Touching lives through art education

October 2015

Chairman of Keppel Corporation Dr Lee Boon Yang (fourth from left), CEO of Keppel Corporation Mr Loh Chin Hua (second from right), CEO of National Gallery Singapore Ms Chong Siak Ching (second from left) and artist Milenko Prvacki (fifth from left) watch on as young visitors at the Keppel Centre for Art Education engage in hands-on activities and programmes that stimulate their curiosity, imagination and interest in the arts

Keppel volunteers and primary school students were invited to trial the spaces at the Keppel Centre for Art Education prior to the official opening. The volunteers have been trained under the Gallery’s ‘Best Friends of the Gallery’ programme to facilitate activities for young visitors

The Keppel Centre for Art Education was established with a $12 million contribution from Keppel Corporation, with the aim of nurturing generations of creative and critical thinkers through art education.

On 1 October 2015, Keppel’s board directors and senior management got a sneak preview of the Centre, which officially opens are part of the National Gallery Singapore on 24 November 2015. Admission to the Centre and the Gallery is free for Singaporeans and permanent residents.

Based on the belief that every person is born creative, the Keppel Centre for Art Education (the Centre), a dedicated facility in the National Gallery Singapore (the Gallery), will offer an exciting line-up of museum programmes and activities for a projected 250,000 children, youths and families annually.

The Gallery is Singapore’s newest visual arts institution housed in the refurbished former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings. The Centre is located on the ground floor of the City Hall wing, easily accessible from the Gallery’s Coleman Street entrance.

As a Founding Partner of the Gallery, Keppel contributed $12 million to establish the Centre, which will be the first of its kind in the region. The Centre comprises four distinct art spaces – the Art Corridor, Art Playscape, Project Gallery and Children’s Museum – where young visitors can create their own artworks, discover new ideas, interact and learn through play.

Led by Keppel Corporation Chairman Dr Lee Boon Yang, board directors and management from across the Group enjoyed a sneak preview of the Centre on 1 October 2015. Speaking at the preview event, Dr Lee said, “At Keppel, we adopt a long term view to nurture communities. We have supported many arts groups and programmes over the years as we believe that the arts and culture have an important place in everyone’s lives. In supporting the arts, we promote avenues for expression and enrich the lives of Singaporeans.

“Keppel’s vision is to shape the future for the benefit of all our stakeholders. The National Gallery Singapore and Keppel are therefore united in our goal of engaging the young through the Keppel Centre for Art Education. By stimulating imagination and encouraging the exchange of ideas, the Centre will nurture and inspire generations of creative and critical thinkers.”

Keppel’s board directors and management were led on a tour of the Centre by National Gallery Singapore CEO Ms Chong Siak Ching. “Whenever I walk through the spaces – whether it is the Children’s Museum or the Project Workshop, I feel transported back in time to my childhood days! The artists’ works open one’s mind to explore and consider the multitude of possibilities of any one subject or theme.

“The purpose-built Keppel Centre for Art Education is the region’s first art education facility specially designed to expose young visitors to the arts. It will help broaden their understanding and appreciation of the creative possibilities in our world, making art not only enjoyable and comprehensible, but a part of our daily lives.”

This sense of wonder was shared by the primary school students and Keppel Volunteers who were invited to trial the spaces on 1 October 2015. Trained as part of the Gallery’s ‘Best Friends of the Gallery’ programme, the Keppel Volunteers facilitated the activities for the students from Park View Primary School and Tampines North Primary School. The volunteers will continue to support the Centre when it opens to the public.

One of the volunteers, Ng Shi Yun, a Keppel FELS Project Manager, shared, “It was fun doing art and craft with the primary school children, and seeing them use simple materials – such as string, cloth, straws and buttons – in very inventive ways. Speaking as a mother of two young kids, I’m sure many young ones will love the spaces at the Centre, which will allow them to discover fun ways of interacting with art.”

Reflecting on Keppel’s partnership with the Gallery, Keppel Corporation’s Director of Group Corporate Affairs Ms Wang Look Fung noted, “When we were approached by the Gallery, we were thrilled with the opportunity to support a cause which we believe has a sustainable impact in promoting the exchange of ideas and fostering creativity and expression. The Gallery and Keppel are likeminded in our goal to grow the arts audience and make art more accessible to everyone.”