Things to do in Singapore today

We're a nation of foodies, but do you know the lesser-known stories behind Singapore's rich food culture? Rediscover the country's food heritage, as well as healthcare history, through a mix of on-site and online experiences, which come as part of Singapore HeritageFest's 18th edition. The first-ever hybrid version invites all to partake in virtual tours that shed light on medical buildings of the past, workshops that introduce you to Eastern medical treatments like Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, and more. Community partners are also rolling out hands-on demonstrations that give traditional recipes a modern spin – perhaps something new that you can try whip at home.

New Oscar-worthy blockbusters are great, but there are always a lot more screenings to take your film-going dollar to. After a year-long hiatus, the European Film Festival returns to The Projector for its landmark 30th edition. Presented by the European Union Delegation to Singapore, the film affair brings a slice of Europe through 23 films, including the opening film Parque Mayer, a comedy-drama that follows Lisbon's theatre scene's battle against censorship. Other films include Ireland’s Oscar-nominated animation Wolfwalkers, Belgium’s Cannes Film Festival-winning drama Young Ahmed, Norway's Tribeca Film Festival-winning drama Before Snowfall, and Finland's comedy gold Master Cheng which is the closing film.

Satiate your appetite for local art at National Gallery Singapore where a new showcase spotlights six celebrated, post-independence Singaporean artists: Chng Seok Tin, Jaafar Latiff, Mohammad Din Mohammad, Goh Beng Kwan, Lin Hsin Hsin, and Eng Tow. Titled Something New Must Turn Up: Six Singaporean Artists After 1965, this first-ever joint exhibition draws your eyes to six solo presentations, with each tracing the artist's practice across decades and disciplines. Collectively, the rich visual experience is a testament to the art pioneers' contributions to the development of Singapore’s modern and contemporary art.

Before the Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) lands in Singapore, catch an exclusive sneak peek at Design Orchard in all its signature pink glory. Get a first look at MOIC's Lifeguard Hut and bubblegum pink waffle-cone palm trees. You can also pick up MOIC-themed retail items and sweet treats made in collaboration with brands like Kydra Activewear, The Ice Cream & Cookie Co, Artisan of Sense, and Brewlander. You can also look forward to yoga classes in-store, which will end off with a scoop of ice cream and a refreshing can of locally-brewed beer. 

Make Mother's Day extra special by taking your queen to the idyllic Singapore Botanic Gardens for a memorable picnic – because she deserves it. Set your picnic basket by the bandstand, and let the Singapore Symphony Orchestra soundtrack the special day with its annual Mother's Day Concert, which returns in intimate scale. Still big on love, the free classical music showcase features the ensemble's string quartet performing Delibes' Flower Duet from Lakemé, Mozart selections from Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Borodin's Nocturne from String Quartet No. 2, and more. Be sure to register online before heading down.

It's not just compelling Singapore stories that keep roping drama-mamas back to this local theatre company. It's the music too. After all, there's a song at the centre of everything it does. Following nearly two decades of storytelling, Checkpoint Theatre is putting together its first digital concert which features new arrangements of seven nostalgic ditties from its songbook titled The Music of Checkpoint Theatre. From Frago's Purple Light to the never-before-seen finale of Huzir Sulaiman’s sequel to Atomic Jaya, these numbers are reimagined by associate artist weish, with the accompaniment of a dazzling nine-piece band.

To aid you with your self-care journey, luxury designer footwear and accessories boutique On Pedder teams up with local intimate lifestyle store Hedonist Tribe for a limited-time pop-up that helps you discover more about sexual wellness. Setting camp at On Pedder's Takashimaya flagship store, the Unknown Pleasures pop-up offers a specially curated range of body-positive literature, exclusive designer tech toys, and provocative accessories. And its goal is clear: to smash the taboo against female sexual pleasure, and to empower sexual wellness in Singapore.

Fans of Dale Chihuly's works are in for a treat. The renowned American artist is bringing 25 of his magnificent large-scale installations, as well as more than 80 pedestal sculptures and two-dimensional works, to Gardens by the Bay from May 1 to August 1. This marks the artist’s inaugural major garden exhibition in Asia. Can't wait till May? We hear you. The highly anticipated showcase is unveiling its first eight attention-grabbing glass installations to the public in the cooled conservatories of Flower Dome and Cloud Forest from April 23.

Singapore is littered with businesses that have stood the test of time. Behind every business lies a treasure trove of stories we don't often think about when we drop by the neighbourhood tau sar piah shop, or dabao our favourite chicken rice. Working closely with local shop owners with at least 30 years of history in selected precincts, National Heritage Board is co-creating on-site "mini-museums" with historical documents, photographs and artefacts on display to tell the stories and heritage of these shops. Look out for the galleries in precincts including Balestier precinct, followed by Kampong Gelam, Little India, Kreta Ayer/Chinatown, and Geylang Serai. 

Fashion trendsetters Boss and Russell Athletic join forces for a collection you'd want to fit in your wardrobe – think unisex pieces that combine Russell Athletic's classic sportswear aesthetics with Boss' tailored approach. To celebrate the Singapore drop, Boss is bringing an immersive, off-court experience to Orchard Road. Located by the entrance of Mandarin Gallery, the basketball-themed pop-up features a pink vending machine displaying a selection of Boss x Russell Athletic off-court classics and limited-edition basketballs, as well as a striking basketball court and bleachers display for the 'gram.

Take a deep dive into the past and present of Singapore's natural environment through more than 150 books, maps, illustrations and manuscripts at the National Library Board's new biodiversity exhibition at the National Library Building's Level 10 Gallery. Many of these items on display are open for public viewing for the first time. There are also interactive displays, storytelling sessions, and holiday programmes for the little ones to learn more about the natural world.

To accommodate movie lovers and filmmakers during these strange times, Singapore Chinese Film Festival is rolling out its ninth edition as a hybrid event with in-cinema screenings at Oldham Theatre, FilmGarde Bugis+, Golden Village Suntec City and VivoCity, as well as virtual screenings available on Shaw KinoLounge. This year, the festival spotlights over 40 films and shorts, promising something for everyone. Highlights include the opening film Hand Rolled Cigarette which follows a retired British Chinese soldier, a young South Asian man, and an encounter at the notorious Chungking Mansions.

Explore the absurdity of our new reality with Indonesian artist Agan Harahap's solo exhibition at Mizuma Gallery. In response to the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the exhibition showcases his photographs which feature a juxtaposition of images resurfaced from his archives and the web – each depicting disturbing scenarios that oddly exude beauty and serenity.

Many striking examples of classical male nudes are housed in some of Europe's most prestigious art institutions, including Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery of Florence. But what if you can view them differently via untraditional forms? Discover 10 photographic works and 10 sculptures that depict the unclothed male body by Malaysian artists Eiffel Chong and James Seet respectively at Richard Koh Fine Art. Together, the works examine representations of the nude male body in art, and seek to confute the discomfort towards vulnerability in men. 

Artists Grace Tan, Sebastian Mary Tay and Ian Woo are taking over the space of Fost Gallery for a group exhibition that spotlights the ideological values of an emerging framework that goes beyond postmodernity while initiating discourses critical to the metamodern era. These are embodied through sculptural objects, digital drawings, moving images positioned in the axis of polarities, between medium and methods, techniques and tools, abstraction and representation.

Japanophile or not, Asian Civilisations Museum's latest exhibition will have your heart set on a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun. But first, explore Japanese art and culture of the past and present through woodblock prints and photography. The exhibition is split into Edo (present-day Tokyo and the current capital) and Kyoto (the old capital) – the former presenting lifestyles and trends in Edo from 1603 to 1868, and the latter focusing on the beauty of nature and architecture of Kyoto today. The exhibition also captures the vanishing traditions of the geisha ('geiko' in Kyoto dialect) through the lens of local photographer Russel Wong.

Change is inevitable, especially in this digital age. Artists have been exploring new grounds to showcase contemporary art, from social media to immersive virtual worlds. So where does this leave museums with, in terms of collecting works? To explore the new strategies needed for the collection of today's contemporary art, which have become varied and dematerialised, Singapore Art Museum's new exhibition brings together six artist-curator pairings showcasing the multi-faceted experience of Singapore’s industrial present and technological future through mixed media and sound installations, performance, photography, and video.

A camera phone is more than taking the perfect snap for the 'gram. To showcase stunning works captured using the latest OPPO Find X3 Pro smartphone, OPPO presents its first-ever photography exhibition at ArtScience Museum. The exhibition is also part of OPPO’s #AwakenColour campaign, in line with the launch of the OPPO Find X3 Pro. Marvel at the works of four talented lens-based local photographers, including Wilfred Lim, Venus Oh, Kimberly Kiong, and Adele Chan, shot using the 10-bit colour depth of the OPPO smartphone. There are also masterclasses to participate in if you're looking to polish your phone photography skills.

Batik is an ancient art that has captured the interest of many over the years. And the practice is still alive in Singapore, thanks to the relentless dedication of the few artists that specialise in the practice and teaching it. Learn more about the ancient art form at Lakir Lilin, an exhibition showcasing Singapore's living batik masters: namely Sarkasi Said, Sujak Rahman, Sadali Musbah, Tumadi Patri and Kamal Dollah. The pioneers, who have devoted years to the art and craft of batik-painting, each practised independently and developed their own distinct style over years of artistic practice. This is a rare chance to catch all of their works together as it's the first time they are gathered to exhibit together.

Ota Fine Arts Singapore is bringing five brilliant artists together in its latest group exhibition: Chen Wei, Maria Farrar, Hilmi Johandi, Zai Kuning and Guo-Liang Tan. Presenting the encounters of the artists' which have become important elements in their practice, the exhibition unveils masterpieces of different mediums ranging from photographs to sculpture, drawing and painting, reflecting the diversity of expressions of contemporary art in Asia today.

Familiar yourself with the colourful masterpieces of I Wayan Piki Suyersa at Hatch Art Project as the gallery hosts the Indonesian artist's – who's also Japfa’s Artists of the Year – first solo exhibition in Singapore. Titled Man of Earth, the exhibition showcases several paintings, as well as a monumental, wall-sized painting and a fibreglass installation known as Flowing, that explore the painter's intimate relationship with land and yearning for transcendent states of being. Supported by Singapore-based industrial agri-food company Japfa Comfeed International Pte Ltd, the exhibition also doubles as an educational destination that
brings benefits to the community where proceeds made will be donated to the Japfa Foundation.

Catch a glimpse of work-life in the future by going on a data-led immersive journey through the evolution of office design at the National Design Centre. Introducing brilliant ideas around space, human connections, and technology, The Office, Disrupted exhibition explores how hybrid approaches can fundamentally redefine work culture and mobility, igniting discussions on the shifting definition of the workplace, especially in the new norm. Besides the public exhibitions, you can also learn more through weekly panel sessions featuring thought leaders and dominant figures in key industries, as well as the launch of the new HybridWork Lab at Paperwork, Paperspace Asia’s co-work arm located within the National Design Centre.

Consider yourself a typography nerd? Get ready to geek out to text-based artworks as you walk, jog or cycle along the 36-kilometre-long Coast-to-Coast Trail. Spot 14 eye-popping installations taking centre stage in eight nature parks across Singapore, from Punggol to Jurong. Not just an eye-pleaser, the multi-sensory project also invites all to cosy up in a regenerative seed pod, immerse in soundscape and song atop a grass mound, and more.

Wonder what the sartorial sense of 18th, 19th and 20th century Asia was like? Find your answers at the Asian Civilisations Museum, where its latest showcase Fashionable in Asia celebrates "innovation in the space of tradition", and reflects how identities and cross-cultural exchanges are revealed through dress. Feast your eyes on over 20 exquisite garments recently acquired by ACM – most of which have never before been seen by the public – up on display at the Fashion and Textiles Gallery. Among the gorgeous pieces are Chinese painted silk, Indian printed cotton, and Javanese batik.

Spotlighting the Javan mynah, Dutch photographer Anaïs López's multimedia exhibition uses the bird's journey as a vehicle to discuss migration, identity, belonging, human-animal relationships, and the 'other'. Expect audio, video, text and photography on display, along with perspectives from biologists, political scientists, and even gun enthusiasts weaved in together to provide a well-rounded account of the complex relationships between humans, animals and the consequences of rapid urbanisation. The exhibition also schools viewers on Southeast Asian history, as well as the position of the unwanted outsider.

Ranging from contemporary arts to design and performance, the annual Lasalle Show spotlights the creative works of young talents from the arts institution. This year, it returns from May 20 to June 2 with more dance and theatre performances. But you don't have to wait too long to sample the event – it's kicking off with three early shows, starting with a free exhibition titled Beautiful, nice and interesting from April 17 to May 5. It features the final works of six graduates from Lasalle’s MA Fine Arts programme, which unpack how certain terminologies, as per its title, are deemed to be negative when talking about art.

See the city through new lenses with CapitaLand's Explore The City with #Instawalk, where you can play tourist in your own backyard and earn a $20 eCapitaVoucher upon completion of the tour. The interactive two-hour tour comes in two different packages – Civic Colours takes you from City Hall to Clarke Quay, while the Bugis, Waterloo and Kampung Glam tour takes you to places like Bugis Junction, and Albert Centre Market and Food Centre. Cameras on the ready as there will be plenty of hidden gems worthy of 'gram. Don't worry about capturing bad angles – a local influencer is also set to join the tour to share some nifty Instagram photography tips and tricks.

Calligraphy artist Malik Mazlan and haiku poet Dave Tai are introducing new perspectives to canvases created from drafts, past projects and personal items by refreshing them with haiku and calligraphy. And from April 12, the Afterwords exhibition will travel into the heartlands following its showcase at the Singapore Chinese Culture Centre. Check it out at nine public libraries across Singapore and find out how Afterwords highlights the longevity of the written word and how wastepaper can be recycled creatively to form new works.

It's never too early to expose your little ones to the arts, including one that schools them on the ocean. Embark on an ocean exploration with the kids at Singapore Maritime Gallery where its Changing Gallery turns into a labyrinth of kaleidoscopic corners, featuring larger-than-life artworks, animations and installations. Designed by the artsy educational platform Eyeyah! and commissioned by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the free multimedia exhibition is a visually stimulating and thought-provoking experience that aims to spark curiosity in kids about the world around them, including the deep blue sea.

Take your art appreciation to an unexpected location – Level 3 of Raffles City Shopping Centre. Curated by Ode To Art, The Art Passage brings you an audio-guided art tour inside a shopping mall, closing the gap between art and its viewers by displaying attention-grabbing works in a casual yet intimate setting. Eight local and international artists are set to put their masterpieces on display, starting with 66-year-old local artist Hong Zhu An whose 15 new artworks will be on show until May 31. To start the tour, simply scan the QR codes in the exhibition.

Your sweat sesh is about to get gintense with SoleMates Gin Run. Brought to you by the same minds behind SoleMates Beer Run, the gin version is a wholesome, guided four-kilometre scenic sundown run by the bay. After working up a sweat (and thirst), make your way to a pitstop where refreshing gin and tonic or soda await. There are three pitstops along the route – Le Noir Marina Bay Sands, Brewerkz One Fullerton, and lastly, Chimi's where you'll get to refuel and be rewarded with two gins and tacos.

There is now an easier, daintier way to enjoy the hearty flavours of Nonya cuisine – through a curated afternoon tea. One-Ninety Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore has collaborated with Candlenut to create a weekend-only Peranakan Afternoon Tea ($48/$68) where Chef Malcolm Lee turns time-honoured recipes from his one-Michelin-starred restaurant and distils them into bite-sized treats. Get ready to bite into a lesser-seen pang susi, filled with spiced chicken and candied winter melon for a sweet-savoury treat; kueh pie tee that comes stuffed with white coconut curry and lobster; roti jala, a traditional lace-like pancake with grooves perfect for soaking up Candlenut’s signature chicken curry, and more.

Some of the first Sikhs in Singapore came from the Punjab region of India in the late 19th century, sailing from the port of Calcutta to join the Sikh Police Contingent under the colonial administration here at the time. But that's not the only story to tell. Uncover the lesser-known-stories of migration and settlement, and celebrate the rich heritage and culture of the Sikh community in Singapore with the Indian Heritage Centre's second community co-created exhibition: Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold. It's also the centre's first-ever exhibition on Sikh heritage.

Get to know the storied halls of our grande dame with an interactive play set in the iconic Raffles Hotel Singapore. The first-of-its-kind virtual interactive play invites you to be part of an enthralling detective whodunnit tale and investigate the missing Peranakan treasure – the crown jewel of the hotel's fictional "Treasures of the Straits" exhibition. With the magic of 360-degree virtual reality (VR), you'll also get to explore the hotel's historic grounds and venture through its illustrious halls that have hosted important moments in history – all while piecing the clues together and deciding how the story unfolds. 

The department store in Ngee Ann City is unveiling a new sustainability-focused programme that aims to push the Japanese retail giant’s commitment to global sustainability. It also taps into the growing consumer awareness and demand for more eco-conscious retail options. From April 1 to May 31, #ShopGreener with Takashimaya’s rollout of exciting consumer activations, eco-conscious brand offerings, an eco-food bazaar and a one-of-a-kind recycled art installation in collaboration with ITE art students to encourage Singaporeans to live more sustainably and shop mindfully.

No fancy time machine involved, get ready to step back in time with the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre's new exhibition Through the Eyes of a Child: Art by Quek Hong Shin. Witness the vanishing collective memories – from a time when coconut trees towered over attap houses, and children played in the busy back-alleys of old Chinatown – come back to life. It also spotlights the people and places inspired by the artist while he was growing up, as well as  14 artworks from his popular book series The Amazing Sarong, The Incredible Basket, The Brilliant Oil Lamp and The Marvellous Sugee Cake, along with new illustrations created specially for this showcase.

Objectifs is bringing the awe-inspiring works of upcoming Asian photographers, who are also recipients of the third Objectifs Documentary Award, to the foreground. Starting with Alaga by local artist Sarah Isabelle Tan, the exhibitions accentuate works that feature elements of collaboration between the artists and the individuals with whom they share intimate, long-term domestic relationships. Local artist Sarah Isabelle Tan's showcase features personal histories, family archives, and a series of images and texts made together with her long-time Filipino domestic worker.

Meow reasons to head down Kampong Gelam. Bringing the cat (or ‘kucing’ in Malay) in these proverbs to life, Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) teams up with popular Japanese artist Juno for Paw-verbs on the Lawn. Anyone who has followed Juno (@mofu_sand) on Instagram will be familiar with her adorable cat illustrations, depicting her love for the feline. And now, you can see it in the flesh as 30 of her vivid cat illustrations are featured as standees alongside 10 common Malay proverbs on the lawn of the heritage centre. This marks the first physical showcase of Juno’s cat art in Southeast Asia.

Explore how nature inspires art at this year's Goodman Open House, which is back as a virtual arts festival after its regular physical edition in 2019. Get up close and personal with resident artists from Goodman Arts Centre, browse visual art at your own pace in a digital gallery, explore the dance form, and get your own hands dirty with a range of art-making sessions.

If you're looking for a Polynesian escape without leaving the tropical island of Singapore, head to SEA Aquarium as it transforms into The Sea of Tiki. The word 'tiki' traces back to New Zealand and the Marquesas Islands, and is referred to sacred images of gods and creation. Based on this, the aquarium invites you to follow five legendary tikis along an enlightening trail and befriend the tropics’ most fascinating marine animals – keep your eyes peeled for a majestic volcano at the end of the trail. Plus, the long-awaited dive feed is making its comeback after its downtime since the circuit breaker.

There's a new exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore – and it's very relevant to the times we're living in. In fact, it's the museum's first major exhibition that charts the Covid-19 pandemic in Singapore. Called Picturing the Pandemic: A Visual Record of Covid-19 in Singapore, it documents contemporary events and developments in Singapore by collecting related artefacts and stories from the everyday Singaporeans.

The National Gallery Singapore welcomes all art types to celebrate the genius creativity of Chinese painter Wu Guanzhong who is known for seamlessly blending Chinese ink and Western modernism. The latest exhibition demonstrates his position as an influential art educator through the artistic exchange between him and his students at the Central Academy of Art & Design who attended his outdoor sketching classes. Together, they birthed new artistic styles from formalist aesthetics and individualistic experimentations. These are presented through sketches by Wu, selected drawings by his students and rare archival material including photographs, manuscripts, notes and art journals that document Wu’s beliefs on art education and his pedagogical concepts.

Under the banner SSOPlayOn!, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's (SSO) digital season continues with more concerts to be streamed from the stage to the comfort of your sweet digs via Sistic Live. Highlights include Miracle of Music (February 26) which comprises two violin concertos by J. S. Bach alongside Telemann’s Don Quixote Suite, VCHpresents Chamber: Haydn’s Emperor & Tchaikovsky’s Florence (March 19) which pairs Haydn’s ‘Emperor’ String Quartet and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenirs de Florence, and A Gift to the Universe (May 21) which features Singapore’s star young violinist, Chloe Chua.

Plans for the Hong Kong-Singapore physical travel bubble may be up in the air at the moment, so take travel plans into your own hands with the HK-SG Digital Travel Bubble. Co-presented by Sing Lit Station and The Substation, this ekphrastic series sees eight Singaporean and eight Hong Kong poets playing pandemic pen pals – exchanging photographs of their favourite nooks and crannies from their city. Each poet then writes a poem inspired by their own photograph, and the photograph received from their partner overseas.

A new interactive exhibition is set to dwell in the newly refreshed Goh Seng Choo Gallery at the National Museum of Singapore. Something you won't find in history books, A Voyage of Love and Longing marries illustrations from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History with Malay literature – think lyrics from love ballads, classical texts and pantuns (rhyme quatrains) – to give you an insight into the natural history collection from a fresh, lyrical angle. See how the drawings on display portray the flora and fauna featured in tales of love and longing from the Malay world through interactive installations and activities.

Publico, together with the World’s Best Bars, is bringing the best international cocktail experience to our shores, kicking off with drinks from Caprice Bar at Four Seasons Hong Kong (36th on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list), with three exclusive libations. From now till the end of March, look forward to libations that include the Golden Raisin Fizz ($24) and Oro Nero ($24) with white miso butter and Bacardi Reserve Ocho. Come April to May, Publico will switch things up with a menu curated by Sydney-based Maybe Sammy, featuring a modern spritz with kombucha, chardonnay, and peach; as well as Candy Man with lychee and raspberry shrub, Aperol, and Grey Goose.  

You don't have to wait until May the Fourth to be the ultimate Fanboy. This January, get to know the characters of Star Wars on a whole new level as The Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition finally lands on our shores, making Singapore the final stop of its global tour. The Force is strong with close to 200 original props, costumes, models and artwork from the film franchise occupying the ArtScience Museum. It's not your typical movie exhibition either – it takes you on a customised, interactive identity quest to gain new insights into how the characters were developed, and gives you the opportunity to discover your own personal identities in the Star Wars galaxy.

In Singapore, Thaipusam sees Hindu devotees seek blessings, fulfill vows, and offer thanks with a massive, colourful procession, honouring Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war. As such large events aren't likely to be able to proceed this year, The Arts House has planned something in celebration of Thaipusam. Instead of the streets, it's taking the thanksgiving festival to the digital space with the multidisciplinary audio-visual-text experience Vel Vel: A Sonic Walk. Through a web app, you can follow the virtual edition of the festival’s pilgrimage route which includes the historic neighbourhoods of Little India, Selegie and Fort Canning, and discover its cultural significance along the way.

Sing Kit Chan's Home all you want but do you really know what makes Singapore home? Showcased across five key themes, the National Museum of Singapore's latest exhibition features artefacts and photographs from the National Collection and members of the public, as well as audio-visual footage, sounds, scents and special digital features that reveal the personal stories of over 100 Singaporeans. Like a time capsule, Home, Truly chronicles the past and present, expressing our identity and collective memory as Singaporeans. You can also check out the digital companion @ Home, Truly from your humble abode too. Just get ready for a heavy dose of nostalgia.

Fresh off Heman Chong's Walking in the City, Singapore Art Museum (SAM) presents two larger-than-life artworks for the latest presentation on the hoardings surrounding the buildings. Finbarr Fallon's Sub/merged imagines a subterranean city of the future, while An Unnatural History by Darel Seow with Lee Xin Li explores the struggle between man and nature. Both of the commissioned artworks feature digital elements that extend the experience of the works beyond the hoardings.

Hear ye, hear ye, the Orient Express is coming to town. Following the 2014 exhibition in Paris, marking the 130th anniversary of the legendary train, the pop-up attraction Once Upon A Time on The Orient Express is set to take over the West Lawn of Gardens by the Bay with a series of showcases that unveils a fairy-tale universe related to travel, culture and gastronomy. Fix your eyes on some of the most extraordinary objects and documents to showcase centuries of history that retraces the legacy of the train, allowing you to discover events that transformed the world and shaped the map.

Together with world-class scientists from Earth Observatory of Singapore, Science Centre Singapore launches the Earth Alive exhibition to school visitors of all ages about the world we live in. Expect larger-than-life lessons through life-size interactive displays, and learn how the changes on our planet impact the environment and cause natural phenomena such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Be mesmerised by the five-metre inflatable globe installation Gaia, send dramatic P and S waves of an earthquake down a giant slinky, shape a landscape with sand, and more.

As part of this year's Malay CultureFest, the super informative exhibition at Malay Heritage Centre spotlights the heritage and culture of the Banjar community. Get a better understanding of Singapore’s smallest sub-ethnic Malay community through ethnographic objects, photographs, community stories, treasured family belongings, and other exhibits that are weaved together with their insights and anecdotes. Unlike your usual museum exhibition, you can witness the artefacts come alive through an Augmented Reality AR) experience, while the kids can hop on the on-site excavators to dig for hidden treasures, or be a diamond trader for a day at My Babak's Studio. 

Go beyond the museums with the virtual edition of DigiMuse. Explore Singapore’s heritage through a variety of digital formats that are fun and innovative, ranging from baking videos for a taste of local flavour to Augmented Reality (AR) experiences that allow you to “try on” and get up-close to national treasures. There's even an online shop dedicated to Singapore’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. These are all developed by local creatives in collaboration with the National Heritage Board (NHB) to encourage all to explore and engage with Singapore's heritage and culture.

Does the new norm feel like a surreal dream? To capture these strange times, OH! Open House is rolling out a "sleepwalking" digital art experience titled Days — and counting. Doubling as an immersive virtual trail, the experience takes place over three seasons, embodying the notion of dreams through audio, text, and moving images. Season 1: Walls Crumble serves up some TV nostalgia. Through the old-school Teletext, traverse a surrealist narrative of a sleeping man's dreamscapes. Delve deeper into the idea of home during the circuit breaker with unique artworks by local artists Ang Kia Yee, Hunny & Lummy, Kevin Fee, Pat Toh, and Tristan Lim – all without leaving the comfort of your couch or bed.

Turn up the volume for a brand new local radio show – sort of. First launched in 2017, Singapore Community Radio returns with a brand new look and programmes that are curated and produced by an entirely new team. Spearheaded by creative director Darren Tan, the team aims to spotlight the diverse Singaporean voices on a shared platform, while capturing its ethos of championing music creative cultures in its programmes. Look forward to both live and pre-recorded content, ranging from podcasts and video interviews to live DJ sets, available to stream for free via Twitch and Mixcloud Live, as well as Facebook Live for selected shows.

Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) resumes activity on with its inaugural permanent exhibition which debuted in March this year. Explore what it means to be uniquely Chinese Singaporean through five specially curated interactive zones that spotlight elements that shaped the distinctive Chinese Singaporean identity – from food, language, and traditions to popular culture and music.

Gutted at the postponement of SIFA? To make up for it, SIFA presents its digital portal, better known as SIFA v2.020 where you can get all your art fix. Expect a line-up of engaging programmes and virtual events including talks led by theatre directors and artists, workshops you can take part at home, and special performances.

The show must go on – line. The exclusive online broadcasts of selected music performances at the centre are available to watch for free. These include other videos, stories, and podcasts on other arts too. Home audiences can cosy up for Haruka Nakamura Piano Ensemble and Aspidistrafly's first avant-garde joint showcase, Mandopop duo StellaVee's catchy pop tunes, Metropolitan Festival Orchestra and DJ KoFlow's genre-defying performance, and more.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra's (SSO) beloved free community concerts are making a comeback this March. Mark your calendars, because this year's programme kicks off with the first concert on March 19 and March 21 at Victoria Concert Hall, SSO's home since 1980. Both concerts are conducted by associate conductor Joshua Tan and include performances of works by Grieg and Tchaikovsky. If you're planning to go, remember to book tickets beforehand as there are only 150 tickets available for each performance.

Singapore Flyer's new attraction takes you through two levels and 700 years of Singapore's history, and we can already imagine families and young children ooh-ing and aah-ing over the dazzling light displays, holograms and interactive media. Every journey needs a guide, and the red-dot inspired robot called R65 is your companion for this one. Out of nine zones, standouts include the Island of Myths, a forested room with screens dedicated to a holographic tale of Sang Nila Utama, a wayang kulit display of the myths of the five rajas, and leaves that light up with extra stories and trivia when you wave your hands over them.

National Gallery Singapore has just launched an online platform for art lovers amidst the 'circuit breaker'. Called #GalleryAnywhere, it is the Gallery's one-stop access to an array of rich digital and virtual experiences to keep art lovers engaged and entertained with art. The portal offers five distinct segments: Browse, Watch, Listen, Play, Explore – each replicating the different experiences you'd get at the Gallery.  #GalleryAnywhere also features content that allows audiences to connect better with artworks they see in the Gallery. Join artist Chua Soo Bin as he tells you first hand the stories behind three of his photographs in the Truths & Legends exhibition, or listen to musician JJ Lin talk about his masterpiece, Journey of a Yellow Man.