway for all workers - young and older, from rank and file to professionals and executives - to upgrade and advance in their careers and lives. For more information, please visit http://www.wda.gov.sg
Table 1: Tinkerama Booths
Station | Description | |
1 (Cars) | Participants will use everyday materials to construct toy “future” cars. Cars can be powered manually, using balloons or motors. | |
2 (Nature) | Creating a “city in a park” using mini planters and terrariums. | |
3 (People) | Using polymer clay to create characters who inhabit the city. | |
4 (Buildings) | Using cardboards, participants will construct buildings, houses, and tepees that could be lighted. | |
5 (Planes and Boats) | Participants will make planes and boats with simple materials and test the ability to fly and float using the wind table and wading pool. | |
6 and 7 (Wire Up) | Participants will wire up their creations using playdough and squishy circuits. | |
8 (Build the Happy City) | A 6 x 6m map of Singapore will be laid on the ground. Participants will be able to contribute their creations to the map. Some iconic landmarks will be pre-made. | |
This component aims to create awareness of lifelong learning and the learning opportunities available.
Table 2: Pledge-to-Learn & SkillsFuture Marketplace
Booth | Description | |
Wefie Photobooth | Encourage children and adults to pledge their commitment to learn using whiteboards, fun props. | |
SkillsFuture Marketplace | Educate individuals on how they can effectively use SkillsFuture Credit to pursue their learning pledge / commitment. |
ANNEX C
FEES FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE ISTANA MAIN BUILDING
The following fees are applicable for the tours of the state room, banquet hall and reception room in the Istana main building:
Singaporeans and Permanent Residents | Unguided | Guided* |
Children (4 to 12 years) | $2.00 | $2.00 |
Adult | $4.00 | |
Package for family of four | Not applicable | $12.00 |
Others | ||
Children( 4 to 12 years) | $2.00 | $2.00 |
Adult | $4.00 | $10.00 |
Package for family of four | Not applicable | $30.00 |
* ISTANA MAIN BUILDING GUIDED TOURS
Guided tours are conducted by volunteers from the Preservation of Sites and Monuments division of the National Heritage Board. The tours are limited to 15 persons per group, and depart every 20 minutes from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.
All fees collected will be donated to charity.
For more information, visit the National Heritage Board website.
ANNEX D
FEES FOR NATURE GUIDED WALK AT THE ISTANA
The following fees are applicable for the Nature Guided Walk at the Istana:
Singaporeans and Permanent Residents | Guided* |
Children (4 to 12 years) | $2.00 |
Adult | $4.00 |
Package for family of four | $12.00 |
Others | |
Children( 4 to 12 years) | $2.00 |
Adult | $10.00 |
Package for family of four | $30.00 |
* Guided tours are conducted by volunteers and are limited to between 12 to 15 persons per group, and depart every hour from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
All fees collected will be donated to charity.