ACM (Asian Civilisations Museum)

ACM (Asian Civilisations Museum) Understanding Asia through Singapore ACM focuses on the many historical connections between the cultures of Asia, and between Asia and the world.

The Asian Civilisations Museum is devoted to exploring the rich artistic heritage of Asia, especially the ancestral cultures of Singaporeans. Conceived in 1993 and in its present building by the Singapore River since 2003, the museum traces its roots to the Raffles Museum, founded in the middle of the 19th century. Singapore’s history as a port city that brought people together from all over the world is used as a means of examining the history of Asia. Special exhibitions bring magnificent objects from around the world to our Singapore audience. Programmes, talks, concerts, and special activities for all ages throughout the year encourage visitors to connect more closely with culture and the arts. For more information, visit www.acm.org.sg

Not porcelain. Not metal. Shell.This shimmering ewer and basin show how mother-of-pearl became both the decoration and t...
17/09/2026

Not porcelain. Not metal. Shell.

This shimmering ewer and basin show how mother-of-pearl became both the decoration and the structure of an extraordinary luxury object.

Discover its craftsmanship and journey across empires.

📍 19 June 2026 – 24 January 2027
🎟️ Free admission for Singaporeans and PRs.

Credit: Ewer and basin
India, around 1585–1615
Mother-of-pearl, metal
Musée du Louvre, RFML.AI.2023.29.1, 2

To celebrate the opening of Sacred Caves: Dunhuang, Buddhism, and the Silk Road, join us for a special lunchtime talk wi...
11/09/2026

To celebrate the opening of Sacred Caves: Dunhuang, Buddhism, and the Silk Road, join us for a special lunchtime talk with Dr Zhang Yuanlin, deputy director of the Dunhuang Academy. Focusing on the ceiling murals in Mogao Cave 249, Zhang explores how artistic traditions from across the Silk Road came together in a striking vision of the cosmos. He considers winged spirits guarding the cintamani (wish-fulfilling jewel) and their connections to sun worship, the West Asian architecture of a painted celestial palace, representations of the wind god across different cultures, and a hunting scene associated with Chinese and Persian royal authority.

Following his presentation, Zhang will be joined by ACM director Clement Onn for a conversation and audience Q&A.

This talk will be conducted in Mandarin with simultaneous interpretation in English.

Friday, 25 September 2026, 12–1pm
Ngee Ann Auditorium, Asian Civilisations Museum
THIS TALK IS FREE. Registration (with a $10 refundable deposit) required.
Register here at go.gov.sg/25sepacmconversations

– with Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore and The Jewish Welfare Board Singapore.Today, we celebrate Rosh Hashana...
11/09/2026

– with Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore and The Jewish Welfare Board Singapore.

Today, we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which begins at sunset on 11 September and lasts for two days. It marks the start of ten days of prayer and self-reflection, leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

In Singapore, the festival is commemorated with synagogue services, including at Maghain Aboth Synagogue on Waterloo Street and Chesed-El Synagogue at Oxley Rise, both National Monuments.

Families usher in the New Year with sweet delicacies such as challah and apples dipped in honey, and exchange greetings such as “Shanah tovah” – Hebrew for “good year”.

Though the Mughal, Safavid, and Ottoman empires each had their own artistic identity, their works were connected by cent...
08/09/2026

Though the Mughal, Safavid, and Ottoman empires each had their own artistic identity, their works were connected by centuries of cultural exchange.

From finely carved jade and inscribed metalwork to vibrant ceramics and architectural tiles, these masterpieces offer a glimpse into the creativity and craftsmanship of the early modern Islamic world

📍 19 June 2026 – 24 January 2027
🎟️ Free admission for Singaporeans and PRs

Credits:
Ceremonial Fly Whisk (morchhal)
India, 17th or 18th century
Jade, gold, rubies, emeralds, peacock feathers
Bequest of Baroness Adèle Salomon de Rothschild, 1922
Musée du Louvre, R 184

Covered bowl
Iznik, 1585
Glazed ceramic
Musée du Louvre, OA 7880/101

Panel with animals fighting
Iran, 17th century
Ceramic mosaic
MAO 2026

Bath pail
Iran, around 1589–90
Bronze
Bequest of Marquise Marie Arconati-Visconti, 1893
Musée du Louvre, OA 3371

Ewer
Indonesia, Sumatra, early 20th century
Brass
Asian Civilisations Museum, ###x-02898

– with Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore and the Singapore Jain Religious Society.Paryushan Mahaparva is one of ...
08/09/2026

– with Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore and the Singapore Jain Religious Society.

Paryushan Mahaparva is one of the most important festivals in Jainism, dedicated to prayer, meditation, self-reflection, and forgiveness. Celebrated over eight days in August or September, it is a time when Jains read sacred scriptures, sing devotional songs, and some choose to fast. The spirit of community is central to Paryushan, which means "abiding" or "coming together".

During Paryushan, Jain monks, nuns, and religious teachers travel from India to Singapore and many other countries to provide spiritual guidance and conduct religious programmes. These visits also highlight the diversity of Jain traditions and practices across different communities.

Teapot but make it quirky. 🫖✨Modelled as a tall piece of ginger growing from the earth, this whimsical creation reflects...
25/08/2026

Teapot but make it quirky. 🫖✨

Modelled as a tall piece of ginger growing from the earth, this whimsical creation reflects how Yixing potters challenged expectations of what a teapot should look like.

Take a closer look at the Ceramics Gallery on Level 3 at ACM.

Free admission for Singaporeans and PRs!

Save the date!Symposium: Global Exchanges and Regional Adaptations in Islamic ArtFrom the 16th to the 18th centuries, at...
22/08/2026

Save the date!
Symposium: Global Exchanges and Regional Adaptations in Islamic Art

From the 16th to the 18th centuries, at the height of their cultural and political influence, the Mughal, Safavid, and Ottoman empires shaped a vast and interconnected world across Asia. Rather than developing in isolation, artists, objects, styles, and ideas moved between these empires, creating an interconnected Islamic world that extended across the Indian Ocean to the sultanates of Southeast Asia.

Over two days, international scholars and curators will explore this shared artistic world through art and material culture. Moving beyond geographic boundaries, speakers will examine how artistic traditions travelled along historic networks and how local communities adapted global influences to their own cultural landscapes. The symposium also explores Islamic art in Southeast Asia, situating it within the broader history of Islamic art and tracing its continuing influence across the region.

This symposium is held in conjunction with Crosscurrents: Masterpieces of Mughal, Safavid, and Ottoman Art from the Musée du Louvre.

More details will be announced soon on our website and socials.

23 & 24 October 2026
Ngee Ann Auditorium
Asian Civilisations Museum

ACM & Me will be closed from 24 August to 3 September for maintenance and a minor refresh.
21/08/2026

ACM & Me will be closed from 24 August to 3 September for maintenance and a minor refresh.

20/08/2026

Recognise the masterpieces behind these stamps?

Each design at the “Crosscurrents” stamping zone is inspired by artworks featured in the exhibition.

Look out for the originals as you explore, then collect the stamps in your own notebook or on the card provided and bring a little piece of “Crosscurrents” home with you.

📍 19 June 2026 – 24 January 2027
🎟️ Free admission for Singaporeans and PRs.

In this performance-led talk, musician Christoven Tan, artist and researcher Dr Hoh Chung Shih, and visual artist Yeo Ke...
14/08/2026

In this performance-led talk, musician Christoven Tan, artist and researcher Dr Hoh Chung Shih, and visual artist Yeo Ker Siang explore the qin through music, movement, and visual art. Performance and conversation unfold together, tracing the relationships between word, gesture, and sound as each transforms the other.

Following the performance, curator Kevin Lam will host a conversation about the ideas behind the work and how the artists draw on the qin’s traditions in contemporary practice.

The project “Veiling Time Shift Laboratory” is supported by the National Arts Council.

Friday, 28 August 2026, 7– 8:30pm
Ngee Ann Auditorium
Asian Civilisations Museum

THIS TALK IS FREE.
Registration (with $10 refundable deposit) required.
Register here: [ACM CONVERSATIONS] Veiling Time Shift Laboratory: 28augacmconversations.peatix.com/ or via link in bio.

14/08/2026

Here’s what some of you have been saying about the exhibition so far ✨

From masterpieces at the to works from ACM’s collection, “Crosscurrents” traces connections across the Mughal, Safavid and Ottoman worlds, and Southeast Asia.

If you’ve visited, we’d love to hear what stayed with you.

📍19 June 2026 – 24 January 2027
🎟️ Free admission for Singaporeans and PRs.

🇸🇬 This National Day, head down to ACM and discover “Echoes in Bloom”, an installation by Singaporean artist Pei Li () t...
08/08/2026

🇸🇬 This National Day, head down to ACM and discover “Echoes in Bloom”, an installation by Singaporean artist Pei Li () that transforms our spiral staircase into a garden of larger-than-life flowers.

Take a closer look to discover the objects from ACM's collection that inspired these blooms. Each blossom draws on floral motifs from a copper and enamel dish, a cotton jacket, and a palampore textile, reimagining patterns once painted, stitched and printed on everyday objects as contemporary botanical forms.

📍Find “Echoes in Bloom” at ACM's spiral staircase, just next to Baker & Cook. Stop by during your visit and share your best photos with us by tagging .

[GIVEAWAY] We’re going beyond with our latest collaboration with SUPERMAMA this National Day! ✨ Swipe to find out how yo...
07/08/2026

[GIVEAWAY]

We’re going beyond with our latest collaboration with SUPERMAMA this National Day! ✨

Swipe to find out how you can snag a bag of exclusive ACM x SUPERMAMA merchandise.

Only valid on 9 August 2026.

Limited to 10 sets only, while stocks last.

27/07/2026

Not sure where to find Crosscurrents? 🤔

We've got you! Follow this quick guide to the exhibition and discover masterpieces from the Mughal, Safavid and Ottoman empires.

📌 Located across the Islamic Art Gallery (Level 2) and Design Gallery (Level 3)

📍 19 June 2026 – 24 January 2027
🎟️ Free admission for Singaporeans and PRs

Step into a world where dreams come to life! Explore interactive performances, express yourself through movement and mus...
20/07/2026

Step into a world where dreams come to life!

Explore interactive performances, express yourself through movement and music, and enjoy a storytelling session in the galleries inspired by a special manuscript on display. Let it spark your creativity as you create your own dream-like tunnel book.

For more details, visit go.gov.sg/acmajul26

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1 Empress Place
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