What is the Singapore Heritage Festival?
The Singapore Heritage Festival (SHF) is an immersive experience celebrating our shared culture and heritage. Celebrating it’s 21st anniversary this year, Singapore Heritage Festival first started in 2004 with its core theme celebrating Singapore’s heritage and ASEAN connections. Since then, its been growing stronger every year with this year’s theme celebrating Singapore’s rich built heritage, and the 40th anniversary of Total Defence.
Singapore Heritage Festival 2024
SHF 2024 will start on 1st of May to the 26th May. SHF 2024 is bound to open your mind to an immersive and engaging exploration of Singapore’s architectural treasures. With tours & trails, talks & workshops, videos & digital resources, and exhibitions, there’s so much to take in and explore.
Tours & Trails
40 Years of Total Defence With The Navy – Discover the Navy in this special 40th anniversary of Total Defence programme with guided tours at the Changi Naval Base and Navy Museum. Learn about navy traditions with sailors past and present on this very special tour!
Date & Time: 4th-5th of May/ 12:30PM
Price – Free
Location: Changi Naval Base and Navy Museum
37 Emerald Hill Site Tours – Come along for the first ever public site tours of 37 Emerald Hill, former home of Singapore Chinese Girls’ School, the first locally founded secular school for girls by our Straits-born community and conserved through a ground-up community effort.
Date & Time: 18th-19th, 25th-26th of May/ 10AM – 11AM, 2PM – 3PM
Price – $15/pax
Meeting Point: Back gate of former SCGS, junction of Cairnhill Road and Emerald Link. Behind DesignOrchard
Kampong Kapor Methodist Church Open House: 130 Years Serving the Community – Kampong Kapor Methodist Church (KKMC) is located in Singapore’s Little India district. Founded in 1894, it is one of the first Peranakan churches and the fourth Methodist church to be established in Singapore. Be welcomed into the serenity of the sanctuary to admire the architecture, stained-glass window and pipe organ recitals.
Date & Time: 4th May/ 9AM – 6PM
Price – Free
Location: Kampong Kapor Methodist Church and The Unfailing Light
Talks & Workshops
Archives Unlocked: Speeches That Changed Singapore – Go back in time and walk through four speeches, each by a different pioneer leader of Singapore. Find out what Goh Keng Swee, Rajaratnam, Othman Wok and Kenneth M. Byrne had to say and the changes that followed.
Date & Time: 23rd May 2024/7PM -8PM
Location: NAS Oldham Theatre
ArClab: 3D Scanning In Heritage Conversation – Take the opportunity to gain practical hands-on experience with 3D laser scanners and walk away with a greater understanding of how 3D laser scanning technology aids in documenting and conserving the historic fabric.
Date & Time: 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th of May/10:30AM – 11:30AM
Price – $20/pax
Location: ArClab, 141 Neil Road, Singapore 088870
ArClab: Decorative Tiles Hands-On Cleaning Worskhop – Ever wondered how historic tiles stay bright and beautiful even after decades of use? Take up the opportunity to gain hands-on experience cleaning decorative tiles.
Date & Time: 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th of May/ 10:30AM – 11:30AM
Price: $20/pax
Location: ArClab, 141 Neil Road, Singapore 088870
Exhibitions
Appreciating the Architectural Moments of SCCCI Over The Past Century – Immerse yourself in a sensory display of how the SCCCI building maintain it’s stature of a century year old building. Look at these architectural moments through the eyes of the architect and avid photographers as they display the unique angles of the SCCCI building. Enjoy a 20-minute long screening highlighting the essence of architectural design and history.
Date and Time:
20th May 2024 – 25th May 2024
Session 1: 9:30AM
Session 2: 11:30AM
Session 3: 3:00PM (Not available on Saturday and Vesak Day)
Location: Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) Chinese Business Culture Hub, Level 4.
Price: Free
HOMEGROUND: We Built This City – Step into the vibrant tapestry of Singapore’s architectural heritage at ‘HOMEGROUND: We Built This City’, an exhibition paying homage to the nation’s rich built heritage.
Date & Time:
1st June 2024 – 30th June 2024, 10AM – 7PM (last admission at 6:30PM)
Location: National Museum of Singapore Lawn
Price: Free
Discover the Singapore Education Story with MOE Heritage Center – A heritage showcase focusing on Singapore’s education story from the early 19th century to present day Singapore.
Date and Time:
25th May 2024: Flagship Day with Guided Tours
6th May 2024 – 25th May 2024: self guided tours
Registration Link: https://go.gov.sg/moehc-shf (For Guided Tours)
Closed on Mondays, Public Holidays and Weekends.
Location: MOE Heritage Center, 565 Balestier Road, Singapore 329927
Meeting Point: Level 4, Entrance of MOE Heritage Centre
Price: Free
Apart from these listed activities, there are still many others that are family friendly and interesting to check out. There is surely something for everyone, whether you’re a history geek, or love immersing yourself in rich culture and tapestry. Why not take your family out and learn more about the local history?