News Releases
Istana Open House on 2 August 2014
31 July 2014
This article has been migrated from an earlier version of the site and may display formatting inconsistencies.
The Istana grounds will be open to the public on Saturday, 2 August 2014, from 8.00am to 6.00pm, in celebration of Hari Raya Puasa and National Day. This open house incorporates the annual Istana Art Event.
Istana Art Event
The annual Istana Art Event returns with many exciting activities lined up for all to enjoy. Apart from the On-The-Spot Art Competition for children aged 3-12, a unique feature of the event this year is the Art Playscape, a specially designed art-inspired play area for children to discover and engage in imaginative play. Visitors can also interact with elements of the public sculpture - Gravitational Pull - and pen their aspirations for Singapore on specially designed wish cards at the Wish House installation.
In addition, visitors can participate in a variety of hands-on activities lined up at the Museum Roundtable Arts and Heritage Village, featuring 13 Roundtable member museums. Get to know the different museums and heritage institutions in Singapore, while exploring the diverse offerings of our arts and culture.
More information on the activities at Istana Art Event is listed in Annex A.
Programme highlights
Visitors can enjoy various entertainment items by the People’s Association like Traditional Malay music, Malay and other cultural and contemporary dances. The public will also be entertained by Pei Hwa, Riverside Secondary School and Catholic High School Symphonic Bands. There will also be a display of birds from the Wildlife Reserves of Singapore – Jurong Bird Park. The programme line-up is listed in Annex B.
Members of the public can also 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.
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 $1 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
31 JULY 2014
ANNEX A List of activities during Istana Art Event
On-The Spot Art Competition
8am – 2pm
Istana Main Gate, Main Tent, Villa (1) (3) (5)
Calling all children aged 3 to 12 years old*, don’t miss this chance to showcase your creativity and stand to win fantastic prizes! This year’s theme for the competition is Our People, Our Home. The first 1,000 participants to submit their completed artwork will receive a free Istana Art Event goodie bag. The competition is divided into two categories; Junior (Ages 3 to 6) and Intermediate (Ages 7 to 12)*. Prizes range from $50 to $200 (prize value is in kind).
* Age as at 31 January 2014. Drawing papers will be provided, participants must bring their own colouring materials.
Art Playscape
8am – 5 pm
Istana Main Tent area
Produced in association with National Gallery’s Keppel Centre for Art Education, the Art Playscape features a series of interactive art installations.
· Wish House: Features over 6,000 specially designed wish cards with aspirations for Singapore penned by Singaporeans from all walks of life
· Animal Parade: Features 6 interactive play structures on Istana lawn that are inspired by favourite animals of children. The play structures encourage children to explore and interact with all their different senses.
· Gravitational Pull: A public sculpture that invites visitors to interact with the elements of the sculpture and with each other.
Museum Roundtable Arts and Heritage Village
Organised by National Heritage Board
9am - 5pm
All activities are free, while stocks last.
· ArtScience Museum
Learn about one of the oldest photographic printing processes, the cyanotype. Create your own blueprint (a photographic image with a cyan-blue print) and receive a complimentary ArtScience Journal or pen!
· Chinese Heritage Centre
Have fun learning names of a variety of fishes in both English and Chinese terms! In this specially designed fishing activity, discover more about the ecology of sea creatures as well as the awareness of environmental concerns regarding the protection of oceans’ resources.
· Land Transport Gallery
Join us to take the pledge to choose public transport as a choice mode of commuting with your thumb print on our Canvas! Bring home your own customised keychain knots and have fun Colouring with Crayons or play Board Games with us. The first 1,000 children who visit the booth will receive a free Singapore Public Transport body sticker.
· Malay Heritage Centre
Enjoy a day of traditional Malay games at the Istana! Find out why games such as main lereng (wheel spinning), yeye (rubber-band skipping) and batu serembat (five stones) were popular during the kampung days.
· National Gallery Singapore
Pen your wishes for Singapore on wish cards and hang them onto the Wish House installations, together with other wishes collected from various communities nationwide.
· National Museum of Singapore
Inspired by collections at the National Museum of Singapore, discover the different types of masks used in traditional performances and the animals found in Singapore during the early 19th century. You can also make your own rag doll and dress them up in traditional costumes!
· NUS Museum
Nature has been inspiring artists for generations through textures, colours and sounds. This time let nature inspire you! Head down to the NUS Museum's booth to explore how nature is showcased in art and heritage through hands on activities such as scrapbooking, colouring sheets, a mini-exhibition on wood block prints in our collection and more!
· Singapore Art Museum
Bring home an artwork by learning how to create different patterns on clay using simple objects, such as clothes pegs and paper clips. Celebrate the nation’s birthday by creating your very own badge for Singapore!
· Singapore Coins and Notes Museum
Become a trillionaire by personalising your very own 'note' with your portrait and signature, or make colourful shadings of both old and new coins. Learn more about the history of Singapore currency through simple puzzles and colouring sheets!
· Science Centre Singapore
Art, science, or both and more? Find out in these fun hands-on activities as you turn coconut leaves and simple gadgets into a mate-calling insect, a fluorescent fish and a glow-in-the-dark rangoli centerpiece.
· Singapore Philatelic Museum
Explore the world of philately through exciting activities! Create your own stamp badge, strike a pose with our unique stamp frames, and win cool museum tokens through our fun quiz!
· STPI
Discover various methods of relief printing with STPI printmaking experts! Have a go at the etching press to create monoprints using flowers and leaves. For young printmakers, learn how to create your own handmade prints using household materials like styrofoam, spoons and tempura paper.
· Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Don’t miss demonstrations of various traditional Chinese art forms and you may even walk away with a little souvenir from our artists!
Other Highlights
Embark on an adventure with Art Playscape on the Iush grounds of the Istana! Children and the young at heart can enjoy interacting with a series of art and play structures presented by Singapore artists and designers!
ANNEX B
MAIN HIGHLIGHTS FOR LABOUR DAY ISTANA OPEN HOUSE
ON SATURDAY, 2 AUGUST 2014
Table caption
Time | Activity | Venue
|
|---|---|---|
8.00a.m. – 2.00p.m. | On-The-Spot Art Competition by National Gallery Singapore | Istana Grounds (Prize presentation at Main Tent at 1pm) |
8.00a.m. – 6.00p.m. | Display of Birds from Wildlife Reserves of Singapore – Jurong Bird Park | Centre Gate |
9.00a.m. – 5.00p.m. | Museum Roundtable Arts and Heritage Village by National Heritage Board | Near Centre Gate |
8.00a.m. – 5.00p.m. | Art Playscape by National Gallery Singapore | Near Main Tent |
8.00a.m. – 5.00p.m. | Wish House by National Gallery Singapore | Near Main Tent |
10.00a.m. – 11.30p.m. | PA’s Fringe Activities (1st Set) - Malay Fusion Dance - Cultural Dance - Traditional Malay Music | Ceremonial Plaza and Lower Lawn |
11.30a.m. – 12.30p.m. | Performance by Pei Hwa Symphonic Band | Main Tent |
1.30p.m. – 2.30p.m. | Performance by Riverside Secondary School Symphonic Band | Main Tent |
3.00p.m. – 4.00p.m. | Performance by Catholic High School Symphonic Band | Main Tent |
2.30p.m. – 4.00p.m. | PA’s Fringe Activities (2nd Set) - Contemporary Dance - Bhangra Performance - Malay Youth Traditional Dance | Ceremonial Plaza and Lower Lawn |
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:
Table caption
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 | $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:
Table caption
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 half hour from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
All fees collected will be donated to charity.