National Gallery Singapore’s Keppel Centre for Art Education (Centre) will reopen on December 16, 2023, with seven new child-centric learning zones, family-oriented programmes and exciting workshops that will revolve around the theme Art & Wonder.
First opened in 2015, the centre is located on the first floor of the gallery and is the first dedicated art education facility of its kind in Singapore and the region. It has also won the Children in Museums Award in 2018, an initiative of the European Museum Academy and Hands On! International Association of Children in Museums.
From December 16, the refreshed centre will feature seven unique learning zones suitable for children aged 4 to 12. These immersive spaces will host workshops catered to igniting the imagination of children in hopes to nurture their critical thinking and visual literacy skills. Through these activities, the children will be exposed to seven different elements of art: space, form, colour, texture, line, shape and value.
The space also incorporates wheelchair-friendly furniture and learning stations of various heights to ensure inclusivity and accessibility within the space.
“The Keppel Centre for Art Education has always aimed to engage children in learning through play and cultivating a museum-going audience from a young age. Along with our other child-friendly programmes such as the Gallery Children’s Biennale, the refreshed Centre demonstrates the Gallery’s efforts in preparing our young for a future where critical and creative thinking are necessary Competencies,” says Ms Chong Siak Ching, the Gallery’s Chief Executive Officer.
The first zone A Brush with Forest invites visitors into an interactive tropical forest. Reimagining Indonesian painter Raden Saleh’s artwork, Boschbrand (Forest Fire), the experience enables children to learn about environmental issues and different Southeast Asian wildlife while being exposed to the fundamentals of art such as colour theory and composition. There is also an augmented reality game where they can help put out virtual forest fires.
The next zone Illuminate! encourages children to create their very own masterpiece by experimenting with elements of colours, shapes, light and shadow. Then, moving on to the Makers Studio, young learners can try their hand at using 3D doodling pens and wooden shapes to create their very own 3D sculptures inspired by the gallery’s artwork collection. This hopes to fuse art with other subjects such as science and technology during the learning process.
More activities and facilitated workshops await at the Workshop Studio in the theme of Expression. Here, families are invited to explore, create, imagine and play using the different available materials.
At The Portrait Gallery, families can partake in role-playing activities, using mirrors and props to dress up and capture photographs together. Children are also encouraged to create their own portraits using magnetic props to embrace the distinct features that individuals possess and reflect the diversity of backgrounds.
There is also a curated library, Book Nook, with a wide selection of books suitable for all ages to gain new insights on art and more. And after all that fun, those who would like to cool down and rest at a quiet spot can do so at the Calm Pod.
Admission to the Keppel Centre for Art Education (Centre) is free for all. However, some programmes will be ticketed.
At the opening this weekend (December 16 to 17), the centre will host special programmes to commemorate the occasion. This includes a DIY Hat-Making craft activity session where parents and children can craft their own headgear.
It is highly recommended to pre-book your preferred time slot to enter the centre here beforehand to reduce waiting time. Also, visitors can sign up for their desired programmes here.
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